Reverend Neil Taylor - Podcast

Do Not Be Afraid!

Read Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Sunday (Year A)

Do Not Be Afraid!

On this Easter morning, Matthew gives us a resurrection scene unlike any other—a moment of holy drama and divine power. The angel who appears at the tomb knows exactly how to make an entrance: a sudden earthquake, blazing like lightning, and a mighty flourish that rolls back the large sealed stone. This is no gentle figure from a greeting card—this is an angel with attitude. He rolls the stone away, then casually sits on it, crossing his great arms as he looks over at the guards—men who are now showing all the symptoms of sheer terror. Matthew says, “they became like dead men.”

But notice—this angel says nothing to them. The message “Do not be afraid” is not for the guards, nor for Caiaphas or Pilate, nor for the powers that tried to hold the Christ in the tomb. For them, the message is on hold. Instead, this angel’s words are reserved for those who seek the Lord—those women who come in love and faith to the place where hope seemed lost. The tomb will not be a prison, and death will not be the Son of God’s final resting place. On Easter morning, God turns every fearful silence into the sound of resurrection.

The Suffering Substitute

Read Isaiah 53:4-6

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (Year A)

The Suffering Substitute

Why did Jesus die? That question has echoed through the centuries, and Isaiah 53 gives us one of the clearest answers in all of Scripture. The prophet tells us that Christ was “pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities,” showing us that the cross was not an accident, but the saving plan of God for sinners like us.
In this message, we’ll look closely at Isaiah 53:4-6 and see what it teaches us about the burden Jesus carried, the guilt we could never remove, and the grace God freely gives. If you’ve ever wondered what the cross really means, this passage points us to the heart of the gospel: the Servant of the Lord suffered in our place so that we might be brought back to God.

Who Is This?

Read Matthew 21:1-10

Liturgy of the Palms Homily (Year A)

Who Is This?

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, Matthew tells us that “the whole city was stirred up, asking, ‘Who is this?’” It’s a simple question—just three words—but it carries the weight of Holy Week. These weren’t the cheering crowds waving palms. They were the city folk, settled into the routines of power and politics, commerce and conversation. They heard the commotion at the gate, saw a small procession of peasants and children crying out “Hosanna,” and wondered, “Who is this?"

Set Your Mind on the Spirit

Read John 11 and Romans 8:1-11

Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A)

Set Your Mind on the Spirit 

Today’s message for the Fifth Sunday in Lent is titled “Set Your Mind on the Spirit.” Drawing from John 11, Romans 8:1-11, and 2 Corinthians 6:2, we will listen for God’s voice in the midst of silence, struggle, and hope. In the raising of Lazarus, we see that what looks like delay or distance can become the very place where God’s life and power are revealed. Romans 8 then calls us to a new way of thinking and living—no longer according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit who brings freedom and life. And 2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us that “now is the day of salvation,” inviting us to respond today to the Spirit’s gracious work.

Who Sinned?

Read John 9:1-13, 28-38

Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year A) 

Who Sinned?

Welcome to today’s message, titled “Who Sinned?”—a reflection on John 9:1–13, 28–38. It’s a natural question, isn’t it? When something terrible happens, our first instinct is to ask why. Why this city and not that one? Why this person, and not another? Earthquakes, floods, wars, wildfires—each disaster stirs our hearts to cry out, “Why here? Why now? Why them?”

We ask the same question in the deeply personal moments of life: Why did this man get cancer, and his brother didn’t? Why was one spared while another suffered? No question pierces us more profoundly than, “Why me?” The question of why pushes us to wrestle with the connection between God's goodness and the reality of human suffering—a tension that challenges faith for many and even leads some to doubt God altogether.

Into that universal struggle, John 9 opens quietly—with a man born blind, and a question on the lips of the disciples: “Rabbi, who sinned?”

 

Revelation Knowledge

Read John 4:5-42

Third Sunday in Lent (Year A)

Revelation Knowledge

“Welcome to today’s message, ‘Revelation Knowledge.’ You and I cannot change our own hearts, and God will not force our minds, but when we choose to change our thoughts, God begins to change our hearts. As we bring Him our doubt, our unbelief, the condemnation we’ve agreed with, and the scars of our past, the Holy Spirit moves through our thinking and into the deep places of who we are. In that mysterious moment, God reveals who He is in our lives and who we truly are in Him—that’s what revelation knowledge is all about.

 

Just One More Verse

Read John 3:1-17

Second Sunday in Lent (Year A)

Just One More Verse

When Jesus says, “God so loved the world,” it is not a sentimental slogan for coffee mugs and bumper stickers; it is a staggering claim about the very heart of God.  God loves people who don’t love him back, people who would rather stay hidden in the dark, even the very world that will eventually crucify his Son.  If we wanted to feel the shock of John’s language, we might almost hear it like this: “For God so loved the God-hating world that he gave his only Son,” and, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn even this world that despises God, but so that the world that rejects God might still be saved through him.”
In other words, God’s love is just that audacious and just that unexpected.  Verse 17 pulls back the curtain on God’s motive: “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  The mission is not condemnation but salvation; Jesus doesn’t show up to point out a problem that wasn’t already there, he comes to address the problem we could never fix on our own.
In this episode, as we sit with John 3:1–17, I want to invite you to lean in with me to “just one more verse”—to see how this famous passage is not about a distant, generic love, but about a relentless, pursuing, saving love for a resistant world, and for people like us.

Identity Theft | Satan's Greatest Crime Against Humanity

Read Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17, 25-3:7; Romans 5:12-21; Matthew 4:1-11

First Sunday in Lent (Year A) 

Identity Theft | Satan's Greatest Crime Against Humanity 

On this First Sunday of Lent, it’s a good time to pause and take stock—to reflect on where we are and what’s shaping our hearts. Think back to a moment when you felt inadequate or unworthy. Maybe it was just this past week, or sometime in the last month. Hold that memory in your mind for a moment—that attempt at “identity theft” when something tried to tell you that you are less than God says you are.

Today’s scriptures speak clearly and powerfully against that lie. They remind us that in Jesus Christ, God has declared you—and all of us—to be enough. In fact, more than enough. Because if you are following Christ, God has already claimed you as His own beloved child.

Ash Wednesday Homily

Read Joel 2:1-2, 12, 17; Psalm 103; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Ash Wednesday Homily (Year A)

I wish you a holy and joyful Lenten season—a time to grow closer to the Lord and to turn away from sin. The Lord meets us with a unique grace in every season; may the grace He gives us in this Lent not be in vain.

When The Light Breaks Out

Read Matthew 17:1-9

Transfiguration | Last Sunday of Epiphany (Year A)

The Transfiguration is that extraordinary moment when someone—or something—is seen for who they truly are, in all their beauty and glory. In Matthew 17:1–9, we discover that the Transfiguration isn’t about Jesus changing into something new. It’s about the disciples finally seeing Him as He already is. Transformation is about becoming—like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. But transfiguration is about revealing—it’s the unveiling of reality. It’s the moment we see Jesus not as we imagine Him, but as He truly is.

 

 

Salt and Light

Read Matthew 5:13-16

Fifth Sunday of Epiphany | World Mission Sunday (Year A)

God calls every Christian to influence the world around them. Jesus began teaching this concept early in his ministry, telling his disciples that he would make them fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). Then, in the Sermon on the Mount, he used the illustrations of salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Both salt and light have properties that affect their surroundings. Salt is used to enhance flavor and as a preservative. To 'be salt' means to deliberately seek to influence the people in one's life by showing them the unconditional love of Christ through good deeds. Light is a symbol of awareness, knowledge, and understanding. To 'be light' means to be a witness to others concerning the truth of God's Word, especially about who Christ is and how he died and rose again for our salvation.

He Who Baptizes With The Holy Spirit

Read John 1:25-34

Second Sunday of Epiphany (Year A)

Our Gospel text today is full of John the Baptist’s powerful words about Jesus. In verse 29, John says that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world:
  “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
That’s the best news anyone could ever hear—the eternal Son of God came into the world not to condemn us, but to take away our sin. So if you’re a follower of Christ this morning, I hope you’re living in that freedom from guilt, resting in the forgiveness He gives.
Now, I want us to look at another powerful testimony John gave about Jesus—that He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
In verse 33, John says:
  “I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”

Revering Jesus So the Spirit Falls

Read Acts 10:36-48

First Sunday of Epiphany (Year A)

Jesus revealed the essence of the Holy Spirit's mission in John 16:14: "He will glorify me."

"The essence of the Holy Spirit's ministry is, at this or any time in the Christian era, to mediate the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ" (J.I. Packer, Keep in Step with the Spirit, p. 55).

In other words, the Spirit is sent to make Christ real to people, and to show us who he really is in his glory, so that we come to love him and trust him and obey him and, in turn, show him to the world. What this means is that the Holy Spirit is more likely to come in power where the truth about Jesus is being lifted up and made plain. The Spirit loves to come and take the truth about Jesus and turn it into an experience of Jesus.

That's what happened in Acts 10:36-48: Peter presented a verbal portrait of Jesus, and the Spirit transformed the portrait into the living reality of Jesus himself.

 

Following the Christmas Star

Read Matthew 2:7-12

Second Sunday of Christmastide (Year A)

If you’re someone who really believes the Bible is the Word of God—and that Jesus was truly born of a virgin in Bethlehem, surrounded by angels, shepherds, and Wise Men—it’s still pretty easy to let the Christmas story slip into the category of “something sweet and familiar.” We’d never come right out and say it’s just a story or a myth, but after seeing it acted out year after year in Christmas plays—with the perfect lighting, the adorable kids, the beautiful music, and everything neatly in place—we might start to picture it that way in our minds.
But that’s not how it really was. The first Christmas wasn’t tidy, comfortable, or calm. It didn’t happen on a polished stage but in a messy, ordinary world filled with indifference, fear, and even hostility. When we turn to Matthew 2:7–12 and read about the Wise Men coming to find Jesus, we step into that very real world—a world that desperately needed a Savior but didn’t fully recognize Him when He came.

Wait! You Can Have My Room

Read John 1:10-13

First Sunday of Christmastide (Year A)

In a little town called Bethlehem, a baby was born—and at first glance, it looked like any other birth, but this child was different; this was God Himself stepping into our world, taking on human flesh, becoming one of us. That is the heartbeat of the Christian faith: the God who made us came near enough to be held, to be heard, to be rejected or received. Everything else Christians believe, everything we cling to and hope in, flows out of that one stunning truth we remember at Christmastide.

Stolen Baby Jesus

Read Luke 2:15-20

Christmas Day (Year A)

A couple of Christmases ago, as a family, we vacationed in New York City the week before Christmas Eve. Up on 5^th Avenue, right by the Rockefeller Center, there was a life-size Nativity Scene. As expected, it offers all the usual characters; however, if you looked closely, you could see that baby Jesus was chained and bolted to the ground, ensuring that no prankster would carry him off, because, seemingly, it happened every year.

In fact, out of curiosity, I discovered that if you Google "stolen baby Jesus," you will find dozens of news stories of the infant Jesus being taken from manger scenes all across the country. Year after year, in town after town, from church corners to front yards, someone will think it sport to steal baby Jesus out of the manger, and he is often never to be seen again.

The Nativity Of Our Lord — A Strong, Gentle Truth

Read Luke 2:1-20

Christmas Eve (Year A)

Luke’s literary masterpiece is “the Christmas Gospel”; even secular minds and hearts far from God are moved by its message. The imagery of families gathering the candlelight and carols all reach into lives troubled with pain and despair and offer the incredible promise of hope to people who may show up only once a year. How can this promise be trusted in a world that is lonely and unforgiving?

Herod’s murderous response in Matthew’s Gospel to Jesus’ birth may be more believable to a contemporary society hardened by harsh political realities. Still, the wonder of the Christmas Gospel is not mere sentiment. The question is: how can the strong, gentle truth be told?

“Immanuel” — God With Us

Read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23

Fourth Sunday in Advent (Year A)

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Augustine of Hippo

There is a great yearning inside every person to know God. From the very beginning, we were made to know God, and there is something in us that wants to know our Creator. We yearn to know that God has broken through into our world, and it is not enough to know that God is "up there" or "out there" somewhere.

We want to know that God has come down to where we are. We want to know that he knows where we live, that he knows our name, that he cares about us, that he has "walked this lonesome valley" the same way we do. We want to know that we are not alone in the universe.

All the prophets spoke of this universal yearning in the human heart. Joel spoke of it, as did Malachi, Hosea, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. But no one spoke more eloquently than Isaiah. Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, during the reign of a king named Ahaz, Isaiah predicted the birth of the One who would be God coming to dwell with humanity.

Reclaiming Repentance

Read Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3:1-12

Second Sunday in Advent (Year A)

Advent is a significant season. The Sundays in Advent become a microcosm of all of our Sundays — and, indeed, all of our days. The microcosm of Advent gives us opportunities to discern God’s call; to where we have left the path and to turn once again toward God’s vision.

When the Trumpet Sounds

Read Matthew 24:29-35

First Sunday in Advent (Year A)

The most significant event in Bible prophecy is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It’s an event so significant that there are over 300 separate prophecies about it in the Word of God, making it one of the most crucial doctrines in the Bible: the key that unlocks the door to the future. No Christian can be considered to have a complete faith without understanding the fundamental truths about the Second Coming of Christ. All the roads of history and prophecy converge at this point.

Is it Right to Risk for the Cause of God?

Read Luke 21:5-19

Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost (Year C)

The big question from our gospel story is found in v. 16: Is it right to take risks for God's cause?

It may not be right to risk much for personal prosperity or public prestige. Not every risk for God's cause is necessarily right, either. Jesus refused to jump off the temple, and Paul snuck out of Damascus in a basket to escape the governor.

 

Is It Still Possible to Believe in an Afterlife?

Read Luke 20:27-40

Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost (Year C)

Let me have a show of hands. Has anyone ever met a Sadducee? No? Me either And that’s not surprising considering that the last one died 2000 years ago. And even back then, there were never very many of them. It was always a very exclusive group akin to a club for the super wealthy.

If you lived in Jericho, you were much more likely to run into a Pharisee than a Sadducee. They were a very select group with some extraordinary views, and that’s part of what makes this story so interesting. It begins with a peculiar question and culminates in a startling answer. If we just skim the surface of this story, we might assume that it has nothing to say to us in the 21st century But we would be wrong about that. This story presents us with an issue of profound importance.

The Power of Inclusion: Examining Koinonia

Read Luke 19:1-10

Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost (Year C)

Our text states that when Jesus visited Zacchaeus' house and Zacchaeus said,

"Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham."

In that moment, Zacchaeus shows great generosity with an entirely unsolicited offer. That moment was made possible at the sycamore tree, not at the house.

The moment that Jesus stood at the base of that sycamore tree and looked up, he said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Jesus was telling Zacchaeus, “I am including you today, and you're up a tree because you're excluded, and I am bringing you into my circle because nobody else has ever included you.”

It was at that moment that God began to work in Zacchaeus’ heart. By the time they sat down to dinner at his home, Zacchaeus had completely softened, as goodness leads people to change.

 

When You Pray, Never Quit

Read Luke 18:1-8

Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Year C)

Many of the prayers we pray should not be answered because they are so shallow. If God answered every prayer the first time we prayed, we would quickly become complacent in our faith. And so, because God conditions His answers on our persistence, we realize how helpless we are and how totally dependent we are on Him for everything.

Serving Without Gratitude

Read Luke 17:7-10

Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost (Year C)

Surrender to the Savior.

The first step is to ensure that you are saved and surrendered. After you surrender, you will want to serve Him, not because you have to, but because you get to. You will live as a servant because you love Jesus as your Savior.

Let’s make sure our time, talents, and treasures are at the disposal of the Master. Choose to be a servant, not a volunteer. There’s a difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant.

 

Habakkuk | Worship — Chapter 3

Worship

Read Habukkuk 3:1-19

Join me for the third of a three-part sermon series on the Book of Habakkuk, a profound exploration of faith in the face of uncertainty.

In our modern world, we often grapple with the same questions that Habakkuk faced—questions about justice, suffering, and the apparent silence of God in times of trouble.

As we delve into this prophetic text, we will uncover how Habakkuk challenges us to confront our doubts and embrace the mystery of God’s ways.

In a society that often seeks clear answers and reasons for every hardship, Habakkuk reminds us of the foundational truth of our faith: “The righteous live by faith.”

Together, we will journey through Habakkuk’s anguish and ultimately discover how faith can transform our responses to the chaos around us, giving us hope and assurance that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it.

Habakkuk | Waiting — Chapter Two

Waiting

Read Habukkuk 2:1-20

Join me for the second of a three-part sermon series on the Book of Habakkuk, a profound exploration of faith in the face of uncertainty.

In our modern world, we often grapple with the same questions that Habakkuk faced—questions about justice, suffering, and the apparent silence of God in times of trouble.

As we delve into this prophetic text, we will uncover how Habakkuk challenges us to confront our doubts and embrace the mystery of God’s ways.

In a society that often seeks clear answers and reasons for every hardship, Habakkuk reminds us of the foundational truth of our faith: “The righteous live by faith.”

Together, we will journey through Habakkuk’s anguish and ultimately discover how faith can transform our responses to the chaos around us, giving us hope and assurance that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it.

Habakkuk | Wondering — Chapter One

Wondering

Read Habukkuk 1:1-17

Join me for the first of a three-part sermon series on the Book of Habakkuk, a profound exploration of faith in the face of uncertainty.

In our modern world, we often grapple with the same questions that Habakkuk faced—questions about justice, suffering, and the apparent silence of God in times of trouble.

As we delve into this prophetic text, we will uncover how Habakkuk challenges us to confront our doubts and embrace the mystery of God’s ways.

In a society that often seeks clear answers and reasons for every hardship, Habakkuk reminds us of the foundational truth of our faith: “The righteous live by faith.”

Together, we will journey through Habakkuk’s anguish and ultimately discover how faith can transform our responses to the chaos around us, giving us hope and assurance that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it.

FORGETTING YOU | Part Two

Read John 3:30

The Journey

Join me for the second part of a transformative two-part sermon series called "Forgetting You," based on the powerful truth of John 3:30: "He must become greater; I must become less” (NIV).

In a world that often pressures us to focus on our desires, ambitions, and identities, we will explore the freeing journey of surrendering ourselves to God’s greater purpose.

Together, we will examine what it truly means to let go of self-centeredness, allowing Christ to increase His presence in our lives so we can reflect His love and grace to those around us.

FORGETTING YOU | Part One

Read John 3:30

Second Place

Join me for the first part of a transformative two-part sermon series called "Forgetting You," based on the powerful truth of John 3:30: "He must become greater; I must become less” (NIV).

In a world that often pressures us to focus on our desires, ambitions, and identities, we will explore the freeing journey of surrendering ourselves to God’s greater purpose.

Together, we will examine what it truly means to let go of self-centeredness, allowing Christ to increase His presence in our lives so we can reflect His love and grace to those around us.

An Apostolic Postcard | Jude

Read Jude 1:1-25

How Should We Live In An Apostate World?

“An Apostolic Postcard” is a unique four-week sermon series that explores the four smallest letters of the New Testament, which are essentially postcards: Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.

These brief epistles, though short, are brimming with powerful messages of faith, love, and discernment that can profoundly impact and transform our lives today.

 

I invite you to join me in this special series as we delve into the significant influence of these small but profound letters. Together, we will explore the essence of living out our faith with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

An Apostolic Postcard | 3 John

Read 3 John 1:1-14

A Story of Three Men

“An Apostolic Postcard” is a unique four-week sermon series that explores the four smallest letters of the New Testament, which are essentially postcards: Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.

These brief epistles, though short, are brimming with powerful messages of faith, love, and discernment that can profoundly impact and transform our lives today.

 

I invite you to join me in this special series as we delve into the significant influence of these small but profound letters. Together, we will explore the essence of living out our faith with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

An Apostolic Postcard | 2 John

Read 2 John 1:1-13

Balancing Truth and Love

“An Apostolic Postcard” is a unique four-week sermon series that explores the four smallest letters of the New Testament, which are essentially postcards: Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.

These brief epistles, though short, are brimming with powerful messages of faith, love, and discernment that can profoundly impact and transform our lives today.

 

I invite you to join me in this special series as we delve into the significant influence of these small but profound letters. Together, we will explore the essence of living out our faith with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

An Apostolic Postcard | Philemon

Read Philemon 1:1-25

“An Apostolic Postcard” is a unique four-week sermon series that explores the four smallest letters of the New Testament, which are essentially postcards: Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.

These brief epistles, though short, are brimming with powerful messages of faith, love, and discernment that can profoundly impact and transform our lives today.

 

I invite you to join me in this special series as we delve into the significant influence of these small but profound letters. Together, we will explore the essence of living out our faith with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

"I still have many things to say to you.” | Trinity Sunday

Read John 16:12-15

Trinity Sunday

Dear friends, here we are at Trinity Sunday, a day not to celebrate an event in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, but to honor a doctrine shaped by the experiences of the Early Church.

“I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All People”

Read Joel 2:28-23, Acts 2:14-21

“I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All People” (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:18)

“I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All People” is one of the greatest statements in the Bible; this is how God ignites kingdom life in his people; he pours out his Spirit on them, and they are never the same again. When God promises to “pour out” the Spirit, this is more than a trickle. It means that God plans to release the floodgates of heaven into the human heart. No person can do this on their own; this is not the result of church membership or the organized aspects of parish life. This is God doing what only God can do.

A Greater Glory

Read John 17:20-26

The Sunday After Ascension — A Greater Glory

Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus has been stiff-arming human popularity. Up until now, he hadn’t been ready to go big, but now he is. The moment has come for God to be glorified in Christ, Jesus’ relatively localized Palestinian ministry is about to step onto a cosmic stage through the Cross.

Kairos Time — An Ascensiontide Homily

The Ascension is a central pillar of Christian doctrine, affirming Jesus' divinity and his role as Lord and Christ. The Ascension is also linked to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And so, we are in that time now between Ascension and Pentecost. The 10-day period we call Ascensiontide. For 10 days, God's people prayed for the promise of the Holy Spirit to come. For ten days, Jesus' disciples waited and prayed in unity for the Pentecost experience, the time of the Holy Spirit.

“My Peace I Give You”

Read John 14:21-31

The Sixth Sunday of Easter

One of the most wonderful and sweetest things in the Bible is that just hours before Jesus' crucifixion, he was concerned for his followers' peace, joy, and faith. Think of it, He is about to be tortured to death with one of the most horrific means of torture ever devised, and his burden was to reinforce in the souls of his followers peace, joy, and faith.

 

Questions About Love

Read John 13:31-35

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sometimes, the most familiar passages in the Bible are the most challenging to preach. This Sunday’s gospel reading is a great example. It contains Jesus’ famous “love command.” It is one of the better-known passages in the Bible, and for that very reason, it is challenging. The passage is so familiar that most assume they know it before hearing it. Moreover, what can you add to “love another”? At the same time, these words are ridiculously easy to understand and ridiculously hard to do.

Jesus Is Precious Because He Provides the Gift of Eternal Life.

Read John 10:22-30

Fourth Sunday of Easter

For the two and a bit years of the COVID-19 pandemic, I averaged roughly one funeral a month, sometimes two. I regret that experience because the congregation could not share in that ministry with me. Because I know that even today, some of you would not live the way you do if once a month you had to spend three or four hours writing a funeral meditation about the meaning of death, that if you had to think and pray about what you would say to the family, and if you had to stand beside the open grave and the mound of dirt, and try to make the critical farewell significant for the grieving family and friends.

I regret that I was the one who did all of this once or twice a month. Not because it was a hard job and I wished someone else would do it, but because it was a gift (a gift of eternity) to me, and I wanted to share this with my congregation.

Fishing, Breakfast, and the Care of Christ

Read John 21:1-14

The Third Sunday of Easter

Fishing, Breakfast, and the Care of Christ

John 21:1-14 is a lot like a seven-layer bean dip because, on the surface, we have a very straightforward story: some disciples go out to fish; however, they don’t catch anything during the night. Then Jesus tells them where to find fish, and they make an enormous catch, and then they eat breakfast on the beach with Jesus.

But after reading this passage, we can’t help but ask ourselves, what does all of this mean? What’s the significance here? Well, scripture must be mined. We have to dig beneath the surface, sort of like a seven-layer bean dip.

To keep my seven-layer bean dip metaphor going, when you dig a little deeper and get a full scoop of refried beans onto your chip, you will realize that this passage reminds us that Jesus will provide for his church. He will be her influence. He will be her strength, and he will be her power.

The Resurrected Christ — His Peace, Power, and Purpose

Read John 20:19-23

The Second Sunday of Easter

As we examine Jesus’ first appearance to all his frightened disciples after the resurrection, let us ask how the risen Jesus acted and what he said.

 

A Promise, A Hope, And A Call — Easter Sunday

Read Luke 24:1-12

Easter Sunday

The tomb is empty, and as the angels told the women, “He is not here, but has risen.”

Passion: A Question of Greater Significance

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

A Question of Greater Significance

Read Luke 22:39 - 23:56

We are close to the end. For the last five weeks, we have traced Jesus’ steps toward the cross, and this Sunday, we reach the sobering and even brutal conclusion to Luke’s account of our Lord’s Passion.

 

Hosanna

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Read Luke 19:29-40

"Hosanna" is a Hebrew word that translates as "Save us" or "Grant salvation." Hosanna is a plea for help and a declaration of the need for salvation. We see this in Psalm 118:25, which says, "Save us, (Hosanna) we pray, O LORD!"

Rejection

Fifth Week of Lent

Read Luke 20:9-19

Traditionally, this parable from Luke’s Gospel is called “the parable of the wicked tenants.” However, considering the context, the vineyard owner is the story’s hero because he exhibits restraint.

This teaching from Jesus follows on the heels of His confrontation with the temple leadership. They asked Him a loaded question intended to trap Him. He answered their question with one of His ownand they faltered claiming they did not know the answer. Jesus, therefore, refused to answer their question, but He did tell them this parable.

Every Tragedy is a Warning

Third Week of Lent

Read Luke 13:1-5

Jesus's words in verses 1-5 have astonishing implications about the true nature of the world, which differ significantly from what people often think. I aim to deeply impress upon our consciences the reality that people are perishing and to be the kind of witnesses for Christ that we should be. We must come to know and feel the gravity of what is truly at stake: the perishing of those who remain unrepentant.

Enter Through The Narrow Door

Second Week of Lent

Read Luke 13:22-30

v. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”

In other words, Jesus, how many will be saved? I can think of only four ways to answer that question:

1. Everyone will be saved.
2. No one will be saved.
3. Some will be saved; some will be lost.
4. There is no way to know.

Jesus in the Wild

First Week of Lent

Read Luke 4:1-14

This morning, we will explore the Holy Spirit's role in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the events surrounding Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. As we study the story, keep in mind that Luke, our Gospel writer, presents Jesus as the perfect man and the model we should follow. This one thing we learned very clearly during Epiphany now has a laser focus as we enter the Lenten season.