7/31/11 – Jonathan Chute – “A Taste of the Kingdom”
Sermon – A Taste of the Kingdom
Matthew 14: 13-21. Jesus has gone out to the wilderness to be alone, but the crowds have followed him. Jesus spends the day teaching about the shape and character of the kingdom of heaven. As dinnertime approaches, the disciples tell him they haven’t enough food and to send the people away. Instead, Jesus offers the people the chance to experience the plenty of heaven directly.
Scripture – Matthew 14: 13-21
7/24/11 – Jonathan Chute – “The Whole Enchilada”
Sermon – The Whole Enchilada
Matthew 13: 31-33 and 44.52.
Scripture – Matthew 13: 31-33 and 44.52
7/17/11 – Jonathan Chute – “Be the Wheat”
Sermon – Be the Wheat
Matthew 13: 24-30. Our gospel for this Sunday continues a series of farming parables by Jesus. During the night an enemy has sowed weeds among a farmer’s wheat, but when the farmer’s servants ask if they should pull the weeds, the farmer says “no.” That will only make the situation worse. Jesus seems to suggest that the best approach to evil is not to be distracted by it. When we let our enemies set our course, we may actually be drawn into doing evil’s work for it.
Scripture – Matthew 13: 24-30
7/10/11 – Jonathan Chute – “God, the Gardener”
Sermon – God, the Gardener
Matthew 13: 1-9 and 18-23. In this beloved parable of Jesus, a sower goes out to scatter seed, but much of the seed falls onto less than promising soil. It would be more efficient not to waste something so precious as seed by throwing it onto the path, into rocky soil, or among the thorns, but, for whatever reason, God seems to have a different idea of farming than we do.
Scripture – Matthew 13: 1-9 and 18-23
7/3/11 – John Kwan – “The Sweetest Sound”
Sermon – The Sweetest Sound
Matthew 11: 16-19 and 25-30. In this week’s text, Jesus shares with his followers that those who are weary and under heavy burdens will find rest in him, that their burdens will feel light and his yoke easy.
Scripture – Matthew 11: 16-19 and 25-30
