2nd Sunday of Lent
3/16/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Justified”
Sermon – Justified
Romans 4: 1-5 and 13-18. In his Letter to the Romans the Apostle Paul shows that salvation is a gift from God – and not our own doing. Paul wants us to remember that the love of God comes to us when we have done nothing to earn it . . . ours, not because of who we are but because of who God is.
Scripture – Romans 4: 1-5 and 13-18
1st Sunday of Lent
3/09/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Fast Track”
Sermon – Fast Track
Matthew 4: 1-11. On this first Sunday in Lent, we begin the journey that lies at the heart of the Christian story. We look to Jesus as the example of a life of courage, compassion and hope. This week we pay attention to how the story all begins…
Scripture – Matthew 4: 1-11
3/02/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Glory”
Sermon – Glory
Matthew 17: 1-9. This Sunday’s gospel describes one of the most mysterious events in the life of Jesus. He takes three of the disciples with him on a journey up a mountain. As they watch, his appearance suddenly and dramatically changes. His face shines like the sun and his clothes turn bright white. Moses and Elijah appear suddenly and talk with him. Then a cloud overshadows them all and God’s voice is heard.
Scripture – Matthew 17: 1-9
[/expand] [expand title=”February 2014 Sermons and Scriptures”]2/23/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Perfect”
Sermon – Perfect
Matthew 5: 38-48. In this week’s gospel Jesus continues his teaching in what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. When we are
confronted by evil, he tells us to give love in return. To some this sounds like a recipe for victimization.
But Jesus does not want us to let others determine how we will act. Revenge and retaliation are the ways of the
world. But they are not the way of God’s kingdom.
Scripture – Matthew 5: 38-48
2/16/14 – Jonathan Chute – “A Higher Law”
Sermon – A Higher Law
Matthew 5: 21-30. This week’s gospel continues Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. He offers an important commentary on the
10 commandments, and on God’s Law in general. Jesus wants us to honor the spirit of compassion and grace that are
its foundation. Where the Law says “Do not murder,” Jesus says “Do not be angry with a brother or sister.”
Scripture – Matthew 5: 21-30
2/09/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Be Who You Are”
Sermon – Be Who You Are
Matthew 5: 13-16. This week’s scripture continues Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. He gathers his followers to teach them about life in the kingdom of heaven. He wants them to be able to take their part in the story. They are like salt, an ingredient that makes all the difference. They are light, that cannot be hidden. He does not call them to take on a new responsibility, but simply to live out what they already are.
Scripture – Matthew 5: 13-16
2/02/14….. Jonathan Chute – “Blessed Are”
Sermon – Blessed Are
Matthew 5: 1-12. The opening verses of the Sermon on the Mount are among some of Jesus’ most beloved, beautiful and provocative teachings. He describes a range of people who are typically not seen as blessed and speaks a word of blessing on those who face some of life’s deepest struggles.
Scripture – Matthew 5: 1-12
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1/26/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Called Away”
Sermon – Called Away
Matthew 4: 12-23. After the arrest of John the Baptist Jesus leaves his home in Nazareth and begins his ministry. As he travels along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he meets two sets of brothers whom he invites to join him. With nothing to go on besides Jesus’ brief invitation, they leave their nets and follow.
Scripture – Matthew 4: 12-23
1/19/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Public Relations”
Sermon – Public Relations
John 1: 29-42. This week’s gospel tells how some of Jesus’ first disciples came to follow him. Some of them were already disciples of John the Baptist. But when John points Jesus out and calls him the Lamb of God, they go to see Jesus. The small circle is beginning to widen.
Scripture – John 1: 29-42
1/12/14 – Jonathan Chute – “Who Knows?”
Sermon – Who Knows?
Matthew 3: 13-17. It is the Sunday of the Baptism of Jesus. Matthew lets us in on a conversation which takes place between the two before the actual event. John wants to know why Jesus has come to him in the first place. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Jesus assures John that this is the right thing at the right time.
Scripture – Matthew 3: 13-17
Twelfth Day of Christmas
1/5/14 – John Kwan – “Sometimes the Coffee Stirs You”
Sermon – Sometimes the Coffee Stirs You
Revelation 21: 1-6a. Revelation is a letter, like Galatians and Philippians, written to the churches of the first century. In it, the writer shares what has been revealed to him in a vision of the risen Lord – that pain and suffering, even death, is not the last word and will ultimately come to an end.
Scripture – Revelation 21: 1-6a
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