Nemesis

2015.03.29 - Jamie Robertson - The Church Calendar

Nemesis

John 12:12-19

Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)

History professor, pastor, and friend of EC Jamie Robertson preached a great word about a tough question:

What can Jesus teach us about our enemies, and what do our enemies teach us about ourselves?

The text:

John 12:12-19

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
   the King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
Look, your king is coming,
   sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”

Glory (You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means)

2015.03.22 - Cindy Stover - The Church Calendar

Glory (You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means)

John 12:20-33

Click here to read the sermon (right click and “save link as…” to download)

Cindy’s sermon explores what “glory” really looks like.

Note: there was a small mistake and the sermon wasn’t recorded properly, however if you click above you can read the manuscript of the sermon, which is still REALLY good!

The text:

John 12:20-33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. "Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say–"Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Believing in(to) Jesus

2015.03.15 - Leshia Knopf - The Church Calendar

Believing in(to) Jesus

John 3:14-21

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This weeks text includes one of the most familiar verses in all of scripture… however as she learned more about it Leshia realized what this text was actually saying, and then she REALLY didn’t want to preach it.

But we’re all glad she did. Because this is a good, and challenging, word.

The text:

John 3:14-21

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

Also, this gorgeous piece was created by Hannah as a reflection piece for this weeks text:

Turning Over Temples

2015.03.08 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar

Turning Over Temples

John 2:13-22

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What was the Temple all about and why did Jesus cause such a scene?

The text:

John 2:13-22

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

What Do You Expect?

2015.03.01 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar

What Do You Expect?

Mark 8:31-38

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A sermon on suffering, following Jesus, and how our expectations shape us.

Also featuring a short parable by Danny Blank, Stephen Edwards, and the Eucharist Kids about the “Ontario Basketball Assocation”!

The text:

Mark 8:31-38

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”