Matthew 18:10-14

Matthew 18:10-14 

English Standard Version 

  It's easy to read this story and think that it's great that Jesus goes looking for the lost sheep.

  It's life-changing when we realize that we are the lost sheep that Jesus has gone looking for.  

  Do you believe that Jesus is rejoicing over you?  

  Do you believe that God doesn't want a single lost sheep to perish?

  Give thanks for the God who comes looking for you, and for the God whose will it is for you to have life, and have it abundantly.

Matthew 18:1-6

Matthew 18:1-6 

English Standard Version 

  When I hear my children talk about how they spend their days, and then I think about how I spent my day, I often think that being like a child sounds like a great idea.  Sometimes, I'll ask Charlotte what she plans to do with a day.  "Play," is usually the response, sometimes with detailed plans, sometimes with little more than just 'play'.  Sounds lovely, doesn't it?

  In Jesus' time, children weren't regarded very highly, so to be told to be childlike would've been scorned by the elite.  No one who wanted to be serious would be like a child.

  But to be like a child is to trust, completely and whole heartedly.  To be a child is to marvel and wonder at the world.  To be a child is to immerse yourself in something.  To be a child is many wonderful things.  There are some not-so-wonderful things as well, but to be a child is to receive gifts with joy and to fully depend on a parent to provide for your needs.  

  To be a child is to know you need help, and to look to the one who can provide.

Matthew 16:24-28

Matthew 16:24-28 

English Standard Version 

  When you think about the most valuable things in your life, where does your faith fall on that list?  When you think about what you'd sacrifice anything for, what comes first?  When you imagine yourself pursuing something so valuable that you'd never give up the chase, what is it?

  Christ is pushing on the apostles - not to make them comfortable, but to help them see the unsurpassed value and beauty of the Gospel.  It's worth EVERYTHING.  In the short term, there is sacrifice, and nobody likes sacrifice... but in the long term, the gain is so much greater than the cost.  Christ is reminding us that what we get in return is so much greater than anything we'll ever be asked to give up.  

  So take a moment today and think about how and what you're pursuing.  It's not an easy thing to do -- most of us are so busy that we're running on autopilot from task to task to task.  But pay attention to the shape of your life, because what you do daily becomes what defines you.  The little things add up to our lives, and we don't want to omit faith in our daily choices.  

  May we pursue Christ above absolutely anything else.

Sermon for Sept 26, 2021

Matthew 16:13-20

Matthew 16:13-20 

English Standard Version 

  It's pretty easy to lose sight of the last part of Jesus' declaration here -- the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.  

  Remember this if you're ever tempted to lose hope.  Things are often not going the church's way, but the church is an eternal institution with the all-powerful God at its head.  The church isn't going anywhere, no matter how many articles may be written about the church being irrelevant.  May we rest from anxiety about the future of the church, knowing it is secure in Christ's hands, and may we then take part in our congregations with the joy of knowing we are part of something eternal, and that while individual congregations swell and grow and somethings fade and close, they are joined in the river of the eternal church that goes on forever, and they participate in the life of something far greater than we can imagine.  May that give us joy at the privilege of partaking in something so great!

Matthew 15:32-39

Matthew 15:32-39

English Standard Version 

  We have a choice in how we see the world.  The disciples looked and saw what they didn't have -- enough bread to feed the crowd.  Jesus looked at the crowd and saw what they didn't have, but he also saw their devotion, and he saw them with compassion.  

  When we look at the world with compassion, we see differently.  While we still see lack, we see people with eyes ready to understand at a different level.  We see the things that are there, in addition to the lack.  We look with eyes of the heart ready to identify with those we see, for we all know need.

  May we find the satisfaction we're so hungry for.  Only Christ can truly offer this.  In him, we find abundance beyond what we can ask or imagine.

  

Matthew 14:34-36

Matthew 14:34-36 

English Standard Version 

  Have you ever had the experience in a restaurant where you're dining with someone and your dish is extraordinary?  What's the first thing you want to do?  So often, you're imploring the person you're with to try a bite, to experience the same joy you're experiencing, to share the food that is causing delight.  

  Or maybe you went out to a new park, and it was beautiful and serene and incredible, so you found a friend and brought them to experience the park with you.

  This is similar to what's happening here.  When people recognize Jesus, they went and found community members in need, and they brought them to Jesus.  

  Although in this setting, they went another step.  Not only did they bring their friends to Jesus, but they then implored Jesus.  They became advocates for their friends and colleagues.  This is the church at its best -- not only going out into the world, bearing the Good News of Jesus' love and power, but also going to Jesus and interceding on behalf of the world around us.  The church goes back and forth between the world and Jesus, and in so doing, we are filled with awe and wonder and delight through the grace of God.

Matthew 14:28-33

Matthew 14:28-33 

English Standard Version 

  I've always found two things about this passage fascinating.  The first is that Peter's situation doesn't change when he sees the wind -- it's his attention that changes.  Peter was standing on the water when his attention was focused on Jesus, and the wind was roaring, but Peter wasn't afraid.  But when he turns his attention from Jesus, then he is afraid, and he beings to sink.

  The second thing is that Jesus reacts immediately, instinctively, to Peter's danger.  Jesus doesn't wait until Peter sinks or gets two-thirds of the way under the water to reach out.  Jesus isn't trying to teach Peter a lesson - Jesus loves Peter and reacts to save him.  Jesus waits until after he has saved Peter to ask about Peter's doubt.

  We are all Peter.  We all have diverted attention, looking around at the world, and often ending up very afraid.  When we keep our attention focused on Jesus, and knowing both the promises Jesus has made and the ability Jesus has to keep all those promises, then we're less afraid.  And when we do get afraid, may we remember that Jesus is always ready to save, willing to save, strong enough to save.  

Matthew 14:22-27

Matthew 14:22-27 

English Standard Version 

  For me, the hardest part of COVID, the most stressful part, has been all the things we haven't known, about the virus and how it spreads and the vaccines and how long they last.  The list of things we now know is growing, but there's still so much that we don't know.  I remember 18 months ago when we thought we could hunker down for 2 weeks and get this under control, and 6 months ago when we thought we'd roll the vaccine out and get this under control, and it still feels like it's out of control in so many ways.

  The disciples are in a situation where they don't understand.  We can all agree that people don't walk on water.  We may be more advanced in our scientific knowledge in the present day, but no one believed that people could easily walk on water, now or then.  So this would have been unknown, and in the midst of this unknown situation, the disciples are in a storm at night, and so they can't see a way forward.

  To the disciples, Jesus tells them, do not be afraid, because Jesus is near. 

  To you and I, Jesus tells us, do not be afraid, because Jesus is near.  

  May we trust in the presence of God, exhale our fears, and believe that the one who is on the throne, who is in control, is always near.

Sermon for September 19, 2021

Matthew 14:13-21

Matthew 14:13-21 

English Standard Version

  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

  It's in the 23rd Psalm, and we find that truth here again in Matthew -- they all ate and were satisfied.  

  In Christ, we find our true satisfaction.  Only God can give us what we truly need so that we don't hunger any more.  We spend our lives trying to find other things to satisfy, but truly, only God can do this.  

  May we find the wisdom to turn to God for what we truly need.

Matthew 14:1-11

Matthew 14:1-11 

English Standard Version 

  When I say that I want to win the lottery, I have a very specific vision of what that looks like.  I'm sure others do as well -- we're often not thinking about the downsides that so often occur in those situations.  

  Just like when I say that I want to eat lots of brisket, I picture myself enjoying it.  I'm often not thinking about the inevitable stomachache that follows from me eating twice as much food as I need to!

  When I think about how my life should go as a Christian, I have a picture in my head.  I should get all the benefit from living a life filled with peace and comfort, and that will spill over into every area of my life.

  But it doesn't always look exactly like we want it to.  Through Jesus Christ, God has secured for us an eternal victory, and over the scope of eternity, our life is more 'successful' than we could ever ask or imagine.  We will dwell with God in perfect peace and be completely satisfied.

  That said, it doesn't necessarily mean that our life on this earth will always look exactly like we want it to.  John the Baptist didn't imagine that his faithfulness would lead him to be beheaded.  And yet he followed where his path led.  We often don't imagine that our path will lead us to challenging spots, and yet we are called to follow where God might lead.  I pray none of us end up in the same position as John the Baptist, but even when the worst does occur on this earth, Scripture reminds us that there is an eternal scene that is playing out where joy and love and life are eternally victorious, and in that scope, we will dwell forever.  

  So may we follow with courage, and dwell in security, even when life proves challenging.

Matthew 13:53-58

Matthew 13:53-58 

English Standard Version 

  To those who think it would be easy to believe in Jesus if you'd been present when he was walking and teaching and healing on earth, I present exhibit A.  Here's Jesus, doing mighty works, teaching with wisdom, and the people are offended.  Why?

  Because the Gospel is offensive.  It teaches us that the things that this world places great value in, such as riches and beauty and renown, aren't able to give us ultimate value, and we are to therefore spend our lives selflessly caring for one another.  The Gospel shows us that we are each broken, and yet through the grace of God, we are loved and redeemed despite our brokenness.  There is a great price to pay to redeem us, one we cannot pay through our own good works, and someone else pays it for us.  It's a hard message to hear that we cannot save ourselves.

  The people were offended, but Jesus still went to the cross for them.  He loves us still.  He loves you still, despite when we take offense, and when we turn away -- there is still grace for us.  At the end of this passage it says that Jesus did not do many mighty works there due to their unbelief.  But he still did the mightiest work of all, his death on the cross, despite the unbelief of the crowds in Jerusalem, despite their cries to crucify him.  He loves us, despite our flaws, because God has made us and we are his.

Matthew 13:44-46

Matthew 13:44-46 

English Standard Version 

  What's your treasure?  What would you sell everything for?  

  Our first reaction to that question should tell us a lot about ourselves.  Our desires are not as they should be, due to the reality of our fallen nature, but the Holy Spirit is at work in each and every one of us, reminding us that we are made for eternity, that being rich towards God is a greater treasure than we can imagine, like finding ourselves in an inexhaustible storehouse of the finest jewels and richest foods.  The feast in heaven is beyond what we can imagine, beyond what we can recreate, and yet every time we celebrate something beautiful in this world, be it fine food, beautiful art, or works of nature, we are being reminding of true beauty, of great riches, of the eternity for which we are made.

  There is real treasure waiting for us.  May we each spend time in prayer seeking out this treasure, and praying for the wisdom to align our lives here on earth with our lives as they will be in heaven.

Matthew 13:24-30

Matthew 13:24-30 

English Standard Version 

  When I think of the vehemence with which people these days often attack one another, this parable comes to mind.  We are often so passionate in pursuing our opponents, quick to cut them down on any real or perceived misstep, that I don't know that we take great care in thinking about the damage we might do.  Here, Jesus is advising a gracious approach, calling all to be tender towards each and every soul, and entrusting Jesus to sort things out in the end.  The world might be a very different place if we defaulted towards treating one another with grace, recognizing the great need we ourselves have for it, and not being so worried about getting in our own judgment towards one another.

Matthew 12:33-37

Matthew 12:33-37 

English Standard Version 

*************

  I'm not great at distinguishing trees from one another.  They all look pretty similar to me, but if a tree is laden with oranges, I can usually figure out that it's an orange tree.  I don't need to taste an apple from the tree to know that a tree filled with apples is an apple tree.  It's evident.

  When I hear Jesus talking about a tree being known by its fruit, I can't help but think of the most significant tree in the Bible, the one upon which Jesus was crucified.  The cross is meant to be a symbol of death.  It's the ultimate irony that God has taken a symbol of cruelty and turned it into a place where we find hope and gratitude, because that tree is known for the life that it has created for you and I.  That tree is a place of life, despite being known for death.

  It's the greatest of many reversals we find in Scripture.  We who are hopeless due to sin find hope in Christ.  We who commit acts of evil deserve condemnation, and yet because of the fruit of the tree of the cross, we receive life instead.

Matthew 12:9-14

Matthew 12:9-14 

New Revised Standard Version 

  Throughout the Gospels, the Pharisees are portrayed as using people to try and entrap Jesus -- they want to catch him in a technical violation of a rule, and therefore use that as justification to ostracize him.  People, even those who are suffering and hurting, are simply tools to be used by the Pharisees to try and win.

  The world suffers whenever people are seen as tools to be used for gain by someone else.  It happens time and time again -- people are pawns on a chessboard, manipulated to try and score points against an opponent.

  God made people in the image of God and declared them good.  May we treat one another in such a way, honoring God by honoring each and every person.  Everyone is suffering in some way -- may we walk with one another on our journeys, and in doing so, discover grace anew.  Jesus was always wonderfully present with each person he met... may we be the same, gracious and loving, looking to serve.

Matthew 10:5-15

Matthew 10:5-15 

English Standard Version 

  It's fascinating to me to think of Judas taking part in this ministry.  He was there the entire time, an inner part of the men and women who surrounded Jesus throughout his public ministry and were witnesses to some of the most extraordinary acts that have ever taken place on this planet.  He was there, for three years, hearing what Jesus was saying and taking part in the ongoing mission work of God in communities throughout the region.  He saw it, he experienced it.  

  And still, he betrayed Jesus.  

  So I don't think there's a magic formula for being more involved in church that will cure what ails us.  Only Jesus can truly do that.  It's not having a greater number of activities -- it's having a heart that's been handed over to Jesus.  It's a day-after-day surrendering of the will to Jesus Christ, entrusting ourselves to his gracious care, recognizing our own propensity to falter, and seeking the peace and guidance of the Holy Spirit to guide us through each coming day.  We can give thanks that God promises to guide us through the storm into shelter, and let us remember that we don't do this on our own strength, but on God's.  

Sermon for September 5, 2021

Matthew 9:32-34

Matthew 9:32-34 

English Standard Version 

  There's an old joke that says that if Jesus showed up today and walked on water, people would complain that if he was really the Son of God, he would've learned how to swim.

  The Pharisees were looking for reasons to oppose Jesus, and they found them.  At the end of Jesus' public ministry, the disciples were looking for reasons to be afraid, and they found them.  When Paul was writing his letters to the churches, he was looking for reasons to encourage them, and he often found them.

  When you go out into the world, what are you looking for?  Are you searching for reasons to be encouraged in your walk with Christ?  Are you looking for evidence of God's presence, of God's love?  What are you searching for?

Matthew 9:27-31

Matthew 9:27-31

English Standard Version

  What would you pay to see Jesus heal someone?

  It's easy for us to think that if we saw Jesus heal someone, then our faith would be certain and it'd be easier to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.

  But lots of people saw Jesus perform healings.  At the end of his life, however, everyone had abandoned him.  So clearly just seeing Jesus heal someone wasn't enough.  It must take more.

  Jesus understands this.  When Jesus heals these two blind men, he tells them not to tell anyone about it, although that plan doesn't seem to work very well.  Jesus knows it takes more than witnessing a miracle.  It takes the work of the Holy Spirit, working within us, to bring us to faith.  Miracles are a wonderful thing, but God is at work in so many different and often subtle ways.  Let us be on the lookout for God at work in multiple ways, in all sorts of people, that we may recognize God's claim on all of creation in the magnificent and miraculous and ordinary.

Matthew 9:18-26

Matthew 9:18-26 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus' ministry is one of interruptions -- he's constantly going somewhere, and then out of the blue, someone rushes up with a need.  When interrupted, Jesus turns his full attention to the source of interruptions, and then addresses the need, before turning back to the mission at hand.  (Jesus always completes the mission -- never deterred!)  

  So there's one way to read this -- as advice about how to be more like Jesus.  And we all benefit from being more like Jesus -- being more compassionate and patient when we're interrupted.  

  But the Gospels primarily teach us about God.  When we read this, we learn about how compassionate and patient God is with us.  When we're like children, running up and shouting with our problems, God hears us, and God cares about our needs, about our problems, about our hurts.  God listens, and in Jesus Christ, God has already healed the biggest problem we will ever face.