4/25/10 – Jonathan Chute – “Hearing Is Believing”
Sermon – Hearing Is Believing
John 10: 22-30. Jesus described his relationship to his followers as that of a shepherd to a flock of sheep. Such a relationship is one of close following, of trust and dependence. Some of us may not find the sheep image especially flattering – they are not known for intelligence or judgment. But the picture of Jesus as a shepherd is familiar and comforting. It expresses the compassion of God for those who are lost and alone, who wander through the wilderness of their lives.
Scripture – John 10: 22-30
4/18/10 – Jonathan Chute – “The Third Time . . .”
Sermon – The Third Time . . .
John 21: 1-19. This week’s gospel shows Jesus in the days after Easter, reaching out to the disciples to help them move forward. Jesus takes the opportunity to work with his friend, Peter. Three times Jesus asks “Do you love me?” Three times Peter answers “yes.” Three times Jesus invites Peter to feed, or tend, his sheep. The story of their relationship ends almost as it began three years before, as Jesus tells Peter “Follow me.”
Scripture – John 21: 1-19
4/11/10 – John Kwan – “Scarred for Life”
Sermon – Scarred for Life
John 20: 19-31. On the morning of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene, Peter and one of Jesus’ other disciples discover the empty tomb. Unsure of how to interpret these events, Peter and the other unnamed disciple return to their homes. Mary, however, remains, and it is here that she first encounters the risen Christ. She then tells all of the disciples what she has just seen. In today’s text, we learn what happens when Jesus pays a visit to his disciples later that evening.
Scripture – John 20: 19-31
4/04/10 – Jonathan Chute – “Proof of Life”
Sermon – Proof of Life
Luke 24: 1-12. Early in the morning a number of women come to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus’ body after its burial. But when they arrive they find the stone rolled away and the body missing. According to Luke it is not joy or faith that comes to them first, but confusion. Easter celebrates the central truth of the Christian story, that God’s grace and love are more powerful than sin and death.
Scripture – Luke 24: 1-12
