The Pearl of Great Worth

"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who found a pearl of great worth and sold everything to go and buy it." Jesus (Matthew 13)

Pastor Rob reflects today on pearls, not the things we find in the ocean, but things in our life where we’re willing to make huge sacrifices for them because they bring us joy and life!

Pastor Rob then reflects on how we distinguish between pearls and idols, between the passions that are of God's kingdom and those that are simply of our own kingdom.  This isn’t easy. It turns out that the bigger challenge in life isn’t simply making time for Jesus, but making Jesus the foundation of all the other things we do in our lives.

The sermon though ends with a word of surprising grace about Jesus and his own search for pearls!

Finally, God said No to the Weeds

Fire has been on our minds this week as the wildfires have brought super bad air to our region.  Fire is also the center of the parable of Jesus this Sunday (Matthew 13).

Jesus tell the parable of the wheat and weeds, that culminates with Gods holy angles burning up the wicked. It is a tough parable that makes us wonder, is our God a God of mercy and grace? Pastor Rob reflects on why this holy fire is ultimately a great comfort to us, knowing that God promises to say a permanent no to evil.

The Sower who keeps sowing

The parable of the Sower is a surprisingly haunting parable. Haunting because it talks about how evil works to take away our faith; haunting because we have seen it happen just as Jesus says it will.

The parable is about the Sower who sows seed on different types of ground, each of which represents a different condition of our heart and lives. Pastor Rob reflects on how he has seen people‘s faith wither away for different reasons, each reflecting the words of the parable.

Yet the parable is also about God goodness, generosity and ultimate victory. Pastor Rob also reflects on the amazing harvest that God‘s word produces, as well as God‘s willingness to continue to sow the seed, even when our heart is hard

250th: What it might mean for us as Christians

If your town is like our town, we had a big celebration this weekend (in spite of the weather!).  Everyone had a good time, but the weekend forced us as Christians to ask ourselves, what do we make our nation's 250th?

Truthfully, Christians, like many others in our country, come to the 250th anniversary of our nation with many emotions - pride, frustration and hunger for togetherness.  Pastor Rob works with the hymn "America the Beautiful" to lead us in a prayer for our country, a prayer that includes praise, confession and supplication (request).   This includes some reflections at the end on how we can both want a society in which people follow the teachings of Jesus, but we can also be skeptical of political projects that employ Christian language.

Note: The audio file is a bit longer because it includes the interwoven singing of "America."

The Least Commission

"Anyone who gives a cup of cold water to the least of these will be no means lose their reward..."

You've likely heard of the "Great Commission", where Jesus tells the disciples to go to all the world; but in today's Gospel (Matthew 10:42), we hear the "Least Commission", where Jesus tells us to do small things -- such as giving a cup of cold water -- for the least of these.

Pastor Rob explores how we give "cups of cold water" in every day life, through our vocations of family and work. Yet sometimes we must go beyond our daily routines and pay attention to those on the margins and those overlooked.

Above all, wherever and whenever we fulfill the "Least Commandment", we do so in response to the ways in which Jesus has already filled our cup.

Daily Dying and Rising

 What will we be like in eternity? 

Turns out we should anticipate a complete transformation, not simply of body, but of the soul!  Saint Paul promises us that in our Baptisms, the sin in us is put to death and we are raised up to new life in Jesus Christ. 

Those promises are inspiring, but what does this look like for us who are still firmly planted with two feet on the ground? A reflection, then on Luther‘s interpretation of Roman six:  Baptism means that we daily die to sin and daily are raised up to new life in Christ.

To Listen is To Heal

Out of his compassion, Jesus heals people.  

Out of his compassion, Jesus sends out people to heal others.

This ministry of compassion continues, as Jesus sends out healers.  Pastor Rob offers that although we may not all be medical professionals, Jesus invites all of us into a ministry of healing, namely listening.  

An exploration of the connection between healing and listening.  Ultimately, Jesus serves as the great healer because he is also the great listener.