Holding on to the Righteousness of God
Happy New Year. Today is the first Sunday of the New Year in the calendar for the Church. The sermon for today will focus on some of the basics of Christianity and what that can mean for our life together.Continue Reading
We follow what is called the Church Year. Four Sundays before Christmas we celebrate that Jesus, the Son of God was born; and one day He will bring a new Heaven and a New Earth. We celebrate how Jesus showed himself to be God’s son. Then we focus on the meaning of his suffering and death. Then we celebrate his rising from the dead. Then we focus on the birthday of Christianity and for almost half the year we ponder the question what it means for the Church to be Christ’s presence in the world. Then we come to Christ the King Sunday. It is like the Hallelujah Chorus of the Church year.Continue Reading
When I was in seminary chapel was offered mid-morning, Monday through Friday. I was not used to going to chapel during the week and found it a great time to get caught up on my homework. But over time I noticed that Dr. Stirewalt, my professor who taught me Romans, attended every day. So, one day I asked him who had forgotten more scripture than I had learned why he went to chapel Monday through Friday.Continue Reading
LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL
In recent times our world including our nation have been going through a terrible time dealing with Covid-19. There are recent signs that we just might get this terrible disease under control. Pfizer is claiming it has developed a medicine that can be taken if you discover you have Covid-19. Over 80% of those who have taken it after developing Covid-19 have been able to avoid going to the hospital but were able to recover from the disease at home.Continue Reading
Such a sacred part of the Christian life of faith is prayer. Jesus’ healing of blind Bartimaeus gives us another opportunity to look at prayer and how it can affect our life.Continue Reading
Hi; I am Brother Martin Luther. I am credited with starting the Lutheran Church. Nothing could be further from the truth. After much prayer and study; especially of the Psalms of David; and the book of Romans; it was like the gates of heaven opened to me; “the just shall live by faith.” I had been spending years trying to make God love me and I discovered God already loved me; the key to living is the trust that it is so.Continue Reading
A Broom to Clean the Church
I have a son. He’s 19. Since he was young, he has always been involved in sports. He’s played baseball, basketball with his schools and travel team, ran cross-country and track. He excelled in each of these sports and was well-liked by his coaches and fellow players. While he no longer plays any of those sports, he is now a freshman at UNC-Charlotte where he was accepted into the School of Architecture.Continue Reading
HOW MIGHT I EARN ETERNAL LIFE?
Jesus is headed to Jerusalem where he will save the world by allowing himself to be crucified between two thieves. On the Cross he will defeat the powers of sin and death by absorbing their fury. And three days later the wonder of all wonders is going to happen. God is going to raise Jesus from the dead to die no more.Continue Reading
ON BECOMING A PERSON
Years ago, we went camping in Southern Ohio far from the lights of a major city. After dark we were led by a ranger down a path to an open meadow and encouraged to look at the sky. I had never seen the stars and planets in the sky as clearly before. It was an awesome display. I could almost imagine the shepherd David looking at the sky years ago before when he wrote Psalm 8.Continue Reading
LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER
I am involved in a ministry called Via de Cristo. It helps people grow on their Christian faith journey starting with a weekend retreat and continuing by encouraging participation in a Christian Support Group to grow in their discipleship with Jesus.Continue Reading