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We Know the Love of God, So Share It :: 1 John 3:13-18

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[Introduction] Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you should never be surprised when the world looks at you ... or speaks to you ... with hostility or disdain (v 13). As Saint John reminds us this morning, the world will hate you because of the Gospel ... or we should, as our Lord said in John 15[:18], because it hated him first. How or why the world could and would hate us because of the Gospel, because of Jesus, is a mystery to me. The Gospel is the best gift of all. And it’s free. It doesn’t demand anything from you. It tells you what God has done and continues to do for you. It offers nothing but grace and love, peace and pardon, redemption and forgiveness and eternal life. And the world hates that ... because you didn’t deserve any of it. I know that doesn’t make sense. But it’s true.  The Gospel is rejected by the world because its core message flies in the face of human pride and autonomy, self-preservation and self-exaltation. The world hates it when the radical, uncondit...
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It’s Time to Hear Moses and the Prophets :: Luke 16:19-31

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Hallelujah! He is Risen! ... The word for our meditation today comes from our Gospel reading, which is well known as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. We need to hear this one again.  [Jesus said:] Now a certain man was rich and was clothing himself in purple and fine linen, and he was celebrating himself brilliantly every day. And a certain poor man named Lazarus had been cast aside toward his gate afflicted with skin abscesses and an overwhelming desire to be fed from what fell from the table of the rich man. But even the dogs came and licked his abscesses . And it came to pass: The poor man died and was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s [embrace], and the rich man also died and was buried. And in hades, having lifted his eyes, existing in torment, [the rich man] saw Abraham from afar and Lazarus in [Abraham’s embrace]. And he, having cried out, said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus in order that he might dip the tip of his finger in water and coo...
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Who Needs World Peace Now? :: John 14:23-31

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[Jesus said:] Peace I leave to you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be timid (v 27). [Introduction] Peace. ... We are constantly seeking peace, aren’t we? ... Longing for peace ... striving for peace ... fighting for peace. And yet it seems to be so elusive ... fleeting. If only we could be at peace in the midst of all the turmoil in our world, we tell ourselves. If only our nation wasn’t so divided, constantly disturbing the peace. If only our brothers and sisters and husbands and wives would stop fighting, cave-in to our way, and let us rest in peace.  Where are we to find such peace?  How are we to find such peace?  Do we even know what peace is? 1. Our Lord Jesus does.  The Lord and Prince of Peace gives us the true peace ... divine peace, heavenly peace, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. As Jesus said, Peace I leave to you. My peace I give to you. You might be ...
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The Gospel Erases All Doubt :: Mark 16:14-20

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[Introduction] If only I had been there. That’s what we tell ourselves. If only I had seen the empty tomb. If only I had heard the angel’s announcement. If only I heard the voice of Jesus call me by name in the garden. If only I had been with the disciples in the upper room on the Sundays of Easter when Jesus appeared in their midst. If only Jesus had opened my mind to the Scriptures during the walk to Emmaus. If only I had recognized that he was with me in the breaking of the bread. If only I had been Thomas eight days later and was afforded the opportunity to put my hand in the mark of the nails. If only I had gone fishing with Peter and the boys so that I could eat breakfast on the beach with the Lord. If only I saw him ascend into heaven.  Yes ... if only ... Because then it would be so much easier to believe ... that Hallelujah! He is Risen! ... and that ... THE GOSPEL ERASES ALL DOUBT I. But wouldn’t you know it, for the first 40 days of Easter, the disciples had their doub...
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Remember, First of All, to Pray for All :: 1 Timothy 2:1-6

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[Introduction] Saint Paul begins our text with a word that should give us pause. It’s a huge word, an all-encompassing word, and it’s all over our reading. I’m talking about the word “all” ... as in all people and all times and all places ... for everyone and in everything. Six times in three sentences, Paul gives priority to God with the word “all.”  Paul writes, I encourage, first of ALL, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made for ALL people, on behalf of kings and ALL who are in authority, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in ALL piety and dignity. This is beautiful and pleasing before God our Savior, who wills ALL people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For [there is] ONE God and ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom on behalf of ALL, the witness for the proper time (vv 1-6). 1. Prayer, therefore, is one of the most primary things all Christians are called to do. But we’re mo...
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