September 5, 2021 – Jonathan Chute, “The Dog Days of Summer”
Sermon: sermon
This week’s gospel presents one of the more uncomfortable pictures of Jesus, as he responds to a request from a woman whose daughter is sick. She is a gentile, a foreigner, and he suggests that she has no claim on him. But she will not be put off in her search. In the end, Jesus heals two people – the young girl, and a man who is deaf and mute. Both events take place outside the area where Jesus carried out most of his work. In a land where he might have found resistance, instead he discovers a hunger for hope. Mark 7:24-37 is the text for Jonathan’s sermon, “The Dog Days of Summer.”
Scripture: scripture
September 12, 2021 – Jonathan Chute, “Tongue-tied”
Sermon: sermon
This week’s scripture comes from the Letter of James. James is not a letter in the usual sense. We do not know to whom it was written, when or why. It is more an essay on healthy human behavior than specifically Christian theology. The letter encourages believers that faith is to be lived out in acts of justice and mercy. Without those, faith is dead. In this section of the letter James speaks about the dangers posed by the human tongue. Something so small has the power to do both great good and terrible harm. James 3:1-12 is the text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Tongue-tied.”
Scripture: scripture
September 19, 2021 – April Herron, “Who Is The Greatest?”
Sermon: sermon
At certain points in his ministry, Jesus concentrated on trying to prepare his disciples for events to come. He wanted there to be at least a few people with an understanding of God’s ways when he himself was no longer present in person to explain things. The disciples, however, struggled to grasp what Jesus was talking about, even when he repeated himself over and over. In this Sunday’s reading, Jesus offers his followers a demonstration of how to welcome God and be first in the family of faith. The scripture text is Mark 9:30-37. The title of April’s sermon is, “Who Is The Greatest?”
Scripture: scripture
September 26, 2021 – Jonathan Chute, “Because!”
Sermon: sermon
In this week’s gospel the disciples tell Jesus that they found someone performing healings in his name. They tried to put a stop to it, since the man wasn’t one of them. But Jesus says that good deeds done in his name are never a bad thing! We don’t want to put stumbling blocks in front of others. It is hard enough to be faithful even without added obstacles. Then he offers a rather shocking suggestion of what to do if something does get in the way. Mark 9:38-50 is the text for Jonathan’s sermon, “Because!”
Scripture: scripture
