Re-understanding the Prodigal, Luke 15:11-32

So often when we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son, we think that it is all about the two sons. However, in the broader context of Luke 15, Jesus is driving home why we should celebrate when repentant sinners come home and it isn’t because they come home! The celebration is for the one who receives them, our gracious Father in heaven who has made a way for us to come to him!

Image: The Return of the Prodigal Son, from The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, license: CCO 1.0 Dedication. Location: https://nypl.getarchive.net/media/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-213284

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/27/re-understanding-the-prodigal-luke-1511-32

The Task of Repentance, Luke 13:1-17

What does the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) tell us about God’s grace toward us in repentance? Father Jeremiah looks at this parable along with the story before and after in the Gospel of Luke to help us understand about the interplay of judgment, grace, and repentance.

Image: Ancient Tower at Cloyne, Feby 1856, Admiral Edward Gennys Fanshawe (27 November 1814 – 21 October 1906)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/20/the-task-of-repentance-luke-131-17

Broad Compassion in the Narrow Way, Luke 13:22-35

In Luke 13, someone asks Jesus about the number that will be saved. Instead of answering directly, Jesus says that the we should strive to enter the narrow door. He puts the focus away from the number and onto each of us regarding salvation. He then tells the people that he would have gathered them together for salvation had they been willing. We see here that there is a great and broad compassion in this narrow way. Jesus is ready and able to give redemption and protection, but are we ready to receive it?

Image: License: CC0 Public Domain. Location: https://www.maxpixel.net/Chicken-Hawk-Landscape-Hen-Line-Art-Vintage-Farm-5207992

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/13/broad-compassion-in-the-narrow-way-luke-1322-35

The Forest for the Trees, Luke 4:1-13

With the temptation of Christ, we often get focused on the details of how he overcame the Devil, but we don’t often consider why he even was tempted or why he overcame the devil. Father Jeremiah walks through these background aspects to help us see a grander picture of Jesus’ overcoming the Devil and what that means for us.

Image: The Temptation of Christ by the Devil, by Christoffel Jegher and Sir Peter Paul Rubens. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.53388.html

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/6/the-forest-for-the-trees-luke-41-13

Hope through an Ashen Cross, Joel 2, Matthew 6

On Ash Wednesday, we gather to get an ashen cross marked upon our foreheads. What is the purpose of this? How does it relate to our faith? What does it tell us about ourselves and the work of Christ? Father Jeremiah helps us to understand that this ashen cross directs us to the cross of Christ and the death of our old self that we might live in new life.

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/2/hope-through-an-ashen-cross-joel-2-matthew-6

The Transfiguration and Us, Luke 9:28-36

There are so many layers to the Transfiguration that it is hard to comprehend how glorious it really was. Many aspects of it are recalling various events in the Old Testament, especially the cloud overshadowing them out of which God the Father speaks. All of this is to direct our eyes to Jesus alone so that we will know the reality fo salvation in our lives.

Image: Portable icon with the Transfiguration of Christ, Byzantine artwork. License: Louvre Museum, CC BY 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transfiguration_Christ_Louvre_ML145.jpg

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/1/the-transfiguration-and-us-luke-928-36

Sent to Proclaim Forgiveness, John 20:19-32

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday. Father Jeremiah reflects upon the coming of Christ to his disciples from John 20 and how this event undergirds all that they then go out to do. We must lay hold of the forgiveness and peace that Christ brings to us through his cross and that is what we take with us into the world as we become his witnesses.

Image: See page for author, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/2/20/sent-to-proclaim-forgiveness-john-2019-32

Blessings and Woes for the Deceitful Heart, Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 6:17-26, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Psalm 1

In our lessons today, we have heard much about blessings and curses based on the one you trust. We often think that the only thing that matters is having trust, but the reality is that your trust is only as good as the one in whom you trust is placed. On top of that, we have to contend with a deceitful heart! What is one to do? Father Jeremiah takes us through these passages from Jeremiah 17.5-10, Psalm 1, Luke 6.17-26, and 1 Corinthians 15. 12-20 to help us understand where we are going in this world.

Image: The Sermon on the Mount, Gustave Doré. Public Domain. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dore_Bible_Sermon_on_the_Mount.jpg

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/2/13/blessings-and-woes-for-the-deceitful-heart-jeremiah-175-10-luke-617-26-1-corinthians-1512-20-psalm-1

I will be with You, Judges 6:11-24, Luke 5:1-11

When Israel had turned to idolatry and come under the discipline of the Lord, he went to Gideon and called him to be a judge and redeemer for the people. His promise to Gideon was that the Lord would be with him and that this would be Gideon’s strength. The same is true for us who have been baptized and trust in Jesus. He is with us and his being with us means that we will be transformed by this promise because he calls us to go out and be Christians in this world through his being with us.

Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/2/8/i-will-be-with-you-judges-611-24-luke-51-11

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

Harmonizing the Infancy of Jesus, Luke 2, Matthew 2

As we read each of the Gospel narratives about the birth of Jesus, we usually ask, “How does this all fit together?” Father Jeremiah walks us through how St. Luke and St. Matthew’s Infancy narratives can fit together so that we can better appreciate the full work of the Father in sending his Son into this world.

Image: Stories of life and passion of Christ, by Gaudenzio Ferrari (cropped). Public Domain. location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GaudenzioFerrari_StorieCristo_Varallo.jpg

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/1/2/harmonizing-the-infancy-of-jesus-luke-2-matthew-2

Leo the Great's Homily on the Incarnation

Father Jeremiah steps back in time and reads a sermon from St. Leo the Great. Throughout the sermon Fr. Jeremiah offers additional thoughts to hopefully build your faith and draw you nearer to the God who would send his Son to become a true man.

Image: Gloria in Excelsis Deo, photo taken by Lawrence OP. License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. No changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/31864224215

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/26/leo-the-greats-homily-on-the-incarnation

To Be Your God, Luke 2:1-20, Titus 2:11-14

Why would God become man? Father Jeremiah explores this reality in this sermon from Christmas Eve. God is fulfilling his promises through the birth of his Son, Jesus, into this world and the greatest promise is that he will be our God and he will make us his people.

Image: The Birth of Christ… lithograph by M Fanoli after J Führich. License under CC BY 4.0. Located at the Wellcome Collection. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YW034608V/The-birth-of-Christ

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/24/to-be-your-god-luke-21-20-titus-211-14

Advent Confrontation: Bearing the Son of God to the World, Luke 1:39-56

When the Virgin Mary visited her aged relative Elizabeth, both women were filled with the Holy Spirit and uttered astonishing words of praise for the one that the Virgin was carrying. St. Mary is truly the God-bearer because she is carrying God himself in the flesh in her womb and thus bears the Son of God into the world for the world’s sake.

Image: The Visitation, photo by Lawrence OP, Detail from a tapestry dating to c. 1450-75, believed to have been made by a Dominican nun in Switzerland. The tapestry is part of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7306904510

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/19/advent-confrontation-bearing-the-son-of-god-to-the-world-luke-139-56

Advent Confrontation: Joy Received, Zephaniah 3:14-20, Luke 3:7-20

The prophet Zephaniah has foretold of the coming judgment of God throughout his book, but at the end of it, he speaks of a picture of rejoicing that flows out of the work of Yahweh to bring the Gentiles and Israelites together into a single company that praises him. John the Baptist tells the people how they are to live in light of their repentance in the Gospel of Luke. How do these come together in light of the work of Jesus in us? Father Jeremiah helps us to understand that God’s joy in bringing out salvation becomes a foundation for our repentance and rejoicing through today’s text.

Image: Ghent AltarPiece-Music making Angels (right), Jan van Eych, public domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ghent_Altarpiece_-_Music-making_Angels_(right).jpg

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/12/advent-confrontation-joy-received-zephaniah-314-20-luke-37-20

Advent Confrontation: Peace and Repentance, Malachi 3, Luke 3:1-6

In this second week of Advent, we consider the relationship of peace to repentance. Through the work of Jesus, there is peace to be received. But how do we come to receive it and experience the peace of God in us? It is through faith and repentance, turning from our sinfulness and toward the One who brings us healing.

Image: Preaching of John the Baptist, Hans Liefrinck, CC0 1.0. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0037838/Preaching-of-John-the-Baptist

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/5/advent-confrontation-peace-and-repentance-malachi-3-luke-31-6

Advent Confrontation: Needing an Advent Hope, Zechariah 14, Luke 21.25-33

With the beginning of Advent, we return to visit the reality of Jesus’ coming again. Advent is not only about preparing for Jesus’ birth, but also preparing fo this second coming. Today we hear from both Zechariah and Luke and consider the consequences of these passages for us today.

Image: From an 18th c. illustrated copy of Josephus’ Works, no copyright found. Location: http://www.joeledmundanderson.com/jesus-and-the-olivet-discourse-the-abomination-of-desolation-and-other-cosmic-stuff-part-4-the-jewish-war-series/

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/28/advent-confrontation-needing-an-advent-hope-zechariah-14-luke-2125-33

The New Beginning, John 18:33-37

As Jesus stood before Pilate, he defined the nature of his kingdom and thus his kingship. Jesus was no ruler of an ordinary physical kingdom from this world, but is the king of a kingdom that will outlast all others because its nature is not of this world.

Image: Christ before Pilate, no known restrictions. Image location: https://picryl.com/media/christ-before-pilate-jesus-condenado-por-pilatos-jesus-condamne-par-pilate-2

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/21/the-new-beginning-john-1833-37

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Mailing Address: P.O. Box 551081, Gastonia, NC 28054