Are you a member? There are lots of times and places when we might be asked such a question, such as when we try to enter a private golf course, or when we try to purchase something from an organization at a members-only discounted price. If you are a member of certain clubs and organizations,…
Sermon Text: Matthew 21:9-11 Before his arrival at Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, Jesus – who was known to be a descendant of the royal family of Israel – had also developed a reputation as an awe-inspiring wonder-worker. He had been very compassionate and generous in performing miracles for needy people. The hungry had…
Genesis 22:1-18 Think about someone right now whom you would consider a friend. You are more than likely thinking about someone with whom you have some significant shared experiences, or whose life experiences are similar to yours. The closest friends we have tend to be people like this. Those common experiences serves as a bonding…
John 6:26-69 After the miraculous feeding of the multitude, which today’s Gospel reading from St. John recounts, Jesus and his disciples left the place where this had happened and went to Capernaum. The next day, when the people had figured out where Jesus had gone, they followed him. It would seem that they wanted an…
Ephesians 4:17–5:9 Our text is from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, including today’s second lesson, but also including several verses that immediately precede that section of the epistle. And so we read, beginning with verse 17 of the fourth chapter of Ephesians: This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer…
Matthew 15:21-28 We think of Jesus as a Savior who loves us and accepts us, and who takes a very personal interest in each one of us. And we think of him as a Savior who treats everyone in this way – without the bigotries that so often taint us, and the way we feel…
Genesis 3:1-21 The devil generally follows a certain well-rehearsed strategy in the spiritual warfare that he wages against the human race. He has not made any fundamental changes in his tactics since he started this war against humanity in the Garden of Eden millennia ago. The reason why Satan’s basic strategy has stayed the same,…
Jonah 3:1-10 The reading from the Book of Jonah that we heard a few minutes ago tells us that, after Jonah called the ruler and people of Nineveh to repentance for their sins, they did indeed repent. And their repentance was accompanied by certain outward actions that symbolized and underscored their humility before God, and…
1 Corinthians 12:31b–13:13 The thirteenth chapter of St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians – which we heard read a few minutes ago – is often called the Bible’s “Love Chapter.” And since the institution of marriage is – or is supposed to be – marked by love, and by two people being in love,…
Luke 8:4-15 Those who practice sorcery believe that the incantations they speak, in casting spells, have the power to produce the effect that they want. It is believed that if the sorcerer says the right words, in the right way, those words will make something happen. It doesn’t matter if the person or people who…