The High Priestly Prayer, Ascension, and Baptism, John 17:1-11

As Jesus prayed his high priestly prayer just a brief while before he was betrayed, he asked to be glorified with the glory that he had known before the world existed. This is a prayer for his ascension to come! In that ascension, he will be able to be with his people and come to us through his word and sacraments that we would know eternal life, that is, knowing the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.

Image: National Library of Wales, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_praying_in_the_garden_of_Gethsemane._Two_shields_of_unidentified_arms_in_borders,_with_motto_%E2%80%9CEntre_tenir_Dieu_le_viuelle%E2%80%9D_(f._40)_Cropped.jpg

True Joy in the True Vine, John 15:1-11

Jesus tells his disciples that he is the true vine and that we are all branches off of him. What does this mean for our life? How does this reshape our entire Christian lives? Father Jeremiah guides us through this passage from John 15.

Image: From pxfuel.com, free for commercial use. image location: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-jrndb

The True Temple is the Way, John 14:1-14

During Jesus’ discourse with his disciples before he was crucified, he told them to not let their hearts be troubled in light of the events around them. What did Jesus tell them to enable them to be comforted instead of troubled? Father Jeremiah reviews these truths in today’s sermon.

Image: The risen Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, photo by Nick Thompson, License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/4669927869

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.

Believing Even if You Haven't Seen, John 20:19-31

Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed?” Why is this so important for us today? Guest preacher Harrison Northey helps us to understand that we are truly blessed in our faith when we haven’t seen Jesus with our physical eyes.

Image: Doubting Thomas puts his finger in the risen Christ's lance, See page for author, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doubting_Thomas_puts_his_finger_in_the_risen_Christ%27s_lance_Wellcome_V0034835.jpg

New Life in Christ's Resurrection, Matthew 28:1-10, Colossians 3:1-4

When the women went to the tomb of Christ, they weren’t expecting to find it empty nor angels telling them of the resurrection. And most certainly, they were not expecting to encounter the risen Jesus himself!

Image: The Resurrection of Christ, Alonso López de Herrera, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alonso_L%C3%B3pez_de_Herrera_-_The_Resurrection_of_Christ_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Death that Leads to Life, John 18-19

Jesus’ death is more than just the death of a single man. It is the death at the center of all creation that was walked into by Jesus. He knew fully what was in store for him and willingly accepted that he would be the sacrifice for us all. We continue to come back to this truth because it is foundational to us as Christians.

Image: Calvary, by Master of St. John and St. Stephen, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Master_of_Saint_John_and_Saint_Stephen_-_Calvary_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Revealing an Uttermost Love, John 13:1-15, 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

On the night before Jesus was betrayed, he performed two acts that St. John tells us is to beginning revealing his uttermost love. We see here that Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and then reveals to them the mystery of the Last Supper, that he is feeding his people with himself.

Image: Last Supper, picture taken by Steve Snodgrass, CC CY 20, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/5826503639

The Light Enters into Jerusalem, Matthew 21:1-11

When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, it was like the light of creation shining forth. It is the beginning of the end of the Old Creation in so many ways. Sin will be dealt with. Redemption will be accomplished. The Light will shine forth, even if it is dark momentarily. Consider the wonders of Palm Sunday and all that it means for us and our salvation.

Image: Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a Donkey -- Palm Sunday, picture taken by Martin LaBar, from the book Half Hours With the Bible, New Testament, New York: Clifton Pub. Co. No changes made. CC BY-NC 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079385

Unbound from Death, John 11:1-44

Jesus is able to raise Lazarus from the dead because he is the Resurrection and the Life. What does that mean for us today? Jesus being the resurrection and the life means that we are unbound from sin because death is the result of sin.

Image: Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Dead, Woodcut of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, scanned from the 19th century book, Half Hours With the Bible, New Testament. Photo by Martin LaBar, CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079382

Eyes Opened to the Light, John 9.1-13, 28-42

When Jesus heals a man born blind, he does something that no one had ever done. In the midst of that, he shows that the Light will overcome the darkness though the darkness will continually fight against it and all those who follow the Light.

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

Made for God Because God Made Us, John 4:5-42

When Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well in Samaria, how does the conversation go? St. John recounts this encounter enabling us to see what gifts God has given us in Christ for our salvation.

Image: Christ and the Samaritan woman at the well, Angelica Kauffmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Angelika_Kauffmann_-_Christus_und_die_Samariterin_am_Brunnen_-1796.jpeg

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

One Act of Righteousness, Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-21

St. Paul speaks of the one act of righteousness of Jesus in his epistle to the Romans. What does this act encompass? Is it only a reference to the crucifixion or is there a an underlying reality within the one act of Jesus? What does his temptation have to do with this? So many questions flowing from the texts for this First Sunday in Lent and Father Jeremiah examines them in this sermon that considers the one act of righteousness.

Image: Temptation of Christ, 12th century mosaic in basilica di San Marco, anonimus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Small Way of Obedience, Matthew 6, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

As we come to Ash Wednesday, we must consider just what we are doing on this day. C.S. Lewis said, “Good and evil both increase at compound interest.” Everything that we do will shape and remake us. Father Jeremiah considers this truth as he reflects on the ashen crosses upon our foreheads.

image: Celebration of Ash Wednesday and Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church, by Bernard Picart. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0308725/Celebration-of-Ash-Wednesday-and-Eucharist-in-the-Roman-Catholic-Church

Brought into His Presence for Salvation, Matthew 17:1-9

What does it mean that Jesus was transfigured? How does this affect our understanding of Jesus? What does Jesus’ work have to do with our being able to enter into his presence? These questions give rise to much in Father Jeremiah’s sermon on Jesus’ transfiguration.

image: The Savior’s Transfiguration, unknown artist, Tretyakov Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Compassion Towards Us Sheep, Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus teaches and heals and sees a harvest all around him of people who need the salvation he is bringing. He also sees that in the people’s needs, they are exactly like sheep without a shepherd, without a good shepherd who will lead them into the truth and protect them no matter the cost. Jesus is that shepherd and calls us to himself to bring others to know him as the Good Shepherd.

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

Overcoming by Salt and Light, Matthew 5:13-20

We hear of ourselves being salt and light, but how is it that we are made into these things that Jesus calls us? And what does Jesus mean by us needing to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees and Scribes? Father Jeremiah considers these things in this sermon on Matthew 5:13-20

Image: Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: The Parable of the Lily, public domain, found at: https://loc.getarchive.net/media/christs-sermon-on-the-mount-the-parable-of-the-lily

Clinging to Christ's Blessing, Matthew 5:1-12

Too often, we cling to that which God has not given to us, but what happens when we cling to what is given, seeing it as the place of blessing? Jesus’ Beatitudes reveal to us not how to be blessed, but that God is blessing his people in the midst of their lives.

Image: Phillip Medhurst, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_Luyken%27s_Jesus_6._The_Sermon_on_the_Mount._Phillip_Medhurst_Collection.jpg

Grace Anglican Church, Sundays @ 10 AM, 800 Robinson Rd, Gastonia, NC
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 551081, Gastonia, NC 28054