Making Room for Others

 September 24, 2023

For the children’s message today, Deacon Emily showed everyone how even thought the one on the bottom looks bigger, both arcs are the same.  In our eyes as humans, sometimes others seem more important or even more loved.  But in God’s eyes, we are all equally as big, as important, as loved.

God has a heart to bring all God’s children to the table, but as humans we have a far harder time making room for each other.  A reflection on the parable of the whining workers (Matthew 20:1-16) and the challenge of making room for others.

Forgiveness sounds good…but…

 

September 17, 2023

A Christian knows:  We are to forgive others as we have first been forgiven by God.  We pray weekly, if not daily, as we pray “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

This Fall we are pondering the gap between Sunday and Monday, the gap between faith and life, the gap between the teachings of Jesus and the messy world we live in.  Forgiveness is ground zero for this tension: it is beautiful to talk about, but quite hard to implement.

In this sermon, Pastor Rob reflects on the tough parable of the forgiven yet unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35).  This parable exhorts us to forgive others.  Not only is this hard, but frankly, forgiving someone might look different depending on the relationship and what they’ve done.  In all cases though, Jesus gives us the gifts we need to swim along in the ocean of God’s forgiveness.

Is Anyone Listening?

 September 10, 2023

We know the cycle:  Something happens.  Someone is enraged.  Internet explodes.  Other people shout in opposition.  Fragmentation and Exhaustion Result.  Repeat.

Jesus today offers a very different path (Matthew 18), one that is based on people listening, restoring relationships, and then coming to an agreement.

A reflection on the role of listening to each other and to God in pursuing reconciliation.

Reconciliation also involves Jesus listening to us; so I offer this piece of art (from the website of “Good Shepherd Church” in Elgin, IL.) that shows Jesus listening.  Obviously Jesus imparts wisdom.  But he also listens.

Deny Yourself and Pick up your Cross

 September 3, 2023

“Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me” summons our Lord Jesus.

In a world that praises self-fulfillment and even self-indulgence, tells us “Hakuna Matata”, these words undercut the foundations of our way of life.

Pastor Rob unpacks what it might look like, if in fact, we live in a world in which the heroic still matters and crosses are still meant to be borne.