Jesus' Mission for the Church, Matthew 28:16-20

On World Mission Sunday in the Anglican Church in North America, we step back to understand the grand calling upon the church to make disciples of all nations. What does this mean for us? How is it to be accomplished? How do we walk in this reality? Father Jeremiah teaches through the last few verses of Matthew 28 and shows how Jesus is the cornerstone of this grand work given to the church.

Image: Christ Great Commission Icon, photo taken by Ted. Used under license CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED. No changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/6849430658

United to Christ in His Baptism, Mark 1:7-11, Isaiah 42:1-9

Jesus came to be baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist so that the Holy Spirit would descend upon him. Now, through Jesus, we receive the very same Holy Spirit. Father Jeremiah helps us to see the connection between Jesus’ baptism and our own baptisms, that we might be more and more renewed by Jesus.

Image: The Baptism of Christ, James Fuller Queen. No known restrictions. Image location: https://www.loc.gov/item/2003677556/

All Saints' and Baptism

For All Saints’ Sunday, Father Jeremiah explained where this feast day came from. He also showed its connection to baptism in preparation for baptizing some that day.

Image: Perm Art Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Good Shepherd of the Word and the Sacraments, John 10:1-10, Psalm 23

Jesus speaks of the shepherd as one who can call out to his sheep and they will come to him. He also says that he is the door for both the shepherd and the sheep. How does Jesus call out to us today? How does he water and feed us? Are there under-shepherds who serve under this one good Shepherd? Father Jeremiah considers the care of the Good Shepherd for us in today’s sermon.

Image: Shepherd and Sheep, Anton Mauve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Light, Darkness, Jesus, and Nicodemus, John 3:1-16

When Nicodemus visits Jesus at night, there is more to their talk than meets the eye. How does Jesus being the light go with Nicodemus visiting him at night? How does someone hearing the wind go with hearing Scripture? Father Jeremiah speaks on these questions in this sermon.

Image: Visit of Nicodemus to Jesus, by John La Forge, Public Domain. Location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YSA003406/Visit-of-Nicodemus-to-Christ

Jesus Baptized for You, Matthew 3:13-17

Why did Jesus go to John the Baptist to get baptized? Was it needed for Jesus himself? Or did he do it for a greater purpose? Father Jeremiah considers why Jesus was baptized and how that changes us today.

Image: Andrea del Verrocchio, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Baptism_of_Christ_%28Verrocchio_%26_Leonardo%29.jpg

Holiness and the Saints of God, Revelation 7, Ephesians 1, Matthew 5

What is a saint? What is holiness? What does this have to do with baptism? Father Jeremiah explores these questions in his sermon for All Saints’ Sunday.

Image: Baptism Stained glass window detail, Mountfield church, picture by Julien P Goffogg. License: CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Location: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3912954

Made Christ's Own, Luke 19:1-10

The people grumbled when Jesus went into the house of Zacchaeus. They grumbled because he was spending time with a sinner and having table fellowship. Yet, without Jesus doing this for all of us, none of us could be saved. In fact, Jesus even comes to us in our baptisms that he might have this fellowship with us.

Image: Jesus Speaks to Zacchaeus, who is in a tree uploaded by Martin LaBar License: CC BY-NC 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/6876656

Jesus' Baptism and Us, Luke 3.15-22

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Why was this? How does it connect to John’s ministry of baptism? What does it reveal about God’s actions in Jesus towards us who are sinners? Father Jeremiah reflects on these things in his sermon from Baptism of Our Lord Sunday.

Image: Christ’s Baptism (San Marco), from the Cathedral of San Marco in Venice. Photo taken by Jim Forest, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/3473212604

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/1/9/jesus-baptism-and-us-luke-315-22

The Flood, Baptism, and Temptation, Mark 1.9-13

In our readings for the First Sunday in Lent, we hear not only about Jesus’ temptation, but also about the promise of Yahweh after the flood and the work of baptism in us. How do all of these things come together for us? What can we apply about these passages to our lives today? Listen to find out what Father Jeremiah says.

Image: Jesus’ Temptation, St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, T Kean, CC BY-SA 3.0, <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Benedicts_Catholic_Church_-_Inside_-_Temptation_of_Jesus.JPG

Jesus, Baptism, and the Holy Spirit and Water, Mark 1.7-11

When Jesus was baptized, many things happened! Father Jeremiah looks at this event and helps us to understand how all of it relates to our own baptisms.

The Outside-Inside You Life, Romans 6.1-11

Baptism and new life go together. But how does it fit? Does new life begin inside of me or is it something that comes from the outside for me to receive and lay hold of? St. Paul directs our thoughts about this in Romans 6. Father Jeremiah explains this passage by telling us about the life that comes from the outside and enters in that we might come into an identity in Christ.

Image: “Baptism Window” at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis, TN. Public Domain. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stained_glass_window_depicting_Episcopal_baptism.JPG

Changed by Jesus' Baptism, Matthew 3.13-17

When Jesus was baptized, he transformed what baptism was about. His baptism was unexpected for John the Baptist, but to do what was necessary and needful, he baptized Jesus and saw the transformation of baptism into something new and even more glorious. This is what we participated in when we were baptized and what we participate in when we remember that baptism.

Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay 

Pride and Humility, Luke 14.1, 7-14

Jesus speaks a parable about people vying for places of honor instead of considering others of higher standing than themselves. The source of this behavior is pride and the answer to it is humility. How does one, though, accomplish, humility? Can it be done in your own strength or must Another accomplish it for you that you might live in humbleness?

Image: Image from page 506 of A Dictionary of the Bible…(1887) No known copyright restrictions.

Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations: Baptism

Father Jeremiah, along with the pastors of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Brack and Jason, walked through the first study of the Four Pastoral and Educational Affirmations of the ACNA and NALC. In this teaching they talk about the history, importance, and application of baptism. Our two church bodies are from two different denominational traditions and yet can find common ground on how we understand baptism. Find out how we agree on this most important doctrine of the church.

The Coming of the Spirit in Baptism, Luke 3.15-22

Jesus changes the very nature of John's baptism by being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit. Why does this matter? How does it affect us today?

Image: anonimoius [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Star that Leads, Matthew 2.1-12

The wise men came searching for the King of the Jews by following a star. That star led them to the Christ child and they worshiped him recognizing something more to this little one than many others who would encounter him in the future. What does all of this mean? How are we led to Christ? What are the means by which God draws us to himself through Jesus?

Image: St Mary Major; 13th century mosaic: Adoration of the Magi, by Franciscan, Jacopo Torriti.