Sermons on New Testament
What Do You Fear? – Fear Doesn’t Stop Us
Today we have Adam Marshall bringing us the message as we examine the classic text for Epiphany: the journey and arrival of the Magi. His first-person narrative as one of the Magi provides an insider’s view of what their journey and visit may have been like, and how they encountered, then avoided, the unpredictable Herod. We consider how the Magi journeyed through and in spite of fear. How do we, as people of faith, respond when our fears are real and justified?
What Do You Fear? – When You’re Afraid, Give Me Your Hand
On this fourth Sunday in Advent, we come alongside Joseph, who is pivotal to the story of Jesus, God made flesh, but rarely centered. What does the story of Joseph teach us about the divine as it comes in the midst of our hopes and fears? What does it mean to extend and receive a hand?
What Do You Fear? – Even in our Fear, We are Called Forward
Today is the third Sunday of Advent and we continue to explore the intersections of our fear and hope. Our passages for this Sunday invite us to come alongside two young people to wrestle with questions that might be familiar. Can I do this? Do I have what it takes? Will I be all alone? Am I enough?
What Do You Fear? – When We’re Running Out of Hope, God is at Work
As is our practice on the first Sunday of the month, today’s sermon is a first-person narrative. This week we enter into the world of John the Baptist… so certain at times in his life, and full of doubt and questions at others. What struggles companion John the Baptist in his ministry? And how did Jesus offer guidance and reassurance when John seemed to be running low on hope?
What Do You Fear? – In the Time of Herod, We Long for God to Break In
Our Advent theme this year is “What Do You Fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent.” We’ll be exploring themes of fear and hope, examining our relationship with fear as well as the ways our faith invites us, in the midst of all things, to insist on hope.
With Thanksgiving
Today we focus on living a life with thanksgiving…in and through all things. With deep thanksgiving, we bring our gifts together, trusting that God will bless and use our combined resources to energize and extend our mission and ministry at PB UMC and to the community around us.
Keep On Keeping On
Today we ponder words from 2 Thessalonians that encourage us, among other things, to keep on keeping on in a life of following Christ… on the days when it’s easy and on the days when it’s hard.
A Whole New World
Today’s passage will surely make many of us say, “Hmmmmm.” It begins with an antagonistic question from some of the religious leaders about Jewish customs related to marriage and the resurrection. Seemingly far from the realm of our lives, Jesus’ answer opens a place and space to ponder this life in relation to the nature of the next.
Birds of a Feather
Today we come alongside Zacchaeus (up in a tree) to reflect on unlikely saints in our personal and collective stories. We also honor the saints who have died in the last year, giving thanks for their lives and legacies.
Examined Lives
Today, we grapple with Jesus’ story of the (self) righteous religious leader and the penitent tax collector. This account appears simple on its exterior but invites us into the complexities of how our faith calls us to look both outward and inward with deep compassion.