Blog Archives

May 4 Worship

4/28/2014

I continue in my series on 1 Peter. This week will have us look at how God desires us to have a different way of life from that of the world. We probably all long to have one foot in this world and one foot in the new life God gives us. We enjoy indulging at times, while at other times we want to have a semblance of holiness. As a result, we feel the tension. It is because our hearts are divided.

The apostle Peter wrote to believers: "Live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ..." (1 Peter 1:17-18)

God gave Jesus as a ransom so that we would be freed from our sinful ways to live the new life we have in Christ. Note especially what the ransom was: the precious blood of Christ. It was most costly in terms of what God gave. This precious gift ought to empower us to nothing less than living the new life we have.

One outcome of this new life is as Peter says, "Love one another deeply from the heart." (1 Peter 1:22). In a world that is filled with hatred or even neglect of those in need, we have the directive to be those who are richly filled with love.

In preparation for Sunday's worship, I ask you to reflect on these passages of Scripture and examine how much you are living the new life in Christ. May God's blessing be upon your meditation of this part of Scripture and on your worship this Sunday.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

How would you describe this "reverent fear?"

What futile ways of the world haven't you given up yet?

Do you feel that the life of Christ is transforming your life today?

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April 27 Worship

4/21/2014

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Did you do much rejoicing over Easter? How about now during this week? Does that spirit of our Lord's resurrection continue in you?

We are told in John's Gospel that the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord on the night of his resurrection as he appeared before them as they were hiding behind locked doors out of fear. Something brought a change of mood to those followers of Jesus. He had come back from the dead and was standing before their very eyes!

Years later, the apostle Peter would write about this rejoicing in the resurrected Lord. "By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials..." 1 Peter 1:3-6

We can certainly rejoice. We are those who can live with hope amid whatever diversity might come our way. Peter was writing to Christians who were undergoing various trials because of their faith. They could still endure because of what God has promised through Jesus.

This Sunday, I begin my six part sermon series on 1 Peter. It is a powerful letter in terms of the hope that we have because of the resurrection. It also teaches us how to stay strong under adversity.

You might want to take time to meditate on the great promise Peter gives us in the verse above. May God's blessing be upon your preparation and worship this Sunday.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

Check out where you are right now in terms your mood following Easter?

What might make you move more toward rejoicing?

Do you feel you are suffering or have suffered any trials because of your faith?

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April 20 Worship

4/14/2014

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This Sunday is the Festival of the Resurrection. All of the tragedy of Good Friday becomes transformed with Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

St. Matthew's account of the resurrection brings us these emphases in his account..

"And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men."
Matthew 28:2-4

Can you capture the drama being played out here? It is God in action by sending a heavenly messenger to make the announcement which Matthew now gives to the women who came..

"Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come see the place where he lay." Matthew 28:6

Notice those words "as he said." If only the women had remembered what Jesus said about rising on the third day, there would have been no consternation, no confusion, no doubt. Don't we all have times when we have not remembered the promises of Jesus? As a result, we have become lost and engrossed in our own anxiety and loss of hope.

An Easter faith can breathe new life into us. When all seems to be lost, Jesus can help us begin a new chapter in our lives.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

Where might you feel stuck in your life where you need to examine your faith for something new to come?

Do you feel that Jesus is alive for you each day?

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April 13 Worship

4/6/2014

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This coming Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday. It's a day for us to remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey as well as the Passion Story, which marks the beginning of Holy Week.

First Palm Sunday. It's the time when Jesus makes his way into the holy city, when only days later he is going to be crucified. However, the crowd watching Jesus' arrival is in an upbeat mood with the waving of palm branches and spreading their garments on the road; in essence, making a path for him into the holy city.

Here is the Scripture as recorded by St. Matthew: "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Matt. 21:8-9

Are you ready to welcome this king who rides into the holy city? Will you be able to become engaged later in the week with that last meal Jesus has with his disciples and follow him all the way to the cross?

May God's blessing be upon your preparation for Sunday worship. Palm branches will be distributed to worshipers. Weather, permitting there will be an outdoor procession with a blessing of the palm branches!

A reading of the Passion narrative from Matthew's Gospel will take place in worship this Sunday, involving members of Savior Divine and Moraine Valley Community Church.

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May 4 Worship

April 27 Worship

April 20 Worship

April 13 Worship

I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

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