Read: Luke 24 Walk to Emmaus
Take a walk with Jesus. Visit with Jesus about the days events. Discuss the high and low points. Listen as he offers the story of life once more. Feel peace in our soul as never before. Walk and talk, share and listen.
Only you did not know it was Jesus while you were walking. You assumed it was another traveler, searching for the better part, just like you. You had not considered the person, only your personal feelings of despair, weariness, and frustration. You did not look in the face of the man, only listened, as he shared the stories of hope and courage. How could you have been so blind, so self-consumed? And yet, it was the Christ who had been walking with you all along.
The reason this story pulls at our hearts is that it is also our story. We have been the one walking toward home, full of self-pity and complaints. We have missed the presence of the risen Lord. And for what? You see, I believe God has more waiting for us than we could ever imagine if we only dared to look. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.
Consider the story differently. What if the traveler noticed the face, recognized the voice, and remembered the stories? What if he understood this was God, rejoiced, and worshiped. What if the travelers’ spirit was renewed in the full presence of Jesus? How might the story have taken on even more meaning and power? Perhaps that is the point. We have the opportunity of a lifetime right before us, which can move us just a little closer to home.
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
Sermon Title: “Opportunity of a Lifetime”
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Readings Leading to Sunday March 30, 2008
Read: John 20 Doubting Thomas
Proof; we want proof before we get involved. We want proof of purchase, proof of identity, proof of ownership, and proof of investment. We want proof that we are not going to be ripped off, proof that we are going to have it our way, and proof that our voice is heard and our interests considered.
A fearful and anxious generation cannot trust; simply will not trust. The capacity to trust is not within our power. There are no second options, like, “Please, you go first.” The bottom line is the only line and we are living with our heads just above that line. All because we are taught, we cannot and should not trust “the man.” Who is the man anyway, if not we ourselves? By the way, isn’t the proof always in the pudding?
That is what Thomas thought. Show me the scars, show me the face of Christ, only then will I believe. He is like our Patron Saint because he nails our unwillingness to believe in the small things of Christ, and thus miss out on the big things. Thomas knows what we all know, that seeing prompts our believing.
But here is the funny thing about that. It is not true. Believing almost always comes as a pure faith response, rather than an experience of encounter. We are saved by grace through faith, not through revelation. We go forward in hope and trusting God, not because of what we have seen and experienced, but rather by what we have yet to see and hope to someday experience. It is in this Holy Spirit power that we step forward into the unknown through faith in love and grace for those around us. What will it take to move you just a little closer to home?
Sunday Worship
Scripture: John 20:19-31
Sermon Title: “In Search of Proof”
Proof; we want proof before we get involved. We want proof of purchase, proof of identity, proof of ownership, and proof of investment. We want proof that we are not going to be ripped off, proof that we are going to have it our way, and proof that our voice is heard and our interests considered.
A fearful and anxious generation cannot trust; simply will not trust. The capacity to trust is not within our power. There are no second options, like, “Please, you go first.” The bottom line is the only line and we are living with our heads just above that line. All because we are taught, we cannot and should not trust “the man.” Who is the man anyway, if not we ourselves? By the way, isn’t the proof always in the pudding?
That is what Thomas thought. Show me the scars, show me the face of Christ, only then will I believe. He is like our Patron Saint because he nails our unwillingness to believe in the small things of Christ, and thus miss out on the big things. Thomas knows what we all know, that seeing prompts our believing.
But here is the funny thing about that. It is not true. Believing almost always comes as a pure faith response, rather than an experience of encounter. We are saved by grace through faith, not through revelation. We go forward in hope and trusting God, not because of what we have seen and experienced, but rather by what we have yet to see and hope to someday experience. It is in this Holy Spirit power that we step forward into the unknown through faith in love and grace for those around us. What will it take to move you just a little closer to home?
Sunday Worship
Scripture: John 20:19-31
Sermon Title: “In Search of Proof”
Friday, March 14, 2008
For Easter Sunday March 23, 2008
Read: Matthew 27 & 28
Seventh of Seven Sermons in the Series: Investigating Jesus
Jesus did not play sand volleyball. He did not talk on a cell phone. He did not drive a Hummer. Jesus did not play Texas Hold-Em and gamble for entertainment. Jesus did not hang around with church people. Jesus did not raise hell. Jesus did not fill out a March madness bracket. Jesus did not drink bottled water. He did not eat pizza, ice cream, or hotdogs. Jesus did not listen to iTunes on his iPod. Jesus did not … well you fill in the blank.
A list of what Jesus did not do can go on and on. Our lives are very different from his. However, every difference carries similarities. Jesus was playful, ate the food of the day, traveled in the style of the culture, and sang songs.
Easter is the celebration that Jesus did not stay dead. This is the only thing Jesus did not do which matters. Our task is to believe, accept in faith what Jesus did not do.
To believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a daily event. To say faith is a one-time event and requires we never again question or even feel intimidated by the daily news in relation to life is not our claim as Christians. Weakness is our claim. Confusion is our lot. Daily reaching beyond ourselves is greatness.
Anyone can claim a breakthrough and live his or her whole life based on the “glorious past” of one event. However, the individual of faith is willing to get out of bed every morning and reframe those days’ events within the power of something beyond self. This Easter faith, in what Jesus did not do moves us just a little closer to home.
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10
Sermon Title: “What Jesus Did Not Do”
Seventh of Seven Sermons in the Series: Investigating Jesus
Jesus did not play sand volleyball. He did not talk on a cell phone. He did not drive a Hummer. Jesus did not play Texas Hold-Em and gamble for entertainment. Jesus did not hang around with church people. Jesus did not raise hell. Jesus did not fill out a March madness bracket. Jesus did not drink bottled water. He did not eat pizza, ice cream, or hotdogs. Jesus did not listen to iTunes on his iPod. Jesus did not … well you fill in the blank.
A list of what Jesus did not do can go on and on. Our lives are very different from his. However, every difference carries similarities. Jesus was playful, ate the food of the day, traveled in the style of the culture, and sang songs.
Easter is the celebration that Jesus did not stay dead. This is the only thing Jesus did not do which matters. Our task is to believe, accept in faith what Jesus did not do.
To believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a daily event. To say faith is a one-time event and requires we never again question or even feel intimidated by the daily news in relation to life is not our claim as Christians. Weakness is our claim. Confusion is our lot. Daily reaching beyond ourselves is greatness.
Anyone can claim a breakthrough and live his or her whole life based on the “glorious past” of one event. However, the individual of faith is willing to get out of bed every morning and reframe those days’ events within the power of something beyond self. This Easter faith, in what Jesus did not do moves us just a little closer to home.
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10
Sermon Title: “What Jesus Did Not Do”
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Scripture Readings Leading to Sunday February 24, 2008
Read: Mark 6 Third of Seven Sermons in the Series: Investigating Jesus
What did Jesus see? This simple question, like the others in this series, appears simple but can quickly become complex. Resist the temptation to get too theological too quickly. We will get there; but attempt to say focused on the Biblical Jesus for right now.
Scripture is full of accounts of Jesus seeing people and situations. He first sees the heavens open and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. Mark records this as private revelation, while Matthew offers a more public viewing. Jesus sees the crowds and has compassion upon them, he sees the disciples and calls them to follow. Jesus sees individual after individual and heals them. He also sees human hypocrisy and vanity balanced against his experiences of faith and grace.
One might conclude that Jesus saw just about everything and everybody. We find comfort in this “big picture” view, after all this is God. “But did Jesus see me?” we ask ourselves. We want, no demand, a savior who sees and knows all things and situations, however, our post modern, pre-Christian, North American worldview faith also demands that Jesus sees me, knows my inward parts, and relates to me on a very personal level. What we find may both bless and trouble us.
Book: The Gospels are our primary source for this information. Try reading the Gospel of Mark this week. Be aware of key words such as looked, saw, perceived, and understood.
And Yes, I believe we can move just a little closer to home.
Blessings, Dave Weesner
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Mark 6:30-52
Sermon Title: “What Jesus Saw”
What did Jesus see? This simple question, like the others in this series, appears simple but can quickly become complex. Resist the temptation to get too theological too quickly. We will get there; but attempt to say focused on the Biblical Jesus for right now.
Scripture is full of accounts of Jesus seeing people and situations. He first sees the heavens open and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. Mark records this as private revelation, while Matthew offers a more public viewing. Jesus sees the crowds and has compassion upon them, he sees the disciples and calls them to follow. Jesus sees individual after individual and heals them. He also sees human hypocrisy and vanity balanced against his experiences of faith and grace.
One might conclude that Jesus saw just about everything and everybody. We find comfort in this “big picture” view, after all this is God. “But did Jesus see me?” we ask ourselves. We want, no demand, a savior who sees and knows all things and situations, however, our post modern, pre-Christian, North American worldview faith also demands that Jesus sees me, knows my inward parts, and relates to me on a very personal level. What we find may both bless and trouble us.
Book: The Gospels are our primary source for this information. Try reading the Gospel of Mark this week. Be aware of key words such as looked, saw, perceived, and understood.
And Yes, I believe we can move just a little closer to home.
Blessings, Dave Weesner
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Mark 6:30-52
Sermon Title: “What Jesus Saw”
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Scripture Readings Leading to Sunday February 03, 2008
Read: Psalm 23 & Matthew 6:25-34
Overwhelmed
Fifth of Five Sundays in the Series: Life Changes
So many of our lives reflect the old story of the straw that broke the camel’s back. You remember, the owner kept loading the poor camel down with one straw after another until that one last straw was too much for the beast to bear. I have never personally worked around a camel, much less loaded one with straw. However, I have worked in environments that were almost unbearable. And we have all felt like we have bent under the weight of one too many problems or tasks.
The straw may be damaged family relationships, or job related stressors. We may find our straw to be of our own making or stacking. We may be guilty of piling on, both ourselves and others around us. Can we find a way to rethink the ways we carry our loads? Can we lighten up a little and keep moving forward? What does God have to say about our heavy burdens?
Author Max Lucado does a fine job of re-thinking the 23rd Psalm in a way which allows us to un-pack and un-pile our lives. He maintains we all attempt to lug around loads of stuff, baggage, we were never intended to carry. I think he is right. In addition the reading from Matthew finds Jesus in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount offering the disciples a new way to live. Jesus offers freedom from worry and baggage which is timely and refreshing for us to hear. I read this week that the most suicides occur on the Monday following the last Sunday in January every year. It has been a long cold winter already and we need to lighten up just a bit. Try smiling, even if you do not feel like it.
Book: Traveling Light. Max Lucado. 2001. W Publishing Group. Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear: The Promise of the 23rd Psalm.
And Yes, I believe we can move just a little closer to home.
Blessings, Dave Weesner
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Psalm 23 & Matthew 6:25-34
Sermon Title: “The Camel’s Broken Back”
Overwhelmed
Fifth of Five Sundays in the Series: Life Changes
So many of our lives reflect the old story of the straw that broke the camel’s back. You remember, the owner kept loading the poor camel down with one straw after another until that one last straw was too much for the beast to bear. I have never personally worked around a camel, much less loaded one with straw. However, I have worked in environments that were almost unbearable. And we have all felt like we have bent under the weight of one too many problems or tasks.
The straw may be damaged family relationships, or job related stressors. We may find our straw to be of our own making or stacking. We may be guilty of piling on, both ourselves and others around us. Can we find a way to rethink the ways we carry our loads? Can we lighten up a little and keep moving forward? What does God have to say about our heavy burdens?
Author Max Lucado does a fine job of re-thinking the 23rd Psalm in a way which allows us to un-pack and un-pile our lives. He maintains we all attempt to lug around loads of stuff, baggage, we were never intended to carry. I think he is right. In addition the reading from Matthew finds Jesus in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount offering the disciples a new way to live. Jesus offers freedom from worry and baggage which is timely and refreshing for us to hear. I read this week that the most suicides occur on the Monday following the last Sunday in January every year. It has been a long cold winter already and we need to lighten up just a bit. Try smiling, even if you do not feel like it.
Book: Traveling Light. Max Lucado. 2001. W Publishing Group. Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear: The Promise of the 23rd Psalm.
And Yes, I believe we can move just a little closer to home.
Blessings, Dave Weesner
Sunday Worship
Scripture: Psalm 23 & Matthew 6:25-34
Sermon Title: “The Camel’s Broken Back”
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