Restoring relationships
Hebrews 1: 1-4, 2: 5-12…………..Mark 10: 2-16 ………….19th Sunday after Pentecost Rev. Bob Kelley
Audacious Asking
Psalm 124———-James 5: 13-30———-18th Sunday after Pentecost September 26, 2021 Many years ago, I met two 14-year-olds that were in the youth group at the church where I was a new intern. Within ten minutes of meeting me, they asked, “Can we borrow your car?” I was flabbergasted! What an audacious request! Firstly, they were too young to drive. Secondly, I barely knew them—but they appeared to be entirely serious about it! I said, “No, guys. Sorry.” And they said,…
Servant Leadership
James 3: 13 – 4: 8a———-Mark 9: 30-37———–17th Sunday after Pentecost September 19, 2021 Listen to this description: “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth!” This is what Numbers 12:3 tells us about the most famous leader in the early history of our faith! A very HUMBLE man. Isn’t humble a funny word? We might say, “Welcome to my humble abode” when we actually have a home any royalty…
Successful Losers
Mark 8:27-38 ———– Proverbs 1:20-33 —-16th Sunday after Pentecost September 12, 2021 (Holding up Romex): Do you see this wire? Anyone who has helped build a house or has done any wiring project will recognize it. Everybody I know calls it “Romex,” and it makes life as we know it possible! Without wire like this running through our homes and businesses and even here at church, life would be very different. Because electricity flows through the wire, amazing things happen. …
Dogs, Demons, and Discrimination
James 2: 1-17———Mark 7: 24-37—-15th Sunday after Pentecost September 5, 2021 One of my favorite authors is Dr. Seuss! At our house, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a favorite every December. The old animated version seen on TV brings to life a story about how celebrating the True Meaning of Christmas is more important than all the presents and decorations and feasting. It is a story of redemption in which the hardhearted Grinch is drawn into the celebration instead…
“Worthless Religion”
August 29, 2021 “Worthless Religion” Rev. Patrick Mecham James 1:17-27 ———– Mark 7:1-23 ———-14th Sunday after Pentecost In 1859, a French tight-rope walker by the name of Charles Blondin decided to pull a stunt that would guarantee him great fame. He walked 1100 feet on a highwire that was strung 160’ above Niagra Falls! Over the next few years, he returned to Niagra to repeat his feat, with further difficulties thrown in—crossing it blindfolded, manacled, on stilts, pushing a…
Body Armor
August 22 “Body Armor” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69 13th Sunday after Pentecost We all understand that, when a new recruit joins the military, he or she goes through extensive training and physical fitness preparation before they are sent into action. But we wouldn’t think of deploying them without a helmet or body armor—that would be just plain foolish! In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he’s saying something similar: Christians need to put on body armor…
Becoming or Behaving
August 15, 2021 “Becoming or Behaving” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 I once heard a teacher describing the kids in his class. He said that some of the kids looked at him while he talked, nodded their heads when he made a point, chuckled when he said something funny, raised their hands when they wanted to speak—basically making his day easier. And then there were others—kids who didn’t seem to listen to him, who never seemed…
The Words of My Mouth
August 8, 2021 “The Words of My Mouth” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35, 41-51 11th Sunday after Pentecost When you were growing up, I’ll be you were told, “If you can’t say something nice—don’t say anything at all!” Some attribute this to Bambi, but Bambi was just quoting our mothers, right?! Be nice. Be sweet. I’ll agree that we need to teach our children to be KIND, to hold back on those words that hurt. …
Works or Faith?
August 1 “Works or Faith” Rev. Patrick Mecham Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35
“Who Are You, Jesus?”
Romans 5: 1-11————John 3: 1-21————John 4: 1-30 July 25, 2021—————-Rev. Kate Freeman—————9th Sunday after Pentecost Good Morning, Spanish Springs Church. It is good to be back together with you all. Today I invite us to take a look at two familiar conversations which involve Jesus and someone who is seeking to know, “Who is this man?” Want to get to know someone, have a conversation, right? Let’s discover how Jesus reveals his Identity and what that means for us. These…
Drawn to Power
Drawn to Power 8th Sunday after Pentecost Ephesians 2:11-22 July 18, 2021 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 I’m willing to bet that something like this has happened to you: You’ve been working on something really hard (without a break), and you are really looking forward to a chance to kick back and relax. And just at the time when your break comes, someone asks you to help them—and it’s obvious that you have to defer that break. Something in you says,…