The Death of Idolatry, Luke 12:13-21

When someone asks Jesus to give a judgment concerning an inheritance with his brother, Jesus tells him that we must be on watch for coveting in our hearts and tells a parable of a man who received blessing above measure. But for this man, he loses it all in his death having no faith, but only focused on greed. What is it about coveting and greed that makes it idolatry? Father Jeremiah helps us to identify the answer and wrestle against this idolatry.

Image: Parable of the Rich Fool, Public Domain, from LookandLearn.com. image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0623099/Parable-of-the-Rich-Fool

The Answering Honor of God, Luke 11:1-13

When we hear about the Friend at Midnight, we probably think of the fellow who bangs on the door of his neighbor’s house until he finally gets up and gives him some bread. What if that wasn’t quite the proper understanding of this important parable? What if the parable was about the fellow who gets awakened giving the bread because he doesn’t want to bring shame on himself and his village by not acting according to the laws of hospitality? Father Jeremiah explores this in this sermon on Luke 11.

Image: Importunate Neighbor, William Holman Hunt, public domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Importunate_neighbour.jpg

Contemplative Faith and Work, Genesis 18:1-14, Luke 10:38-42

What is the difference between Abraham and Martha’s approach to the Lord? How does this come to be known to us through the stories of Genesis 18 and Luke 10? Father Jeremiah walks us through these two texts so that we can learn stillness before the Father.

Image: Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, Johannes Vermeer, Public Domain. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johannes_(Jan)_Vermeer_-_Christ_in_the_House_of_Martha_and_Mary_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Who is the Samaritan? Luke 10:25-37

When we hear about the Good Samaritan, we tend to conjure up images of a moral tale about how to be a better person and put other people first, no matter who they are. However, what if there is something deeper in this parable that is more than the simple parables that Jesus usually told? What if the story really was about what Jesus has done for us in his incarnation? Father Jeremiah considers these things in his sermon from Sunday.

Image: Good Samaritan Icon, photo by Ted, CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/15528960161

Where You Go, Jesus Goes, Luke 10:1-20

When Jesus sent the 70/72 disciples out to all the places that he would go, the receiving of them was a receiving of himself and the rejection of them was a rejection of himself. What does this mean? It means that Jesus is going with his people wherever he sends them. He goes with us that we might be strengthened in all that we do by his working through us.

image: 70 Apostles. Public Domain. image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:70Apostles_V-1.jpg

Freedom is Not the Same as having a Lot of Choices, Luke 9:51-62

Guest priest the Reverend Paul Briggs walks us through Luke 9:51-62. He reminds us that grace undergirds our ultimate choices and that grace is intended to draw us to Christ.

Image: Herschel Bonham, Route A, Box 118, an 11-year-old boy cultivating peas. He belongs to a cotton club in school. Father says he can pick 200 pounds of cotton a day. Location: Lawton, Oklahoma / Lewis W. Hine, by Lewis W. Hine, 1917. No known restrictions. image location: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018678613/

Apprehending the Trinity, John 14:5-15

When we think of the Trinity, we can find ourselves in a position of trying to comprehend the mystery of the nature of God. If we try to comprehend the reality of God’s triune nature, we will fail, for God is above and beyond us. However, we are enabled through God’s revelation in Scripture to apprehend the triunity of God, for he has revealed himself to us through Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Three persons, one God. A mystery that we will ever praise and one that we are united to through the work of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Image: Christ’s Baptism (San Marco), 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/in/photostream/

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/6/12/apprehending-the-trinity-john-145-15

Named by Pentecost, Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-21

When the people attempted to build their tower, they wanted to make a name for themselves instead of receiving their recognition through the grace of God. They sinned by refusing God’s command and thus were scattered. But that scattering meant hope of receiving that new name that will come through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Image: From the illuminated manuscript Vaux Passional, pubic domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pentecost_descent_of_the_Holy_Ghost_as_a_dove_%28f._151%29.jpg

Ascension and Cultivation, John 17:20-26

On this Sunday after the Ascension, we hear from Jesus’ high priestly prayer found in John 17. As Jesus prays for all who believe through the Disciples, we are reminded that in his Ascension, Jesus continues to pray this prayer for us before the Father. He is thus cultivating us that he might be in us and we in him.

image: Unknown authorUnknown author, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gethsemane_Macedonia.gif

Foundations of Love, John 14:21-29

After the Last Supper with the disciples, Jesus’ reminds them that he will shortly be taken from them. Whta does he mean? Is he only referring to his crucifixion? Or is there more to this, especially when the Holy Spirit is involved? How does our love play a role in the Father’s love for us? So many questions to consider from this short passage, and Father Jeremiah walks through them in this sermon.

Image: Jesus and His Disciples at the Last Supper, from the book, Half Hours with the Bible, 19th Century. Scanned by Martin LaBar. License: CC BY-NC 2.0. No Changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/6876657/in/photostream/

New Take on an Old Commandment, John 13:31-35

On this Sunday, we are transported back to Maundy Thursday to hear the new commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples. This commandment is an old one but is now fully connected to what Jesus is about to do for the world. Through his forgiveness of our sins, we are enabled to begin living out a new kind of sacrificial love that aligns with all of his commands.

Image: The Messiah Gives the New Law, (Stained glass detail of a window by Douglas Strachan in SS Andrew & George in Edinburgh), photo by Lawrence OP. Licensed under: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (No Changes Made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/12559943145

The One Shepherd, Messiah, and God, John 10:22-30

Jesus being the Good Shepherd means more than just herding us sheep from place to place. It means that he is the true Messiah and those with ears to hear will recognize his voice calling to them.

Image: Shepherds and Sheep, David Teniers the Younger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Forgiven, Reconciled, Restored, John 21:1-14

While the Apostles were waiting for Jesus to direct them forward, they went fishing. Jesus meets them at the sea and grants restoration to them and especially Peter. Father Jeremiah reminds us that through Jesus we receive restoration to the Father also.

Image: John 21:1-14. Once more Jesus showeth himself to Peter and others by the Sea of Galilee, by William Hole, no known restrictions. Image location: Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/resource/matpc.23148/

Failures and Faith, John 20:19-31

With the resurrection of Jesus, none of the disciples were willing to believe. For all of them, faith came only when they encountered Jesus in the flesh. But with all of them, faith came. The failure to initially believe did not derail the reality before them or keep them from embracing the truth when he came to them. Likewise for us, we must realize that we can’t let our failures derail our faith because it is Jesus, who has died and been raised again, that our faith focuses upon, not our failures.

Image: Grégoire Huret, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The New Reaching into the Old, Luke 24:1-12

When Jesus rises from the dead, everything changes! The women went to the tomb expecting to find a dead Jesus, having neglected his promises of death and resurrection for the salvation of the world. They find the tomb empty and realize through the words of the angel that all the good things have come true.

Image: Raphael, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Save Us Now, O King of the Palms, Luke 19:29-40

Jesus entered into Jerusalem on what is now called Palm Sunday, just a few days before the Passover and his own crucifixion. What can we learn from this event and how it is connected to the crucifixion and sacrifice of Jesus for us? Father Jeremiah leads us through this story from Luke 19 and helps us to see that Jesus is the complete fulfillment of more than anyone could have hoped for.

Image: Giotto di Bondone [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Found at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giotto_-_Scrovegni_-_-26-_-_Entry_into_Jerusalem2.jpg

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/4/10/save-us-now-o-king-of-the-palms-luke-1929-40

The Son and the Stone, Luke 20:9-19

Image: The Green Vineyard, Van Gogh, picture by Frans Vandewalle, license: CC BY-NC 2.0 Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/snarfel/4686086936

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