On our Old Time Religion Sunday, we enjoyed the bright and bouncing rhythms of old time Appalachian bluegrass traditions. Woven into the music of the banjo, dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, bass (and even accordion), our homily today (a little shorter version of the sermon since our pastor is playing in the band!) wrestles with discipleship. How do we best fulfill our callings in life? As we hear the interactions Jesus has with Mary and Martha in this passage, legitimate questions arise. Join us as we learn together about what following Jesus entails, and how we can be better disciples by hearing carefully the dual lessons from Jesus’ teaching.

Enjoying Fruit (of the Spirit)

Galatians 5

Summer is the time for fresh fruit. It’s also the perfect time to probe a bit more deeply into what the Bible calls The Fruit of the Spirit. We have so many parallels to the value of fruit for us physically and the value of these biblical spiritual fruits. We will also explore the bright contrast between these very positive attributes and states of being, and another very negative list. Join us for this great learning opportunity that will also inspire you for your week ahead to enjoy your fruit!

Psalm 42

We all have them; those inevitable times in our lives when we feel alone, abandoned, afraid, angry … The Bible is very honest about how hard life can be. Psalm 42 is a perfect example. As with many of the Psalms that are considered laments, or cries of sadness, loss and questions, Psalm 42 provides a powerful template for hard times.

Whatever your state right now, hear with us a four part offering of hope Psalm 42 provides. When you feel the way the Psalmist describes, you are not alone. You also have a recipe for hope. Join us in our worship to find out more. And may your coming days be blessed as a result.

John 21:15-19

Failure, competition, inadequacy … Do those words feel like they might fit your experience with the world on occasion? Each of these very human dynamics is at work in our passage for today’s sermon. See how Jesus meets Peter. Listen carefully to their fascinating dialogue. And join us as we learn how Jesus meets us where we are.

John 21:1-14

It’s a fascinating scene: seven guys in a boat for an entire night. Three of them were professional fishermen, and yet they catch nothing. From the shore the next morning, a voice through the mist tells them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. It’s a very small change, a short distance from one side of the boat to the other. Yet the haul they make from this slight shift in the direction of their cast creates a huge, new opportunity. Clearly, something else is going on here we need to pay attention to. Join us as we explore this creative, rich and vital passage for our own discipleship and the ramifications for a growing faith. It will be well worth your time!

John 20:1-16

Who doesn’t love a good garden? But these were not just any gardens. The story is very clear; the implications from both the first and the second gardens we hear about for this Easter message hold the keys to how our lives are to proceed. Join us for this potent reminder of what resurrection really means for truly living everyday.

Luke 15

This is a foundational chapter for learning what Jesus stands for. Martin Luther once called Luke 15 “the gospel within the gospel.” It contains three stories within a broader story. Join us for an amazing journey through the heart of the gospel as told by Jesus. Confronted by some very religious people, listen to Jesus’ response and what the resulting good news means for you and me today, and every day.

Psalm 32:3-7; Luke 15:1-3; 11-24

Guilt and shame are very different. One is destructive; the other has the potential to facilitate healing. Focusing on Psalm 32 for this sermon, we explore how guilt can be a guide to liberation, to recovery, and to reestablishing helpful, hopeful days that God intends. Join us as we learn to together; be inspired by the insights provided from these passages; and may God work though these words to benefit your daily walk through The Power of Confession.

Next Week’s Sermon: Unconventional Boundaries. Also, look forward with us next week as we will continue this two week series looking more closely at Luke 15 and one of the most famous parables Jesus ever told. What you always thought you knew about this story might be far less then Jesus intended. Join us and find out the fascinating wisdom and subversive message of his words.

Luke 13:1-9

It is much easier to look at other people’s problems than to face our own. Just as, in this very difficult story of Jesus, people like us are wondering about people like others. They ask some very normal questions about why bad things happen and what to do about them.

But Jesus’ reaction to their concern, along with the story he tells as a result, lets us know there is much more here going on than we realize. Join us as we work together on these hard words, and as we work together with Jesus’ tough response.

In addition, we begin our sermon time today with a very important video message conversation Dr. Jordan has live with Pastor Andrei in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. You won’t want to miss this!

Psalm 27

It’s hard sometimes. Believing the goodness of God can be a daunting exercise when we’re surrounded by turmoil, filled with anxiety and unsettled with any number of issues we cannot control. If you can relate, you’re in good company. The psalmist declares faith:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

And he then goes on to describe situations that sound very much like a combination of invasion, pandemic and looming disaster.

We hear these words of scripture as part of our larger worship context in which we have experienced a video interview I did with my friend, Pastor Andrei, a Ukrainian Baptist pastor. As pastor of Vinnytsia Grace Baptist Church, he and they are on the front lines of this horrible conflict following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Psalm 27 sounds as though it could have been written just for them, as well as for us. Join us as we hear these words and as I attempt to offer a real world and very present day context.

Jesus’ time in the wilderness is the focus of our sermon today. He, just like us in our own wilderness times, is confronted by series of temptations. As we share in the exploration of these important verses, and as we together, wrestle with our own struggles, may these moments of worship and learning nurture your faith for the wilderness, for this day, and for the days to come. We are glad you are joining us! of worship and learning nurture your faith for the wilderness, for this day, and for the days to come. We are glad you are joining us!