February 3, 2019 – Jonathan chute “Just Passin’ Through”
Sermon: sermon
Our gospel for this Sunday shows how the congregation in Nazareth responds to Jesus’ first sermon. At first they’re happy to see him. They admire his gracious words and celebrate their connection to him and his family. But Jesus believes they are missing the point – not only of the sermon, but of God’s love for all people. So he tells them a couple of familiar Bible stories – stories that show God blessing people that most of them would see as outsiders. What begins as a warm welcome home ends in outrage and violence. The text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Just Passin’ Through,” is Luke 4:21-30.
Scripture: scripture
February 10, 2019 – Jonathan Chute “Catch of the Day”
Sermon: sermon
In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus comes to the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He preaches before a large crowd and has to get into a boat to find some breathing room. His encounter with the fishermen who own the boat is one of the most memorable scenes in the gospels. With their nets full of the largest catch they have ever seen, they leave it all behind to follow Jesus. The text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Catch of the Day,” is Luke 5:1-11.
Scripture: scripture
February 17, 2019 – April Herron “The Trouble with Jesus”
Sermon: sermon
This Sunday, we get to see a great physician at work. Our gospel reading describes how immense crowds of people gathering around Jesus, “to hear him and be healed of their diseases.” Jesus demonstrates patience and compassion as he moves among them. Then he looks at his disciples and says some really startling words–words that flip our standard notions of a “blessed” life upside down. Is there some gift hidden in human vulnerability? Some danger in complacency? The scripture text is Luke 6:17-26. April’s sermon title is, “The Trouble With Jesus.”
Scripture: scripture
February 24, 2019 – Jonathan chute “Tit for Tat”
Sermon: sermon
The gospel for this week contains some of Jesus’ hardest teachings. He has already pronounced blessings and woes on a range of unlikely people. Now he appears to ask his followers to act against their own best interests. He invites them to give without thought of return, to love their enemies, to turn the other cheek. It sounds like a recipe for defeat and disaster. So it is fair to wonder as they surely did, “What is he thinking?” Luke 6:27-38 is the text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Tit for Tat?”
Scripture: scripture
