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 […]
The parable of the mustard seed is one of the classic stories Jesus tells. But Ezekiel’s prophecy of the mighty cedar is a little less well-known. The Gospel of Mark weaves these two together to show that God’s kingdom is both everywhere (like the mustard plant) and a haven for nurturing life (like a mighty […]
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is on a mission to save and liberate everyone from the forces of evil. But some have a problem with this: the religious authorities and Jesus’ own family. How do we follow the Spirit’s call to change the world when it conflicts with our own need for order and […]
Today the word “awesome” is part of our everyday vocabulary as another word for “great.” But thinking of God as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) moves us beyond “awesome” to AWE. When we see God’s majesty and mystery reflected in countless ways, it’s OK to give ourselves permission to be awestruck. That is […]