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#240. Rev. Brad Hinton - September 4 Sep 08, 2022

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This week we will explore the passage from Luke 14:25-33, which invites us to think about our faith journey and our life as Christians. We will explore and reflect on Jesus saying, "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" and "none of you can become my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions." What does this mean for us today? What is our relationship with our possessions as they relate to us being disciples? What is Jesus calling us to? As you prepare for worship this week, begin reflecting on your life as a follower of Jesus Christ and how you live out your faith.

#239. Rev. David Hockett - August 28 Sep 08, 2022

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In this week’s reading from Hebrews (13:1-8, 15-16) the writer rounds out his/her sermon with a set of ethical teachings which function as the “therefore” portion of the sermon. Because we believe this about Christ, “therefore” live in this way. This section offers practices - love, compassion, hospitality, and fidelity - that set the Christian community apart from its broader culture by describing the way of life that makes us peculiar and distinct. These words of encouragement function as markers on the trail. They keep us on the path and on our way to the goal. The writer of Hebrews is saying, not unlike a coach would say to an athlete, here are the practices, the routines, the rituals you need to keep you in shape, to equip you for running this race well. They also point others to the kind of life that really is life. In other words, here we see the better way of being human and living life together that Christ brings.

#238. Rev. David Hockett - August 21 Sep 08, 2022

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The writer of Hebrews (12:18-29) reminds us that, in Christ, we’ve come to the very heart of God where Jesus the Christ mediates a new covenant, written not in stone but on our hearts. The new covenant in Christ is a moment of crisis that reorients our lives in the direction of God’s kingdom of mercy, justice, and love. Our awareness of this reorientation should strengthen us in running the race and should lead us to joy, gratitude, and worship. Building on this idea, the healing story we encounter in this week’s gospel reading (Luke 13:10-17) is a vivid reminder that to worship God is to love and adore God and all that God has made, including our neighbor. In other words, to worship God is to love neighbor, and to love neighbor is to worship the God in whose image our neighbors are made.

#237. Rev. David Hockett - August 14 Aug 15, 2022

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This week’s reading locates us within the Letter to the Hebrews (11:29-12:2). Hebrews is written to a church that has grown weary in keeping the faith. They are worn down and worn out and are on the verge of giving up hope. Given the challenges facing our world and the church, we may at times feel the same. To those weary Christians the writer of Hebrews has a simple and direct word of encouragement: “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished the race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish of a glorious life in and with God—for the sake of this joy he endured the disgrace and shame of the cross, disregarding its shame.” So, if you are feeling tired, disheartened, or wanting to simply walk away from faith, Hebrews says, keep your eyes on Jesus. See what he endured for the world’s sake, see how much he loves you and the world that despised him, and learn from him the shape of your life. His love is more than enough to sustain us.

#236. Rev. Jim Humphries - August 7 Aug 11, 2022

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This week the passage we will be explore is Luke 12:32-40. In this passage we will hear about not being afraid, selling our possessions, being dressed for action, and having our lamps lit. We will hear the story about the homeowner and thief. You may recall the Scripture says, if the homeowner would have known when the thief was coming then the house wouldn’t have been broken into. And finally the Scripture says, “you also must be ready.” We will explore what it means for us as Christians to be ready. What are we getting ready for? How do we get ready?

#235. Rev. Jim Humphries - July 31 Aug 03, 2022

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It shouldn’t be surprising that Jesus talked a lot about money. After all, our misplaced understanding and love of money can often make it the biggest idol in our lives. Sometimes Jesus discussed money simply because people asked him specifically about it, and he was compelled to respond. This is the case in Sunday’s scripture from Luke 12: 13-21, when a man approached Jesus and said: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” Jesus responded with one of his most well-known parables, what we often call the “parable of the rich fool.” Living in the U.S. in the 21st century, surely we can affirm that we’re “rich” in comparison to vast populations across the world and throughout history. Even those of us going paycheck-to-paycheck are living at a standard that millions around the globe can only dream of. Jesus’ parable can help us remember not to be foolish with the blessings of our lives, and to truly give thanks for how “rich” we are.

#234. Rev. David Hockett - July 24 Aug 03, 2022

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It is an old story and yet a very contemporary one. We often doubt God’s providential care, we fail to trust God with our lives, believing we can secure our own future. We often fail to nurture the most essential and important relationship we have and the failure to trust God with our lives and to nurture the most important relationship we have leads to bondage and death. As Israel would discover over and over, when we neglect or take for granted our relationship with God, things don’t go well, life becomes off balance, and the hardships and struggles that life surely brings our way become all the more difficult to navigate. The prophet Hosea knew this and called Israel to give themselves wholeheartedly to God. To a people who had turned to idols and toxic politics for their survival and security, Hosea speaks the words of a broken-hearted God who loves his people and longs to be in relationship in spite of and perhaps even because of their infidelity.

#233 Rev. David Hockett - July 17 Aug 03, 2022

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This week’s gospel reading from Luke relates the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Mary is prayerfully focused on Jesus. Martha is “distracted by many things.” My guess is that many of us can relate to Martha. Our lives are busy, crowded, and distracted, and prayerful focus on Jesus seems like a luxury. And yet, as Richard Foster has suggested what the world and the Church needs is not more intelligent people, not more gifted people, and certainly not more busy people. Rather, what the Church, what the world desperately needs is deep people. What the world needs is people like Mary who are spending time regularly sitting at Jesus’ feet, people investing in time alone listening to God. The world needs us to be a people whose lives are bathed in prayer and whose discipleship, whose faithful busyness, is rooted in a life lived in communion with Christ.

#232. Rev. David Hockett - July 10 Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

This week Luke relates the story of Jesus’ encounter with an expert in the Jewish Law. Jesus replies to the young lawyer’s questions with questions of his own, and by telling the story of a Samaritan, and a man beaten and left for dead. What Jesus wanted the young man, and us, to see is that the greatest commandment is not to be right, but to be in love. Anyone can memorize correct responses to a few theological questions. What matters is that the right answers lead to righteous and faithful living. What matters is the fruit of the Spirit born out of our belief and faith in God. Faithfulness means loving like Jesus and recognizing that everyone is our neighbor, and all, all deserve the kindness and gentleness of God.

#231. Rev. Dianne Lawhorn - July 3 Jul 08, 2022

Show notes

On this Sunday, July 3, we are all undoubtedly thinking about the foundation that our country was built upon, the freedoms and independence we enjoy, and the hope of prosperity and flourishing. We want to celebrate these things in our hearts, until we begin to consider how far we’ve drifted from this foundation, as our country truly struggles to find her soul. This brings disappointment to our spirits. Our scripture for today provides a word of comfort in the midst of this disappointment, which gives us a reason to rejoice. It reminds us of the loving, nurturing, care of God that can bring us the peace that we are longing for. It also casts a vision of a different kind of kingdom, that we are invited to participate in that offers restoration, hope, and new life.

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