Sermon on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about "Righteousness in Action." What is the difference between the passive righteousness that saves us, and our life of righteousness afterward? What is it for? What does it look like?
Sermon on Matthew 22:1-14, for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about the parable of the Wedding Banquet, and the reason why a guest in the parable is expelled from the banquet for having no wedding garment. How may this relate to the promises of Isaiah 61:10? How does God dress and make us worthy for His banquet? Why is there misery outside of the banquet and away from God's presence?
Sermon on Philippians 3:4-14, for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about how we stand before God as Judge, and what are the two very different claims we can make before Him. Why would we make either of these claims? What does it show about ourselves?
Sermon on Philippians 2:14-16, for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about how we are called to be Children of God in a crooked and twisted generation. How do we grow up into the identity of Christ?
Sermon on Matthew 20:1-16, for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, some who arrived early and some late, but all received the same pay. What underlies our frequent complaint: "It's not fair!"? How does Christ give us something "Better than fair?"
Sermon on Matthew 18:21-35, for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, and what it means to "forgive your brother from your heart." What are counterfeits of true forgiveness? What does true forgiveness look like, and how do we change from unforgiving to be able to forgive our brother from our heart?
Sermon on Romans 13:1-10, for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about God's design for peace and justice through government, and the role and responsibility of citizens to God and government, and the responsibility of government to God. After our duties in relation to the law and government, what is the Good News for God's people?
Sermon on Matthew 16:21-28, for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), about Peter's struggle with understanding the mystery of God's plan, and especially as it related to Jesus' cross and suffering. How do we face the same struggle when life doesn't make sense, and we endure sufferings and crosses?
Sermon on Romans 11:33-12:8 (esp. 12:1-2a), for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A series), about how we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. What is the pressure or "squeeze" of conformity to our world? How do we resist it? What does a life lived as a living sacrifice mean? How does it happen?
Sermon on Psalm 28, for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A series), about the struggle of prayer and faith in our life, and the fear of silence or apparent lack of answer from God. How does Jesus teach us to pray? How does He pray for us? How can the Psalms be a guide to our prayers?
Sermon on Matthew 14:22-33, for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A series), about Jesus and Peter walking on water, and how we face the storms and fears of life.
Sermon on Matthew 14:13-21, for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A series), about Jesus' miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. How was the mindset of the disciples a "One dimensional (1D)" way of thinking, or a "scarcity mindset? How does God invite us into life in 3D? Are we free from suffering or difficulty in life in 3D, or what is different about life?
Sermon on Romans 8:28-39, for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A series), about how God chose us to be conformed to the image of His Son. What does this mean for our lives, and how does it relate to how God promises to work all things together for the good of those who love Him?
Sermon on Romans 8:18-27, for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A series), about how all of creation has been impacted by sin and death, and how that affects how humans look at the world, either with faith or without faith. How is the groaning of creation leading to something better? What is in store?
Sermon on Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A series), about the Parable of the Sower, and the contrast between God's Work through His "Word-seed" and the hindrances that the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh put in opposition to God's Word.
