6/24/12 John Kwan – “The Tale of the Tape”
Sermon – The Tale of the Tape
1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49. As a young shepherd, David answers the challenge posed by the Philistine’s champion named Goliath. David shouldn’t stand a chance and yet he comes out victorious. It is a story of an “underdog” who wins against all odds. It is also the story of Israel.
Scripture – 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
6/17/12 Jonathan Chute – “Small Beginnings”
Sermon – Small Beginnings
1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 and Mark 4: 26-32. The gospel for the day includes two of Jesus’ briefest parables. Both show us the kingdom of God as something less than we expect. In the first, the kingdom grows up pretty much on its own, without much human help. In the second, Jesus says that the kingdom is like a great… bush. Like us, his hearers were expecting something a little bigger and fancier.
Scripture – 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 and Mark 4: 26-32
6/10/12 Jonathan Chute – “When God Counts to Three”
Sermon – When God Counts to Three
1 Samuel 8: 4-20 and Mark 3: 20-30. In this week’s gospel, religious leaders suggest that Jesus is doing Satan’s work when he conducts a series of healings. This angers Jesus, who responds that they are in danger of going too far – that there are limits to God’s forgiveness.
Scripture – 1 Samuel 8: 4-20 and Mark 3: 20-30
6/03/12 Trinity Sunday – Jonathan Chute – “The Mystery of God”
Sermon – The Mystery of God
Isaiah 6: 1-8. A man named Isaiah experiences a vision of God in the Temple – a vision which terrifies him. The Lord needs someone to speak to the people and calls Isaiah into service. He may not have wanted to go, but Isaiah finds himself saying “Here am I, send me!”
Scripture – Isaiah 6: 1-8