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AWAKENING TO THE PROMISE OF GOD
EPIPHANY 2017
January 8 - February 26, 2017
Epiphany 6 - February 12, 2017
"Friends in Low Places" (outline)
Scripture: Luke 7:18-35
Soren Kierkegaard has a wonderful essay entitled "The Crowd Is Untruth". In today's readings, we see Jesus followed around by the same crowds as last week. Last week, Jesus did things for them to see. This week, he says things for them to hear. What does it mean to be an individual when confronted with a crowd? How do we separate ourselves and become the person God wishes us to be? Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
Audio is below; outline is above.
"Friends in Low Places" (outline)
Scripture: Luke 7:18-35
Soren Kierkegaard has a wonderful essay entitled "The Crowd Is Untruth". In today's readings, we see Jesus followed around by the same crowds as last week. Last week, Jesus did things for them to see. This week, he says things for them to hear. What does it mean to be an individual when confronted with a crowd? How do we separate ourselves and become the person God wishes us to be? Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
Audio is below; outline is above.
Epiphany 5 - February 5, 2017
"Rising to the Occasion"
Scripture: Luke 7:1-17
The spectacle of healings and resurrections can lead us to focus on exactly the thing Jesus doesn't want us to focus on. It is often the way of crowds. In some ways, the most intelligent thing in the world is a crowd (see some of the 'crowdsourcing' inventions and creations on Kickstarter and other platforms); but in other ways, the more people who are around us, the dumber we become. Either way, Jesus' healing of the Centurion's slave and the resurrection of the widow of Nain's only son were meant for the crowd, and thus us, to see. What were we meant to see?
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
PDF and audio in today's post.
"Rising to the Occasion"
Scripture: Luke 7:1-17
The spectacle of healings and resurrections can lead us to focus on exactly the thing Jesus doesn't want us to focus on. It is often the way of crowds. In some ways, the most intelligent thing in the world is a crowd (see some of the 'crowdsourcing' inventions and creations on Kickstarter and other platforms); but in other ways, the more people who are around us, the dumber we become. Either way, Jesus' healing of the Centurion's slave and the resurrection of the widow of Nain's only son were meant for the crowd, and thus us, to see. What were we meant to see?
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
PDF and audio in today's post.
Epiphany 4 - January 29, 2017
"The Work of Rest"
Scripture: Luke 6:1-16
Celebrating the Sabbath is a lost art in most Protestant circles these days. That is the cost of legislating and legalizing what should be a joyful response to a gift from God. Enforcement of faithful practice will kill the spirit of any practice. But that doesn't mean the Sabbath isn't important and central to understanding Jesus' words in Luke today and in our spiritual lives. We explore it today.
Thank you, and blessings to you! Pastor Seth
"The Work of Rest"
Scripture: Luke 6:1-16
Celebrating the Sabbath is a lost art in most Protestant circles these days. That is the cost of legislating and legalizing what should be a joyful response to a gift from God. Enforcement of faithful practice will kill the spirit of any practice. But that doesn't mean the Sabbath isn't important and central to understanding Jesus' words in Luke today and in our spiritual lives. We explore it today.
Thank you, and blessings to you! Pastor Seth
Epiphany 3 - January 22, 2017
"Tell, Show, Do"
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11
Jesus was a teacher, a Rabbi, and back in the day, teachers relied on different methods to communicate what they were trying to teach. In today's story, Jesus provides a huge catch of fish for Peter and his crew. Then he says, "I will make you a fisher of people." What does that mean? Check out what we think!
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
"Tell, Show, Do"
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11
Jesus was a teacher, a Rabbi, and back in the day, teachers relied on different methods to communicate what they were trying to teach. In today's story, Jesus provides a huge catch of fish for Peter and his crew. Then he says, "I will make you a fisher of people." What does that mean? Check out what we think!
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
Epiphany 2 - January 15, 2017
"The Dream That Will Not Die"
Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing Rev. Vance Williams preach about his experiences with racism in his youth in the deep South and with the racial reconciliation work of Koinonia Farms in Georgia. Thank you for sharing the Word with us this morning, Vance!
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
Only audio this week.
"The Dream That Will Not Die"
Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing Rev. Vance Williams preach about his experiences with racism in his youth in the deep South and with the racial reconciliation work of Koinonia Farms in Georgia. Thank you for sharing the Word with us this morning, Vance!
Peace and grace to all! Pastor Seth
Only audio this week.
Epiphany 1 - January 8, 2017
"Awakening: What Then Shall We Do?"
Scripture - Luke 3:1-22
We begin the season of Epiphany today. Some years, we recognize this day by remembering the Wise Men. Other years, we recognize Epiphany through Jesus' baptism. This year, we look at Jesus' baptism, and when we talk about Jesus' baptism, we are also talking about our baptism.
I have attached the outline I followed above, and the audio is below.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth
"Awakening: What Then Shall We Do?"
Scripture - Luke 3:1-22
We begin the season of Epiphany today. Some years, we recognize this day by remembering the Wise Men. Other years, we recognize Epiphany through Jesus' baptism. This year, we look at Jesus' baptism, and when we talk about Jesus' baptism, we are also talking about our baptism.
I have attached the outline I followed above, and the audio is below.
Peace to all! Pastor Seth