Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

Today we begin the season of Advent and a new calendar year for the Church. Why should we care about Advent, let alone observe it? What's it all about? Check out what Fr. Sang has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44.

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, where we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King over all creation. But what kind of kingdom did Jesus bring in and how did he do it? What does that mean for those of us today who want to follow Jesus and acknowledge his kingship over our lives? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 23.1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1.11-20; Luke 23.33-43.

In our OT lesson we find the breathtaking promise of transformative healing and the re-creation of everything, ourselves included. This tells us, among other things, that God really is in charge of his world, unlikely as it seems to us at times. And the NT writers unanimously proclaim that God has appointed Jesus to rule over his creation to assert God's rule. Jesus is Lord, not the dark powers and principalities! But how does that work? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 65.17-25; Isaiah 12; 2 Thessalonians 3.6-13; Luke 21.5-19.

Haggai prophesied to God's people to be strong, and build his Temple. In the shadow of the formerly immaculate Temple built by Solomon this new Temple would look in the people's eyes to be a shabby thing. But God promised that he would be with them, just as he was when they fled Egypt. He would aid them in their building and doing. How does this passage speak to us today now that the Temple is gone and we have Jesus? Check out what Deacon Gatwood has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Haggai 1.15b-2.9; Psalm 145.1-5, 18-22; 2 Thessalonians 2.1-5, 13-17; Luke 20.27-38.

Today is All Saints' Sunday, where we celebrate the communion of saints, both living and dead. But our lessons focus on the hope and task of the Church Militant, Christ's Body here on earth. As God's holy people in Jesus, what are we called to be and do? Living faithful lives is hard enough on its own. It's extra hard when we are confronted by the forces of evil and chaos! But we are not in this life alone. We are a people of real power. What does that look like? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Daniel 7.1-3, 15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1.11-23; Luke 6.20-31.

As Christians, many of us tend to look at God's justice and mercy as being antithetical. But is that really the case? Not if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts and minds open to God's truth. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Joel 2.23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4.6-8, 16-18; Luke 18.9-14.

Scripture is clear in its promises that God will heal and redeem his good but broken creation and human creatures. But can we believe those promises? Of course! But it is not as straightforward as most of us would prefer. The result? Tension and uncertainty at times. But there is reason to hope and his name is Jesus. Check out what Fr. Sang has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 31.27-34; Psalm 119.97-104; 2 Timothy 3.14-4.5; Luke 18.1-8.

What does Babylonian exile have to do with our circumstances? Jeremiah 29:11 may be one of the most-taken-out-of-context verses in all of scripture. Jeremiah's response to false prophecy tells us more about the nature of God than our individual plans. In this sermon, Alex Shaver explores Jeremiah 29 and its implications for the church today. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 29.1, 4-7; Psalm 66.1-11; 2 Timothy 2.8-15; Luke 17.11-19.

Can we have more faith? Is it something that we should be begging Jesus for along with his apostles in Luke 17? How do we know it if we do have it? And will it sustain us for the long haul? In this sermon Deacon Terry tries to answer these kinds of questions with the assurance we are given in Jesus Christ. Check him out and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Lamentations 1.1-6; Psalm 137; 2 Timothy 1.1-14; Luke 17.5-10.

How to explain Jeremiah's crazy land acquisition in the midst of utter destruction and chaos? How to explain William Wilberforce's relentless pursuit of abolishing slavery in England at terrible personal cost? How to explain many Christians' joyful response to persecution and death? It's all just cray-cray! Or is it? The secret is in what you hope for and the God you worship. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 32.1-15; Psalm 91.1-6, 14-16; 1 Timothy 6.6-19; Luke 16.19-31.