10/31/10 – Jonathan Chute – “Lost and Found”
Sermon – Lost and Found
Luke 19: 1-10. In our gospel for this Sunday Jesus receives hospitality from a most unlikely source – and resistance from those who should be his allies. After a long day’s journey into Jericho, Jesus invites himself to dinner at the home of a well-known sinner, Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who has literally gone out on a limb to see Jesus above the crowd. But Jesus being received into this home causes a problem for others – who wonder why he should associate with the likes of Zacchaeus?
Scripture – Luke 19: 1-10
10/24/10 – Jonathan Chute – “Secret Heart”
Sermon – Secret Heart
Luke 18: 9-14. This week’s gospel continues a series of parables that go against conventional ideas of personal righteousness. Jesus tells the story of two men who go to the temple to pray. One of them is an upstanding citizen, and the other is a complete moral failure, a tax collector. Whereas the righteous man thanks God for not making him like the other guy, the tax collector’s prayer is a pure plea for mercy. Jesus says that only one of the men went home that day justified in the eyes of God.
Scripture – Luke 18: 9-14
10/17/10 – Earl Butler – “The Point Is This”
Sermon – The Point Is This
2 Corinthians 9: 6 – 15. In this week’s scripture, we hear Paul offering encouragement to the Christians in Corinth. He is worried that his relationship with this church, which he has founded, has not gone well lately. He discovers that things are not as bad as he thought. In the light of that new hope, he invites them to share their generosity with other Christians, who are having a harder time. It is an understanding of generosity and giving which we can still follow today.
Scripture – 2 Corinthians 9: 6 – 15
10/10/10 – Jonathan Chute – “Faith in Action”
Sermon – Faith in Action
Luke 17: 11 – 19. This week’s gospel is a story of healing and hope. A group of lepers calls out to Jesus from the side of the road. He sees them and sends them on their way, telling them to present themselves in the temple. As they go, they discover that they are already healed. God does not wait till they have completed Jesus’ instructions to make them well. As it turns out, only one of the ten returns to express his gratitude. But lack of thankfulness does not cancel the healing. Grace does not depend on the gratitude of the receiver.
Scripture – Luke 17: 11 – 19
10/3/10 – Jonathan Chute – “A Place at the Table”
Sermon – A Place at the Table
Luke 17: 5 – 10. In response to his disciples’ desire that Jesus increase their faith, Jesus tells a parable about the servant and his master. The servant works by day in his master’s fields and by night in his master’s house. The master does not serve the servant. Rather, the servant’s satisfaction should be that he has done his duty, and that should be enough.
Scripture – Luke 17: 5 – 10
