Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen! The news seems too amazing, too good to be true. The first disciples a hard time believing as well, but Christ sends his angels and finally himself to tell them the good news that He is Risen. Death, his death and our death, has been defeated. This is news that we and the world need to hear again and again and so God appoints us as his messengers to tell this to the world. Based on John 20.

Palm branches and leaders

As we are exclaiming in church, "Hosanna" to Jesus, remember his triumphal entry into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, people halfway around the world are cheering for President Obama and other world leaders as they meet to discuss the global financial crisis. We and the people 2,000 years ago waved palm branches; today they wave microphones. We are hungry for a leader. What kind of leader does the world need today?

The woman at the well and the Pharisee

This week we see Jesus meeting two very different people...Although the conversations go in different directions, it is clear that Jesus is meeting them where they are. Jesus meets us as well -- in our Baptisms. Based on John 3 and 4.

What is our Purpose?

Do you ever wonder what your purpose in life is? Ephesians tells us that our purpose are the good works that God prepared before hand for us. How do we discover these? We can learn about this from Nicodemus, a prominent teacher of the Jews who comes to Jesus by night. Based on John 3:1-17 and Ephesians 2:1-10

Wrath of God

Today we confront the reality of God's wrath, or God's anger. Where does God's anger come from? What does it look like in our lives? Does it have the final word? Based on John 2:13-22 and portions of the Noah story (Gen 8).

Glory and Discipleship

Today we hear the invitation to something glorious -- following Jesus and doing God's will. So what does glory look like for disciples? Mark 8:31-38 and portions of the Noah story (Genesis 7:1-10).

The hope of repentance

We live in a culture of fear -- fear of terrorism and fear of the economy. Is Lent a season of fear? Finally is there something about repentance that is based on hope? Based on Mark 1:9-15.