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The Gardener Indeed!
This week in John, we pick up the narrative midway through the first resurrection appearance on the morning of that first Easter. Loyal Mary Magdalene has stayed at the tomb after Peter and John have gone home. And, what she finds is the gardener, the gardener indeed! Join us this Sunday as we explore what else John wants us to see on that first morning of the whole new world.
The Tomb is Empty!
It is finished … but it has not ended! Jesus died on Friday afternoon after he had said, “It is finished.” Two men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, take Jesus off the cross, pack his body with spices and lay his body in a new tomb. Jesus is dead and buried on Friday afternoon. But that does not end the story! On Sunday morning, John tells us that Mary Magdalene, Peter and John find Jesus’ tomb empty – except for the grave cloths. Join us this Sunday as we get to explore the meaning of the empty tomb.
It is Finished
John 19:16b-42
This week we come to the crucifixion of Jesus from the Gospel of John. John sees a lot of details in his account, but at the heart of everything is Jesus’ cry, “It is finished” (19:30). So, what is finished? What is it that is finished? Join us this Sunday as we explore this very important question.
Politics on Trial
John 18:28-19:16
We return to the Gospel of John this week as Jesus is brought before Pilate. As we said three weeks ago, when Jesus was before the religious authorities, He wasn’t the one on trial, they were. And, at the very same time, Peter, representing the disciples, was on trial as he stood around a charcoal fire. In the text this week, even though Jesus is in the dock, Pilate is the one on trial. How will he respond to the great I AM standing before him? Join us this Sunday as we seek to learn from Pilate’s response.
Understanding our Belonging
Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)
What does it mean to belong? A question we all can wrestle with in different seasons of life, particularly as we think about belonging to the family of God. This Sunday we’ll be talking about this question as we study the parable of the Prodigal Son, in the hopes that we might better understand our part in the family of God.
The Good Shepherd… and His Other Sheep
Call to Worship: Psalm 67 (NIV) Leader:1 May God be gracious to us and bless us People: and make his face shine on us— Leader:2 so that your ways may be known on earth, People: your salvation among all nations. Leader:3 May the peoples praise you, God; People: may all the peoples praise you. Leader:4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, People: for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. Leader:5 May the peoples praise you, God; People: may…
Religion on Trial
“You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” This question is posed to Peter, the lead disciple, outside while Jesus is being interrogated inside. Only a few hours earlier in the upper room, Peter had proudly declared to Jesus, “I will follow you anywhere. I will even lay down my life for you.” And, now, a few hours later just before the rooster crows, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” Peter answers, “I am not.” All four Gospels contain Peter’s failure. And why? Join us this Sunday as we seek to learn from Peter’s failure.
They Arrested God
John 18:1-12
This Sunday we return to our studies in John within the series I’ve called Come and See. Back in the spring, we ended with Jesus’ great prayer in chapter 17 where he says, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you” (John 17:1). In other words, now is the time for glory. Glory means the revelation of what someone is like. This fall, we will see the supreme revelation of what the living God is like. We will behold His glory. And, it all begins in a garden. Join us this Sunday as we come and see the arrest of God.
Back to School
Hebrews 5:11-6:3
Labor Day weekend marks the traditional end of summer. But many students have been back to school for a while already. Some may have found that they had regressed over the summer, and had to get back in the groove of learning. We expect students to progress from learning the ABCs all the way to advanced topics. The Christian life is also a school in which we are expected to advance from infancy to maturity, from milk to solid food.
He Was Heard
The psalmist cried to the Lord in his distress, and he was heard. Jonah cried to the Lord from the belly of the fish, and he was heard. Jesus cried to the Lord, and he died. But his reverent submission spoke from the grave, and was heard. Now we hear his voice and submit in obedience, finding thereby eternal salvation.
Finding Timely Help
Heb 4:14-16
Good help is hard to find, so the saying goes. The psalmist looked to the hills as he asked, “Where does my help come from?” He then answered his own question: My help comes from the Lord (Ps 121:1-2). Where do we look for help, especially during our spiritual journey? Our text tells us we can find timely help because we have a great high priest. We can boldly approach the eternal throne.
Unto Whom All Hearts Be Open
The ancient Collect for Purity prayed early in the Eucharist service of the Book of Common Prayer begins thus: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid. Is that a comforting thought or a scary thought? David wrote, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me,” then he dared to ask God to do so again: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Ps 139:1, 23). God’s living, powerful word penetrates into our deepest being, exposing us before his gaze. Will we survive his examination? Do we want him to know our heart?