Jesus’ own disciples are losing confidence in him. This “eat my body and drink my blood” stuff is just too much for them. Jesus knows that you can’t force belief, but at the same time, his followers are not called to eat the bread of life and leave the crusts behind. Jesus came to feed […]
As Jesus talks about being the bread from heaven who brings life to the world, he gets into a sticky situation with the Jewish religious leaders about just how far this metaphor really goes. Eating flesh? Drinking blood? Sounds a little bit…beyond the pale, for them and for us. How do we receive what Jesus […]
What do you eat when you’re far from home? What do you need when you’re out of your comfort zone, when you’re at your wits’ end, when you find yourself beyond hope? Jesus does more than provide for our daily needs, he is there in our time of great need, nourishing us with food for […]
After feeding five thousand people, Jesus finds himself trying to explain this sign to the crowd, who just wants more bread. They wonder if he is like Moses, missing the fact that he is God, in their midst. People never do seem to understand Jesus! The kind of “bread” he brings is lasting closeness and […]
The story of Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish is always a favorite. But Jesus is just as intentional about instructing the disciples to gather up all the pieces that are left. He gathers up our own broken pieces, too, and carefully stitches them back together, so that not one […]
Like sheep without a shepherd, we wander in our own groups, suspicious of the other groups and not quite sure where we belong. Such is our world, then and now. Jesus steps forward to be our shepherd, and calls us (the church) to be part of one new household where everyone can belong. Together we […]
How do you do the right thing when you’re convinced you’re surrounded by pure evil? We hear about a grisly scene at King Herod’s birthday party that shows what happens when his appetite for power and control can never be satisfied. By comparison, Jesus offers a banquet that values all human life, where everyone has […]
Even Jesus had bad days. Even Jesus had to deal with the haters. In a visit home, Jesus finds that his home synagogue is not ready to accept his new ministry. They think they know Jesus best…but they might be in for a surprise. When Jesus sends his disciples out to continue his work, he […]
There’s never enough time to do it all, is there? On the way to heal one person, Jesus gets interrupted by another. Rather than rush to help them both, he takes the time to make sure each one is healed and given a new future…even if it means overcoming death. This worship service includes Communion […]
When is a storm more than a storm? In the gospel of Mark, Jesus and the disciples face an epic storm that seems larger than life, representing the battle between good and evil. Jesus doesn’t always calm the storm on our preferred timeline, but when it counts, he is there, and he uses his power […]