The 10:30 version of June 17th Sermon.  The title of "If you can't get out of it, get into it" comes from a Parker Palmer reflection I quote.  Use a couple of mountain climbing illustrations but the big idea is staying anchored in Jesus come good times or more challenging times. The other readings for this Sunday focused on horaculture themes of grafting and I used them a little.   

Elder Mary Kavila preached on my behalf this June 10th last.  Her scripture was Matthew 5: 14-16.  As is usual when Mary preaches she brings both gentle understanding and a challenge to the application of the scripture.  

The Scripture this week was from Old Testament Proverbs, Chapter 7, but the focus was more on the broader topic of faith, family, friends.  Played with idea of those three important words.  The setting was a borderline baccalureate service for Hilltop graduating students and chose to try and focus on how those hearing the words could use them to help be mentors and coaches.  

This is my Trinity Sunday attempt to explain the Trinity.  The passage is from John 3.  I focused on the Holy Spirit, since we focus on that so infrequently.  

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.