A Kind Yoke for a Gentle Humility, Matthew 11:25-30

Jesus tells us that he has an easy and kind yoke and is joyful that those who are children have heard his call. In a paradoxical way these two things go together. Only little children can receive Jesus, and only those who are weary can become children. This is because those are the kind of people who can put their trust in Jesus as they have not blinded themselves with their own selfishness.

Image: A woman in a large straw hat is tending two decorated oxen…, Steel engraving by C. Cousen after E. H. Landseer, licensed under: CC BY 4.0, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_woman_in_a_large_straw_hat_is_tending_two_decorated_oxen_w_Wellcome_V0020839.jpg

Cutting off the Old for the New, Matthew 10:34-42

Jesus speaks of bringing a sword instead of peace, which is seemingly shocking. And yet, when one considers that not all will believe in Jesus, it makes sense. When Jesus renews the hearts of some and others reject him, there will be conflict and division and a sword will split people apart. This is also true of ourselves. When Jesus renews our hearts, he creates a divide within us and puts us at war with ourselves. This is his work of redemption in us, to cut off the old that the new would rise up.

Image: Scenes from Matthew 10: 34-38, by Daniel Hopfer, Licensed under CC0 1.0. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scenes_from_Matthew_10-_34-38_MET_DP835392.jpg

He Knows Even the Sparrows, Matthew 10:16-33

Jesus continues teaching his disciples about the what will happen as they go out to make the kingdom known. They will face various kinds of persecution because of the name of Jesus. Yet, despite all of that, they should not fear man because the Father in heaven knows when even a sparrow falls and we are all of greater value than they are before God. And so, we are to know that because Jesus has dealt with our sin, we are wholly known by the Father and can go forward without fear into the world.

Image: 4112008, by Jimpg2_2015, licensed under: CC BY-SA 2.0 (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9146740@N03/3100062680

Sent by Compassion to Make Known the Kingdom, Matthew 9:35-10:15

Out of His compassion, Jesus sends the twelve with his authority and power to heal and cast out demons in order to make known the Kingdom of God. What does this mean for us today? Father Jeremiah reflects upon this in his sermon from Sunday.

Image: Crowds gather as Christ heals sick people, engraving by T. Phillibrown after Benjamin West. Public Doman. Image location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ee8bfscw

God's Faithfulness Reveals Our Need for Jesus, Hosea 5.15-6.6, Matthew 9.9-13

God is continually demonstrating his covenant faithfulness towards us. And that faithfulness will always reveal to us our lack of faithfulness toward God, leading us to receive his mercy that comes through the covenant.

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The Old Testament Trinity, Genesis 1:1-2:3, Matthew 28:16-20

The Trinity is a mystery and yet, something that has been revealed since the beginning. It is not an abstract doctrine created by the New Testament, but is the reality of God, revealed throughout the Old Testament. It is merely made crystal clear in the New Testament.

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The Spirit Given by Jesus, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, John 14:8-17

What is the purpose of giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples and to us? The Spirit calls gives gifts that are to be used for the good of the Church and to make Jesus known through those gifts! Father Jeremiah explains this in his latest sermon.

image: Tongues of fire descend on the apostles at Pentecost. Lithograph, 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:Tongues_of_fire_descend_on_the_apostles_at_Pentecost._Lithog_Wellcome_V0034957.jpg Original location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qqwwq4dm

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.

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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

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