|
NOVEMBER 12, 2011 - YEAR A |
 |
 |
 |
|
Judges 4:1-7 
Psalm 123
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
Homilist: Warren Trenchard
The Old Testament text for today introduces us to the story of Deborah. Set in about the mid 12th century BC, this narrative describes the activities of a female shofet, commonly called a “judge.” The shofet was an undifferentiated executive among the tribes of Israel who filled several administrative roles including the deciding of legal cases.
Deborah was unique among the listed Israelite judges not only because she was the only woman among them but also because of the wide range of her activities and varied roles that she played. She is first described as a prophetess. As the story develops, Deborah delivers a message from Yahweh to a male colleague named Barak, ordering him to prepare for battle against Sisera and the forces of the Canaanite king Jabin, who, as the text says, “had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years” (v. 3).
The text then introduces Deborah and identifies her as the wife of Lappidoth (v. 4). We know nothing else about Lappidoth or Deborah’s role as wife and possibly mother. That she was the more prominent and important of the two is obvious from the fact that, compared to the simple mention of his name, her exploits are recorded and celebrated in two chapters of the Book of Judges.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
OCTOBER 22, 2011 - YEAR A |
|
|
|
|
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6 , 19-23
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 22:34-46
Homilist: Christopher Kaatz
Topic: Continuing to ask questions
Theme: The Great Disappointment
Thesis: God wants us to keep digging and searching for answers even if we think we already have them.
Transitional Question: What did Jesus do?
I know it’s early, but I want you to imagine something with me. Let’s close our eyes and think back 167 years. It is early morning. The birds chirp loudly to one another. Dew still clings to the slender blades of grass. The first rays of sunlight pierce the black sky. The air so cool and crisp that you can see your own breath. You are not alone this morning. You are standing with your friends and your relatives staring, eyes transfixed on the heavens waiting to see Jesus coming again. You stand there, time ticks away and yet you stand. Waiting… Hoping… Praying…
This was the day worth waiting for. This was the last pay check, the last diploma, the dessert if you want to call it that as a reward for all of their hard work. The Millerites had indeed been busy. Through the work of William Miller, Joshua Himes, and other Millerite leaders the cry of the coming of Jesus was preached throughout America. S.S. Snow had calculated the date as October 22, 1844 and the Millerite world was abuzz with excitement and preparation.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 - YEAR A |
|
|
|
|
Exodus 14:19-31
Psalm 114
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35
Homilist: Mel Campbell
Maria Mayo suggests that the Old Testament seems to focus mainly on God's forgiveness of individuals or groups. In contrast the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels also addresses how human beings can and should forgive each other.
In Jesus' first-century context, forgiveness had concrete implications. The Greek word translated as "forgive" in the New Testament, carried a wide range of meanings, including to remit (a debt), to leave (something or someone) alone, to allow (an action), to leave, to send away, to desert or abandon, and even to divorce.
Ms Mayo points out that the Greek word, for forgive, ah FEE-ay-mee, appears 146 times in the New Testament, but it is translated in most English versions as "forgive" only 38 of those times. Considering the entire range of meanings of this word gives us some indication of what "forgiveness" might have meant to listeners in Jesus' first-century context as compared with our 21st century thinking. Now my problem is, with my very limited knowledge of the original Greek and only a cursory insight into 1st century culture, is to bring some practicality to one of the texts this morning.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6 , 19-23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14
Homilist: V. Bailey Gillespie
The texts that we have gathered to think about today provide an interesting panoply of scenes for us to think about.
Exodus 32 gives us three people to focus on -- God, Moses, and Aaron in contrast and in dialogue about sinning and forgetting.
The Psalms provides a picture of our God, a God in his majesty, and purity, Moses in his role as intercessor—an almost Messianic figure, if you will.
To read more, click and download the attached PDF file.
|
|
Exodus 1:8-2:10
Psalm 124
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20
Homilist: Halcyon Wilson
Why do you believe God is real? Think about it. Why do you believe God is real? Has god appeared to you in person? Do you believe because you’ve seen the results of God’s work? Do you believe in some invisible power that creates life. Do you believe because the Bible tells you so?
When Pastor Chris asked this of the audience at the 9:30 service several weeks ago, there were many different answers. My favorite one came from Kerby (Chris’ husband). He said he believes there is a God when he sees the heartbeat of a baby chick. Because he is a scientist researcher, the answer especially intrigues me. Why does a baby chick’s heart beat?
Jesus asked Peter “Who do you believe I am?” The text read this morning in Matthew 16 . Peter answered without hesitation that he believed Jesus to be the “Christ, the son of the Living God.” How did Peter know Christ was the Messiah – the promised God who would deliver them?
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 12 |
