Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

Today's lessons, with their theme of resurrection, can speak to us in the midst of our despair and alarm. But How? Fr. Kevin Maney seeks to answer this question and if you have ever been afflicted by despair and/or anxiety this sermon will give you food for thought and power to stand firm in the midst of life's trials. Check it out and see what you think. Today's lectionary readings are Haggai 1.15b-2.9; Psalm 145.1-5, 18-22; 2 Thessalonians 2.1-5, 13-17; Luke 20.27-38.

Death under any circumstance is hard, isn’t it? While we as Christians should not fear death, neither should we be complacent about it or try to whitewash it. When death strikes, it makes us angry and indignant, the way Jesus was at Lazarus’ tomb (cf. John 11.38) because death is our enemy. As Paul reminds us, it is the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15.26). Death robs us of our human dignity and it separates us from our loved ones, at least for a season. But O how long that season can be! Not only that, it is doubly hard to stand by and watch those we love grow increasingly infirm to the point of death. It sucks the energy right out of us and like Martha in today’s gospel lesson we want to throw our hands up in the air and ask in desperation why God allows this to happen. But Jesus has a better answer to our “why” questions than we could ever hope and imagine—bodily resurrection and new creation. Check it out and see what you think. Then take real hope. Lectionary texts are Isaiah 25.6-9; Psalm 13

Do you really believe that God is sovereign? Evil is rampant throughout God’s good world. So how can God be sovereign over it? Today is All Saints’ Sunday, where we celebrate the communion of saints, both those saints who are alive and in Christ as part of his body, the Church (the Church Militant), and those saints who have died in Christ and are enjoying their rest in the presence of their Lord as they await the resurrection of the dead and the culmination of God’s promise to sweep away evil, sin, and death and usher in his promised new creation (the Church Triumphant). We normally focus on the Church Triumphant on All Saints’ Sunday, but our readings today speak primarily to us as the Church Militant and they remind us without equivocation that God really is sovereign and in control, despite the persistence of evil and the impression that this gives to the contrary. So check out today’s sermon and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Daniel 7.1-3, 15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1.11-23; Luke 6.2

This morning Fr. Kevin reminds us what are our marching orders as Christians. Living faithfully to God's call for us to be his kingdom workers is the secret to living a purpose-filled life. It's not about living well so that we get to go to heaven when we die. Check it out and see what you think. Todays' lectionary texts are Jeremiah 31.27-34; Psalm 119.97-104; 2 Timothy 3.14-4.5; Luke 18.1-8.

In our lessons this morning we are confronted with apparently contradictory messages about God's sovereignty and faithfulness, especially in the face of the massive suffering that goes on in the world. How can a sovereign and faithful God allow suffering to happen? What are we to do with unanswered prayer that seeks the relief of suffering? Does God care for us or not? Is God really sovereign or not? Fr. Kevin looks at these issues to find a biblical response to these questions. Check it out and see what you think. Lectionary readings for today are Jeremiah 29.1, 4-7; Psalm 66.1-11; 2 Timothy 2.8-15; Luke 17.11-19.

When your life gets turned upside down, do you still believe in God's faithfulness? Can you sing the words to that great hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and believe them or will you be like God's people in exile who lamented that they could not sing God's songs in a foreign land? Today Fr. Philip Sang addresses these questions in a powerful sermon complete with personal examples. Check it out and see what you think. You won't be disappointed. Readings from today's lectionary are Lamentations 1.1-6; Psalm 137; 2 Timothy 1.1-14; Luke 17.5-10.

We live in a world created good but corrupted by human sin, evil, and death. Consequently each of us must live with trials and afflictions, Christians included, because God's rescue plan for his creation and us is not yet complete. So how are we to have a modicum of hope in the midst of our trials? It is this question Fr. Kevin addresses this morning. Check it out and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 32.1-3a, 6-15; Psalm 91.1-6, 14-16; 1 Timothy 6.6-19; Luke 16.19-31.

Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant when he told his disciples to use dishonest wealth? What in the world is he talking about? He's talking, in part, about doing the things and being the people God calls us to do and be in Jesus to bring God's healing love and light to the world. But we cannot do that very well if we say and do things to people that will alienate them and make them think God hates them for who they are. So what's the solution? Check out today's sermon and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 8.18-9.1; Psalm 79.1-9; 1 Timothy 2.1-7; Luke 16.1-13.

Today Fr. Kevin Maney looks at the apparently contradictory messages contained in our OT, epistle, and gospel lessons. Which God are we talking about? The God who pronounces fearsome judgment on his people through his prophet or the God about whom Jesus and Paul speak? The key to understanding the heart and mind of God, of course, is to keep our eyes focused squarely on Jesus. Doing so will help us see the astonishing Good News of God's love for us contained in the parables of the lost sheep and coin and experienced first-hand by Paul. If you suffer from a broken heart or spirit, or wonder what is your purpose in life, this sermon is for you. Check it and and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 4:11–12, 22–28; Psalm 14; 1 Timothy 1.12-17; Luke 15.1-10.

Today Fr. Kevin explores the mystery of God's sovereignty and human freedom. What do our seemingly unrelated texts for today have to say about how the two interact? The key is to understand the biblical story of God's eternal plan to rescue his creation and creatures from the ravages of evil, sin, and death. Check out today's sermon and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 18.1-11; Psalm 139.1-5, 12-18; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14.25-33.