Tag: Jesus
-
“Faith Matters”
Mark 2:1-12 (NRSV) Theme: A community of faith can transform lives through God’s love and Christ’s healing power. When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he…
-
“Why We Love”
John 3:11-18 (NRSV) ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has…
-
“Betrayed, Denied, Deserted – Fed, Forgiven… Forever”
Matthew 26:20-35 (NRSV) Theme: We cannot desert God’s love for us. Despite our doubts, our disbelief, and our infidelity to Jesus as his disciples, Jesus forgives us and loves us, commanding us to love one another – a sign of our discipleship that cannot be denied. When it was evening, he took his place with…
-
“Extravagant Grace”
John 12:1-8 (NRSV) Theme: God’s extravagant grace means all of us are loved and included, made right where we go wrong, and given a chance to flourish in the community of Christ. Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave…
-
“Fighting Words; Fearless Love”
Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV) Theme: Persevere in your faith. Even in anger Christ had compassion for all, even his persecutors; think what great mercy he has for us, his beloved people, who seek to follow him faithfully. At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to…
-
“More than Mere Names”
Neh. 8:1-10 (NRSV) Theme: Each one of us matters, even as together we embody the community of faith. All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra…
-
“Finding Jesus”
Luke 2:41-52 (NRSV) Theme: We all belong to God through Jesus, especially our children, and we are all welcome in Christ’s church whenever we find our way home to it. Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as…
-
“The Gift of Jesus”
Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV) Theme: God gave us the gift of Jesus to be our Savior, granting the promise of grace, love, and mercy for all people, no matter what their station in life. In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration…
-
“It All Adds Up”
John 18:33-38a (NRSV) Theme: When we recognize the truth that Christ is God and King, we are made free to live in God’s kingdom here and now – a place of unconditional love, limitless second chances, and the encouragement we need to be the best people we can be. Then Pilate entered the headquarters again,…
-
“Better Days Ahead”
Ruth 1:1-19a (NRSV) Theme: God is ever-faithful to us, graciously giving each of us a chance at renewed life in the midst of calamity, even today. In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of…
Ellen Clark Clemot 