Deuteronomy 10:12-22 “Heart Surgery.” Here in Deuteronomy we have clear directions about God’s expectations of Israel, and of us. God lets us know about God’s heart, and about how we must open our own hearts and connect to the most vulnerable in order that we might truly connect with God’s heart. How we […]
May 21 Acts 17:22-31 “Who Made Whom?” Think of all the human-made stuff people worship and serve: money, fame, power, fashion, security, possessions, groups, institutions. Just like the Athenians and their statue to an unknown god, we take lots of opportunities to venerate something. Paul offers them and us a deeper understanding of God. I […]
John 20:19-31 “The Great Comeback…G.O.A.T.” (Pat Jackson, preaching) 19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said […]
April 16 Easter John 20:1-18 and Matthew 25:34-40 “Jesus Incognito?” (Jeff Moore, preaching) Mary goes to the garden to see Jesus. When she encounters the risen Christ she doesn’t recognize him until he calls her by name and she recognizes him as teacher. What will make for our Easter encounter? How can we see Jesus […]
Matthew 21:1-11 “Demonstrating Change” (Jeff Moore, preaching) What happened on what we now know as Palm Sunday was more than a parade, it was more than a fan event. Not the biggest celebration Chicago has seen since 1908. Not a Cardinal Nation celebration. It was a street demonstration. A question I often ask myself this […]
“I Can See Clearly Now” John 9:1-12 (Pat Jackson, preaching) As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works […]
Genesis 12:1-4a “God’s Trying To Get To Me…Through You!” (Jeff Moore, preaching) “Leave home, everything and everyone you know, and go to a place I’ll show you.” God sending Abram was about a lot more than just Abram, just as God sending you is about a lot more than just you. Here in this […]
Matthew 4:1-11 “Runnin’ With the Devil” Life is full of choices, it seems, even for Jesus. Jesus was tempted too. Lest we think that Jesus was merely refusing the offers of the devil because Jesus was an ascetic, we need to notice that he has clear theological reasons behind each of his choices. What if, […]
“Defense Against the Dark Arts” (Jeff Moore, preaching) Luke 10:1-18 Here’s a story about demons submitting and Satan falling from the sky. A real defense against the dark arts adventure. What incredibly powerful, magical, spiritual weapons did these wizard-like disciples use to accomplish such a thing? Jesus sent 70 out into the world and told […]
click on photo to enlarge