February 2, 2025 –Jonathan Chute, “Any Questions?”
Sermon: sermon
This week’s gospel shows us how the congregation in Nazareth responds to Jesus’ first sermon. What begins as a cheerful homecoming ends in outrage and near violence. At first, friends and neighbors welcome his “gracious words.” But when he makes clear that grace extends beyond their community, to outsiders and even enemies, it does not go well. Luke 4:21-30 offers a preview of the rest of the story, and is the text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Any Questions?”
Scripture: scripture
February 9, 2025 –April Herron, “From Now On”
Sermon: sermon
As we make our way through the gospel of Luke, we see that the more Jesus healed people, and the more he visited with people in their synagogues, the more interest there was in meeting him. This weekend we will read how a crowd gathered on the shores of a lake and a teaching session turned into a fishing expedition. The catch was amazing! Lives were changed. Our text is Luke 5:1-11. April’s sermon title is, “From Now On.”
Scripture: scripture
February 16, 2025 –Jonathan Chute, “Whoa, Nelly!”
Sermon: sermon
In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus teaches his disciples about what it means to live in God’s kingdom. He lifts up examples of people whose lives reflect God’s grace and blesses them, even if the world treats them otherwise. While the words are familiar and comfortable, they show us a picture of God’s hopes for the followers of Jesus that is at odds with the culture around us. He also offers a word of warning for those who might not expect what God has in store. Luke 6:17-26 is the text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Whoa, Nelly!”
Scripture: scripture
February 23, 2025 –Jonathan Chute, “ The Thermostat “
Sermon: sermon
This week’s gospel contains some of the hardest of Jesus’ teachings. He has already pronounced blessings and woes on a range of unlikely recipients. 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, “The Thermostat.”
Scripture: scripture
