Posted in Uncategorized on October 27, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Why are you here? I mean, what brought you to worship today here at Grace of God? Why did you tune in on the live stream?
You know you can read your Bible at home, right? You can pray at home. You can say the Apostles Creed at home. You can even sing at home by yourself. Even if it’s only in the shower. Sometimes we have no choice but to do these things at home by ourselves. But you made a choice to be part of this gathering today. And what is the value of THIS?
(more…)Posted in Uncategorized on October 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
What would you say is the most important part of Jesus’ story? Mark is the original author of what we call a “Gospel” — a story of the life of Christ. He was the first one to write down the stories of Jesus. We have been hearing readings from the Gospel according to Mark this past year and especially these past several weeks. What would you guess to be the highlight or the climax of his Gospel?
(more…)Posted in Uncategorized on October 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
I don’t think I could do it. Could you?
Give up all your material possessions and give them to the poor?
Keep all the commandments perfectly? No way.
The impossible demands reflected in today’s Gospel made one young man turn away from Jesus when he realized he couldn’t do it either.
(more…)Posted in Uncategorized on October 4, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Today’s Gospel is one of the few times Jesus talks about marriage! So you’d think it would be the perfect choice to be read at a wedding! And actually, there is a line from this Gospel that has actually become part of the Christian wedding liturgy. At every wedding I’ve been a part of, right after the couple exchange their vows, the officiant is directed to repeat words of Jesus from today’s Gospel reading. “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” Or as the older translation put it: “Let no man put asunder!” which sounds much more dramatic!
(more…)Posted in Uncategorized on October 4, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Most of what Jesus is quoted as saying in the Gospel accounts is wonderful and beautiful and comforting and lifegiving. Some of it is downright confusing. If we were to compile o list of “Difficult Sayings of Jesus” we would HAVE to put today’s Gospel on that list. Jesus talks about salting with fire, gouging out an eye and cutting off a limb! That’s some wacky stuff.
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Pastor Jon's Sermon Blog 