This sermon was given at the 1030 AM service on March 10, 2019 at Hilltop UMC in Sandy, Utah.  

I jokingly call it "Episode Zero Point One:  A Sermon ... " because I intend to break up this podcast with sermons, conversations and reflections.  Said another way, "I will have Episode #1 -- A Conversation with ..." Here, Zero Point One reminds me these are not ready for prime time yet, and I may end up deleting some of these.  The number means I will probably do about 10 or so before I am ready to really 're-launch.'  But it helps to remind me I am in Beta Time (development).  

Part of my objective here was to get myself shown as active again on the Apple Podcast Website.  

The passage is Luke 4: 1-13.  

Obviously one of the things I need to do is to learn how to get rid of the 60 cycle hum - a new mic?  A work in progress. These will get better ... feedback welcome.  Rough I know.  

Text 1 Peter 3:13-22

Our first Sunday in Lent called us to remember who we are in Christ. We are a peculiar or "chosen" people, marked out by our baptism. This letter is a call to be encouraged, even when we face trials or suffering because of it. Baptism calls us to remember Christ's passion on our behalf. 

Text: Romans 4:13-25

On the second Sunday of Lent we examined the biblical story of Abraham. His faith is an example that still calls to us today. From Abraham would come the seed through whom all nations of the world will be blessed. The call and covenant of God with Abraham would have been a story that Jesus would have been familiar with. It is ultimatley a story of God's faithfulness. This faith story provides continuity between the Old and New Testaments. We cannot understand the latter without the former.

Text: Exodus 20:1-17

On the third Sunday in Lent we take a look at the two tables known as Ten Commandments. 

Tablet One deals with loving God.

Tablet Two deals with loving our neighbors.

The call for the Christian is to keep these two callings ever before us. As we love the LORD our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, we will then live such lives that allow us to love and affrim our neighbors. 

Text: Ephesians 2:1-10

Join us this week as Susan Dunlap reflects on Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus and how reconciliation looks in the chruch as they serve a world that is diverse, but beautiful. 

Because of Christ, we are not only reconcilied with the Father, but we can now also be reconclied with one another. 

Text: Jeremiah 31:31-34

How shoud we understand the story we find in Scripture? How do we, as a community, develop a church-wide approach to teh good work of studying and wrestling with Scritpure. How do we understand the role of tradition 

5 Rules for Studying the Bible: 

• We understand the Bible through Jesus 
• Look for the spirit of the passage 
• Find Scriptures that give you a lens to have the eyes of your heart opened  
• Read and study the great teachers (Yes, that includes Bonhoeffer)
• Be careful not to create your own theology and tradition 

Studying God's Word takes work, but it is a good work permeated with grace and truth.