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Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 12—June 23, 2024
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Job 38:1–11 | Psalm 107:1–3, 23–32 | 2 Corinthians 6:1–13 | Mark 4:35–41
Summary: In today’s Gospel, a great storm arises as Jesus and the disciples are crossing the sea. The terrified disciples wake Jesus, who is asleep in the back of the boat, and ask, “Do you not care what is happening to us?” In our dangerous and chaotic world, we, too, are terrified that Jesus does not care. This story does not say that God will stop problems from happening. It assures us that Jesus is with us and surrounds us with God’s love so that with our hands and prayers and money and intellect, like God at creation, we can get to work bring divine order to this chaotic world.
We expect this sermon to be available soon.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 11—June 16, 2024
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Ezekiel 17:22–24 | Psalm 92:1–4, 12–15 | 2 Corinthians 5:6–17 | Mark 4:26–34
Summary: Today’s readings are full of images of growing things representing the kingdom of God. The lofty cedar of Ezekiel probably encouraged the people of Jesus’ day to hope for the return of a mighty kingdom, but Jesus offers the small but useful sheltering shrub from a mustard seed. We humans may be terrible farmers, but the seed of God is powerful. God’s seed is not meant to produce riches and wealth, but it does produce a little shrub that shelters God’s people. We cannot change the whole world, but we can let the whole world know God’s love for every human heart, and we can rejoice in the growth God gives.
We expect this sermon to be available soon.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 10—June 9, 2024
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Genesis 3:8–15 | Psalm 130 | 2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1 | Mark 3:20–35
Summary: In today’s Gospel, Jesus is preaching and healing, and his family comes to take him away because they think he is insane. This story may reflect the way the Jesus movement upset society. We can see this division in our own society. It comes from an unbridgeable chasm over our understanding of who God is. We must let go of our deeply-held personal beliefs and talk across this chasm. Letting go of this armor, we stand naked in the Spirit and welcome God. Unlike Adam in the Garden of Eden, we can respond to God without blaming others and be one in the Spirit.
We expect this sermon to be available soon.
Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 9—June 2, 2024
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Deuteronomy 5:12-15 | Psalm 81:1-10 | 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 | Mark 2:23-3:6
Summary: In our Gospel, a dialog ensues when the Pharisees accuse Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Sabbath is not an obligation but a gift for physical, spiritual, and emotional restoration for us as individuals and for the community. When we gather for worship, we experience God’s grace as we see, hear, and love each other. Jesus has come to us in love and makes us Sabbath for the world.
We expect this sermon to be available soon.
The Holy Trinity—May 26, 2024
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Isaiah 6:1–8 | Psalm 29 | Romans 8:12–17 | John 3:1–17
Summary: Over the centuries, the church has argued and even killed people over the doctrine of the Trinity, but how much does it matter? Scripture uses many metaphors for God because words cannot adequately capture the essence of God. The church today has many problems, but God’s Spirit moves as it will. Like Isaiah, we may be inadequate messengers, but God chooses us. May we allow ourselves to go where God sends us.
We expect this sermon to be available soon.