Encountering Jesus, Lent 1: Mary, his mother

 Lent 1 2023 (Feb 26)

“What is this matter between you and me woman?”  Jesus speaks harsh words to his mother, Mary.

We begin our Lenten Series with an emotionally intense encounter between a mother and her child.  While we could understand this as an interaction between a disciple and her Lord, by focusing on the human interaction between parent and child, we learn something about God’s relationship to us.

A sermon on vulnerability in the most enduring yet vulnerable of relationships, parent to child.  What might it mean that we are invited to call on God as a heavenly parent?

The picture is of the youth who read the Gospel today.

Cutting the Law Down to Size

 February 12, 2023

Jesus has really challenging words for us today (Matthew 5:21-32).  He speaks about hard topics: anger, adultery and divorce.  His words likely make us uncomfortable and even convict us.

Are we simply to cut them down to size, so they don’t hurt?  How can we hear these words as words of life? 

Note:  If you are listening to the sermon instead of watching, you may need to look at the attached image.  About half way through I began to cut a piece of paper in various ways; the three stages are shown in the image.

You are the Salt of the Earth

 February 5, 2023

“You are the salt of the earth.”  Jesus Christ, Matthew 5:13

The picture is of a group of women that Pastor Rob encountered in Tanzania.  They were clearing a field with machetes!  Talk about salt of the earth!

Pastor Rob unpacks Jesus’ words about salt and light.  With these metaphors, Jesus paints a picture — offers a compelling vision — describing the purpose of his disciples’ life.