In Matthew 5:21-37, Jesus takes the words of the Old Testament Law and radically sharpens them. Instead of outward obedience, he demands inner purity. But what if this is beyond our power? In this sermon, Pastor Eric uses the image of a coach vs. a surgeon to understand how these words of Jesus work in our souls, and how we can find freedom and joy in the love of Christ.
Word of the Day: ‘Righteousness.’ (February 5, 2023)
Sometimes in worship, we hear “church words” that have been nearly forgotten in our modern world. Taking a word from all of today’s lessons, and particularly from the gospel reading from Matthew 5:13-20, Pastor Paige invites listeners to learn about the word, “righteousness.” What does it mean that we are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness? Do we need to worry about our measure of righteousness? What does righteousness have to do with how we live each day as followers of Jesus? In this sermon, we consider these questions so we can learn how to obey God’s call to practice righteousness and shine the light of Christ as we serve our neighbors.
How It Gets Done (January 29, 2023)
In today's readings (Micah 6:1-8, 1Corinthians 1:18-31, and Matthew 5:1-12), we hear God's call to his people to live in holiness and service. It's a call that can feel impossible. But what if it wasn't up to us? What if God does want to transform us, and change the world through us, but if it wasn't our strength or wisdom that would get it done? In this sermon, Pastor Eric lifts up the grace of Jesus in the Cross as the source of all spiritual good and power. When we trust in him, and not our own efforts, then God's saving purposes will get done.
How the Light Gets In (January 22, 2023)
As the season of Epiphany continues, we hear the good news that Jesus brings light to scatter the darkness. Today’s gospel reading from Matthew 4:12-23 invites us to follow Jesus as his disciples. In this sermon, Pastor Paige points out that it isn’t always easy to do that, given the challenges of sin and the unexpected ways that darkness tries to sneak into our lives. By becoming human for us and our salvation, Jesus knows what that feels like. In his death on the cross and his resurrection, the light and power of God overcame the darkness once and for all, for us and for the whole world. Now we get to shine the light of our risen Lord everywhere we go.
[Our apologies - we had to cut the second reading, and the first reading & psalm might be hard to hear clearly, as the microphone batteries were dying.]
For Those Concerned about the State of the Church (January 15, 2023)
A lot of Christians, especially those invested in their churches, are vulnerable to frustration and disappointment now. Trends of lower participation, and of more people identifying as non-Christian, had been going on for decades, and the pandemic & lockdowns only accelerated them. The temptation is to say that "the world should change so they can come to us." But what if the Lord wants us to change so that we go to the world? What if caring about the well-being of the institution, and those already in it, is too small a hope? In this sermon from Isaiah 49:1-7, Pastor Eric uses the image of the Dead Sea to lift up God's call to mission for the sake of others.