Light, not Darkness, Ephesians 5.3-14

St. Paul reminds the Ephesians about the fruitless works of darkness that they were once a part of. But what has changed? They became light because Jesus is the light of the world and in him is no darkness. The same is true of us today. We are called light and by being light, we are called to walk in the way of the children of light, reflecting who Jesus is and what he has done in us through his death and resurrection.

Image: Public Domain. Location: https://www.maxpixel.net/Sky-Night-Sky-Star-Milky-Way-Night-Starry-Sky-5295153

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/8/15/light-not-darkness-ephesians-53-14

Walking with Your Heart, Will, and Mind, Ephesians 4:17-5:2

St Paul speaks to the Ephesians about not walking in the ways of the Gentiles who’s hearts are hardened. This reminds us of the reality that what the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies. Our hearts are the driving force of our wills which actually shape our thoughts. As believers, we must continually turn our hearts and affections toward Jesus himself so that our wills and minds are also turned toward Christ.

Image: Undergrowth with Two Figures, Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/8/8/walking-with-your-heart-will-and-mind-ephesians-417-52

Receiving Gifts for the Calling, Ephesians 4:1-16

In Ephesians 4:1-16, St. Paul tells the Ephesians to walk in a way that is worthy of the calling they have in Christ. In doing this, he reminds them of the work of that has been accomplished for them by the Holy Trinity and the gifts that they have been given that enables them to walk worthy and to make Jesus known. These same gifts are ours today and we have the same calling! So St. Paul is calling for us to receive these gifts that will build up our calling in the Lord.

Image: Phillip Medhurst, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/8/1/receiving-gifts-for-the-calling-ephesians-41-16

The Mystery of Christ and the Church, Ephesians 3

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St. Paul speaks of the mystery of Christ and his work in today’s passage. That mystery is Christ himself and his work is to include the Gentiles alongside the Jews as the people of God and inheritors of the promises to Abraham. With this is the reality that it is through the Church that the mystery of Christ is revealed and the wisdom of God is made known. And so, even today, the Church gathered in worship is revealing the work of Christ to bring to us the promises of God in Christ for us!

Image: Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven by Fra Angelica. Public Domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beato_angelico,_predella_della_pala_di_fiesole_01.jpg

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/7/25/the-mystery-of-christ-and-the-church-ephesians-3

The Holy One Dwells with His People, Isaiah 57:14-21

Grace Anglican welcomes guest preacher, David Moody today! In his sermon from Isaiah 57, he shows us that while Yahweh is truly the holy one, he comes to dwell with us and heal us. That dwelling and healing is found in Jesus Christ himself and we are called to faith to receive this reality that God is working into us!

Image: Crowds gather as Christ heals sick people, Engraving by T. Phillibrown after B. West, Public Domain. Location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ee8bfscw?wellcomeImagesUrl=/indexplus/image/V0034932.html

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/7/18/the-holy-one-dwells-with-his-people-isaiah-5714-21

The Story of Blessings, Inheritance, and Renewal, Ephesians 1:1-23

In the first chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul lays down the foundation of all that he is going to discuss through the epistle. In this chapter we hear of the great blessings that have come to us from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the work of the Spirit in us. And so, this chapter reveals to us a story of salvation that involves blessings, inheritance, and renewal all because of who Jesus Christ is.

Image: Wheat Field with Cypresses, Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Thorns and Grace, 2 Corinthians 12.2-10

St. Paul tells of a vision that he received and the results of that very vision being a thorn in his flesh given by God that he would not think too highly of himself. For some this could be disconcerting, for others, an answer to their own questions about suffering and struggle in their lives. St. Paul’s thorn in the flesh helps us to wrestle with the reality that our suffering is to lead us nearer to God the Father because it draws our eyes to our crucified Lord Jesus.

Image: St. Paul the Apostle, photo by Ted, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/4264223704

Grace to Give, 2 Corinthians 8.1-15

St. Paul speaks to the Corinthians about the initial commitment to give to the saints in Jerusalem and how it seems to have waned due to the various controversies that had happened in their church since they first heard about the need in Jerusalem. St. Paul carefully encourages them to embrace their opportunity to give as an expression of the grace of God not only working in them, but also working through them to affect and help many others. The whole of our Christian life is one of commitment to Christ, and likewise, we should see every opportunity as God’s grace in Christ for us and working through us to bless those the Lord brings to us.

Image: St. Roch giving alms, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. This image may be used without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose. Found at The Victorian Web, originally from the online journal article Unwilling Moderns: The Nazarene Paintings of the Nineteenth Century. Image found at: https://victorianweb.org/painting/german/schnorr/paintings/3.html

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/6/27/grace-to-give-2-corinthians-81-15

Made New for Others, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

St. Paul continues this week in his second letter to the Corinthians by telling them of the work of Christ and what that leads to in the life of believers. St. Paul is not to live for himself any longer because Christ has died for him and made him into a new creation. His sin is taken away and he is given the righteousness of God in Christ! This is true for us believers today! We live in the midst of a great exchange where Christ takes what is ours and gives us what is his.

Image: Irises, by Vincent van Gogh, public domain. Image location: https://picryl.com/media/vincent-van-gogh-irises-google-art-project-520910

This Old Tent, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

St. Paul longed for the return of Jesus Christ because it meant the renewal of his body. It meant the putting off of the temporal tent and the putting on of the eternal, heavenly body. Why? Because he understood that the resurrection and ascension of Jesus meant all the promises of God the Father were going to be fulfilled for those brought into his family through Jesus Christ.

Image: Resurrection of the Dead (lower left section of the Last Judgment), Michelangelo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Resurrection_of_the_Dead_(lower_left_section_of_the_Last_Judgment)_MET_MM55713.jpg

The Weight of Being Known, 2 Corinthians 4.13-18

St. Paul speaks of the many sufferings he has endured in carrying the Gospel to various peoples. Despite all of this, he rejoices in his Savior. How can he do this? What leads him to continue pushing forward to know Jesus? Father Jeremiah reflects on this and how the weight of glory carries St. Paul throughout his days.

Image: by Greg. Man starring at starry sky outside with the milky way. Public domain. Image location: https://www.goodfreephotos.com/astrophotography/man-staring-at-a-starry-sky.jpg.php

Wrestling with the Trinity, John 3.1-16

Trinity Sunday is the Sunday in which we reflect on the meaning and importance of the doctrine of the Trinity. Father Jeremiah considers what it isn’t, what it is, and why any of this matters to us. Listen to find out more!

Image: John Salmon / St Mary, Sedgeford, Norfolk - Window, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Mary,_Sedgeford,_Norfolk_-_Window_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1701329.jpg

Wind and Fire and Jubilee, Acts 2.1-21

The Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, which is a Jewish feast. Why did He descend on that particular day? Father Jeremiah walks through this unique coming of the Holy Spirit during a very particular Jewish festival and the way that He came reflecting the actions of God in the Old Testament.

image: The Holy Spirit Initiates the Pentecost, Engraving by A. Mochetti after N. Poussin (?), Public Domain. Image location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/r9jwfqh9/items

Ascension and Revelation

Jesus’ ascension is an oft overlooked event in our Savior’s life, and yet, it brings a completion of redemption as he presents himself to his Father in heaven for our sake and becomes our eternal intercessor. Father Jeremiah considers a few of the implications of this reality in his sermon for the Sunday after the Ascension.

Image: Christ Ascending into Heaven (Detail from an embroidered in the Dominican convent at Stone, Staffordshire), photo by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7214076440/in/photostream/

Abiding in Friendship with God, John 15.15-21

Jesus told his disciples that they were to abide in him and that they were his friends. How important is it that they were considered the friends of God the Son? What does this mean for us today? Father Jeremiah explores this in his sermon today.

Image: Jesus Calls the First Disciples, Ravenna, Photo taken by Edith OSB, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (No changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edithosb/4804167810

To Love and Abide, John 14.15-21

Image: The Pharisee and the Publican (The Parables of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ), Public Domain. Image Location: https://picryl.com/media/the-pharisee-and-the-publican-the-parables-of-our-lord-and-saviour-jesus-christ-3a4e36

To Save the Sheep, John 10.11-16

Jesus as our good shepherd is one who will lay down his life for the sheep. He is completely different from the hired hands who flee when the wolf comes. He defends his sheep and cares for them because they are his own. Father Jeremiah considers this truth in his sermon today.

Image: Shepherd with His Flock, by Francesco Londonio, CC0 1.0. Image located: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_Londonio%2C_Shepherd_with_his_Flock%2C_NGA_124653.jpg

The Christ Who Undoes, Luke 24.26-49

When Jesus appeared before his disciples throughout the forty days before his ascension, he reveals to them all what he has undone about the brokenness in this world. Father Jeremiah reflects upon these undoings of Jesus in his sermon today.

Image: The risen Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, from Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, photo taken by Nick Thompson, no changes made, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/4669927869

Peace of God Despite Doubt, John 20.19-31

Peace and doubt come together in our text from St. John 20.19-31 today. Our doubts can be overcome when we discover the peace that Jesus brings to us through his death and resurrection. Father Jeremiah draws our attention to this to this movement today in his sermon.

Image: Christ and St. Thomas by Andrea del Verrocchio, photo taken by Glenfarclas, CC BY-SA 3.0, no changes made. image location:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Verrocchio_Christ_and_St._Thomas_closeup.JPG

Unexpected Resurrection, Mark 16.1-8

Jesus’ resurrection took the people by surprise despite his announcing it multiplies to his disciples. Why was this? What does it mean? How can we fully embrace what the resurrection does for us? Father Jeremiah helps us lay hold of the great truth of Jesus’ bodily resurrection and rejoice that Christ is risen.

Image: Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church (Hamilton, Ohio) - stained glass, Resurrection of Christ, photo by Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made