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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

Music in the Wilderness

2015.02.22 - Kevin Makins, Alex Drumm, Jeff Wynands & Nimal Agalawatte - The Church Calendar

Music in the Wilderness

Mark 1:9-15

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

Most sermons start with information, and then move from your brain to your gut. We had a question: what if we had a sermon that started with your emotions and then worked to your brain?

This lead to an experiment: a musical sermon!

What exactly is a musical sermon? Give it a listen and you’ll hear.

The text:

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.“

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Ash Wednesday... in Space!

2015.02.18 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar

Ash Wednesday… in Space!

Genesis 2, Ecclesiastes 1

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

What is Ash Wednesday all about? Why does it matter? And what does it have to do with death, two year olds, and outer space?

Seeing God Down the Mountain

2015.02.15 - Leshia Knopf - The Church Calendar

Seeing God Down the Mountain

Mark 9:2-9

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

In the ancient world people were used to meeting the god(s) on top of mountains. That was where you expected to find a god!

Jesus also reveals his divinity on a mountain, but what happens before and after this epiphany reveals even more.

The text:

Mark 9:2-9

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

"But I'm Not Concerned About That Now"

2015.02.08 - Stephen Edwards - The Church Calendar

“But I’m Not Concerned About That Now”

Mark 1:29-39

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

Isn’t it weird to think that Jesus was human? Like a REAL flesh and blood human who had to work, and pray, and get up early, and ask the hard questions about what it mean to do God’s work.

What does it mean to be fully human like Jesus?

The text:

Mark 1:29-39

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him.
37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Unclean Spirits

2015.02.01 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar

Unclean Spirits

Mark 1:21-28

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

The live sermon recording failed this week, so instead of having no podcast (which is a bummer) or re-preaching it to no-one-all-alone-in-my-room… I called up Susan Littleton! Sue is a part of Eucharist and was happy to sit down with me and play the role of our whole congregation in the sermon.

And we couldn’t have picked a stranger one: the text this week is about unclean spirits, and exorcisms! HA!

It’s easy to want to write off this sort of talk in scripture as superstitious nonsense, but in many ways the stories of Jesus reveal a part of reality that our culture has forgotten: that there are very real spiritual powers around us, and that they can be unclean!

What does Jesus do with these unclean spirits, and what does it mean for us? Let’s dive in.

The text:

Mark 1:21-28

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Repent / Believe / Follow

2015.01.25 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar

Repent / Believe / Follow

Mark 1:14-20

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

In the first century Jesus and his followers took a massive risk, and God used them to change the world FOREVER.

In 2015 we go to church on Sunday.

How did Christianity get so… boring? And how can God shake us up again?

It all begins with three simple challenges: repent, believe, follow.

The text:

Mark 1:14-20

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Come and See

2015.01.18 - Justin Eisinga - The Church Calendar

Come and See

John 1:43-51

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

Justin tells the story of Jesus calling the disciples, and how he meets them in the midst of their skepticism!

Also, this sermon resulted in a bunch of people from our congregation telling stories of how God has made himself known in the most unexpected places. It’s really good.

The text:

John 1:43-51 43

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

A Pickled People

2015.01.11 - Leshia Knopf - The Church Calendar

A Pickled People

Mark 1:4-11

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

Throughout history and around the world, people who have had an transformative encounter with the Resurrected Jesus have walked into water, surrounded by their community, and have been dunked under and pulled back up.

So… that’s a bit of a weird thing!

Why do followers of Jesus get baptized? And equally important: why in the WORLD was Jesus baptized?

The text:

Mark 1:4-11 4

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Plastic Cow

2015.01.04 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar

Plastic Cow

John 1:1-18

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

What do we mean when we say GOD?

Are we talking about a giant white man on a throne in the sky? Are we talking about a physical being at all? Are we talking about a crowd freaking out at a spots game?

And what does it mean to have a relationship with this Divine-Creator-Sustainer-Energy-And-Life-Behind-All-The-Cosmos?

Well, it’s kind of like a plastic cow.

The text:

John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
…
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
…
16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Mary, the Slave

2014.12.21 - Leshia Knopf - The Church Calendar

Mary, the Slave

Luke 1:26-38

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

As the road to Christmas comes to a culmination, Leshia (our Pastoral Intern) takes us to visit Mary, the mother of Jesus.

And Mary gives herself a title that, to many of us, seems oppressive or wrong. She calls herself “God’s slave”.

How is THAT good news?

The text:

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

"Who Are You?"

2014.12.14 - Kevin Makins - The Church Calendar

“Who Are You?”

John 1:6-8, 19-28

We return to John the Baptist this week and look at his answer to a very peculiar question: who are you?

Which is a question we all need to answer. Who am I? And what makes ME… me?!

What (or who) defines our identity?

The text, John 1:6-8, 19-28:

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Survival Skills for Desert Living

2014.12.07 - Jared Both - The Church Calendar

Survival Skills for Desert Living

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

Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist is a weird, ecentric dude!

Another ecentric dude, Jared Both, takes us through an introduction to John the Baptist, looking at who he was, and what he had to say.

The text, Mark 1:1-8

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

When the Stars Fall (A Very Ferguson Advent)

2014.11.30 - Kevin Makins (with Jesse Korgemaa) - The Church Calendar

When the Stars Fall (A Very Ferguson Advent)

Mark 13

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

So I am immediately regretting this whole “following the church calendar and lectionary thing”.

May I present to you THE FIRST TEXT OF ADVENT 2014:

MARK 13:24-37

24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.

27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.

34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

___

So what in the world is this Jesus talking about? Is it the end of the world? The rapture? Nicolas Cage?

What do you mean the stars will fall and heavens are shaken? AND WHAT does this mean for us as disciples of Jesus?

And does this text have ANYTHING to do with Advent? Why did they pick this text (hundreds of years ago) to be read at the start of the road to CHRISTMAS?!

Please open your bible to Mark chapter 13, and let’s dive in.

The Church Calendar: God's Redeeming Time

2014.11.23 - Leshia Knopf - The Church Calendar

God’s Redeeming Time

Colossians 1

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

We’re spending a year doing WHAT?

That’s right! For the next year we will be following the “lectionary readings” of the church calendar.

The church calendar is a tool used by the church for something like… 1700 years! Christians around the world and throughout time have been on a common rhythmn, telling the story of scripture to one another, year after year. It’s amazing, uniting, powerful… and yet foreign to so many of us!

What is the church calendar? How is it useful? How was it developed? And WHY do we feel God is calling us to follow it for a year?

How a Pinky Feels

2014.11.16 - Kevin Makins

How a Pinky Feels

Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 12

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

The church is called to be a diverse group of people, united across all the traditional tribal lines of age, gender, background, culture, status, etc.

It’s a lovely vision, isn’t it? Only one problem: it’s really, really friggen hard to feel like an outsider, or to feel like you’re just DIFFERENT from everyone else.

What does the gospel say to united groups of diverse people?

The Scapegoated God - The Sign of Jonah

2014.11.09 - Kevin Makins - The Sign of Jonah

Jonah Epilogue: The Scapegoated God

Romans 1-3, 11, John 11

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

Jonah was called to preach to the first empire the world had ever seen. The early Christians also existed under an empire: the Roman Empire. And it’s a small group of Christians, meeting in Rome (in the belly of the beast) that Paul declares: I am not ashamed of the gospel.

What is the good news of Jesus? How does it end hostility between segregated groups? And why does it matter that Jesus was nailed to a cross?

***ALL THIS AND MORE! In the shocking conclusion to The Sign of Jonah!***