remembrance

Epiphany + 5 -- Blessed to be a Blessing

 
The various scriptures for this Sunday are HERE.  The sermon is from the Luke with touches from the Psalm and the (unread) Jeremiah.  
I wonder if the title doesn't give the big idea to us:  "Blessed to be a Blessing."  

Advent 1, 2018 -- Waiting Well

Scripture:  Luke 21: 25-36
Big Idea:  Our theme for the day is Waiting Well.  The Reformed theologian Jürgen Moltmann speaks of Advent 1 in terms of a title of a book he wrote: "With Theology of Hope… I tried to present the Christian hope no longer as such an 'opium of the beyond' but rather as the divine power that makes us alive in this world." 
My view is that there is an end time coming, be about our work, and task.  We wait well by being about our tasks, be busy.  The reign/kingdom is near and it helps make us alive in our now. 

November 25, 2018 -- Christ the King!

John 18: 33-37
 
We stand at the end of the church year.  It is New Year’s Eve in New York City and the ball has gone down and we are here to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  Who is Jesus for us?  Really for us?  What is our no equivocation answer?  He is King? 
 
If not, why not?  I expect while the scriptures are NOT John 3: 15-17, I will get to John 3: 15-17, particularly 17.  We can live according to the cynical values of Pilate or …. the choice is ours.