Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29- "Clearing the Way for Christ: Palm Sunday"

Synopsis:

Throughout Lent, we have been asking God to give us fresh eyes to see all aspects of our life together as a community of faith. On Palm Sunday, the Psalmist reminds us that the most unlikely one becomes the foundation for the whole building. Jesus rides into Jerusalem not on a white steed like a conquering Caesar but on a goofy donkey (a colt even, so his feet were probably dragging on the ground) to show that God’s power and the world’s power are radically and fundamentally different. Jesus conquers not not by shedding the blood of his enemies but by allowing himself to be executed like a common criminal on a Roman cross–a gruesome but regularly used instrument of torture and death. Christ comes to teach us what power truly looks like, as he says in John 15:12-13, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Palm Sunday is a reminder to us that God’s Kingdom is always coming and already arriving, and the policies of God’s Kingdom look radically different than the policies of this world. In God’s Kingdom, lions lay down with lambs instead of eating them and mortal enemies break bread as brothers and sisters.

Luke 14:25-33 - "Founded for Good Dreams in 1870"

Synopsis: Dreaming is difficult, but necessary work. When we give ourselves the chance to dream and imagine future possibilities, we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and the opportunity to dream God’s dreams for our lives. But, the real work comes when we begin to make those dreams into a reality. Jesus tells this parable to illustrate discipleship, because following Christ requires preparation, planning, and pledging yourself to finish the task you start. Together, we begin this stewardship campaign looking into the future and dreaming God’s dreams as we count the cost of discipleship.

Keywords: Jesus, kingdom of God, dreams, vision, hope, wonder, stewardship, generosity, commitment, cost of discipleship

Luke 14:1, 7-14 - "An Honorable Mention"

Synopsis: Jesus is invited to his third dinner party in the Gospel of Luke, and has two important bits of wisdom to share with the guests (who scramble for seats of honor) and the hosts (who only invite people who can provide a quid pro quo of power, access, or position to them). Honor/Shame matrices are foreign to us as Americans, but this teaching from Jesus is saturated in his cultural situation. To rise above your station on your own without an invitation from a higher-up, is a bold, risky move that usually ends with a shameful dismissal. Although, God is God who lifts up the lowly and bestows honor to those who otherwise might be ignored by most folks in society.

Keywords: Jesus, honor, hospitality, justice, compassion, love, grace, inclusion, Kingdom of God

Luke 12:32-40 - “Stories Jesus Tells: Fight to Keep the Fire Burning”

Synopsis: Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and then tells a parable of servants waiting for the master to return from a wedding feast. Weddings were sometimes multiple days and in an era before cellphones, a watchman had to keep the fires burning to welcome the master home at any time day or night. This watchfulness is like a fire burning inside, too, where we keep focused on our heart’s deepest desire and duty. According to Jürgen Moltmann, at the core Christianity is a religion on promise. There is a hopefulness to our faith which challenges the despair or numbness of our culture. We are called to keep the fire of hope and love burning through the night time of our fears.

Watch Christian Picciolini’s story on TED.com

(The sermon title comes from the song, “Fight to Keep,” by the band Korean-American Indie Rock band Run River North)

Keywords: Parables, Jesus, Kingdom of God, hope, promise, despair, violence, evil, white supremacy, racism, justice, peace, peacemaking, relationship, transformation, salvation, longing, belonging

Galatians 3:23-29 - "Brother Paul and the Kin-dom of God"

In a biographical look at the life of Saul-turned-Paul, we see a life of violence, hate, and bigotry transformed on the road to Damascus in an encounter with the Living, Risen Christ. After this, Paul’s hatred of the Jesus-follower’s inclusion of Gentiles into their community becomes his life calling. In a world where we label, divide, and polarize, Brother Paul is still preaching today that we are all not just citizens in the Kingdom of God, but kinfolk and siblings in the family of God.

Acts 1:1-11 - "The Ascension: To Infinity and Beyond"

Jesus gathers his disciples before ascending back into full, spiritual communion with the Trinity and before sending the Holy Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit arrives, they will become his witnesses of salt and light in Jerusalem, all throughout the countryside in Judea and Samaria (two regions segregated by ethnic and cultural tension), and to the ends of the earth. Although, we are not told exactly when Jesus was culminate this work and exact where we are to go. The Infinite God is not bound by time or space. In God’s infinity of time, we are called to live and love each day like it’s our last and lean into the eternal present in each moment. In God’s infinity of space, we are called to bear witness to God’s love and Christ’s Resurrected Life in lands far away from our hometowns or even in our own backyard as God’s agents of peace and reconciliation. Wherever God sends us, we have an opportunity to lay roots and bloom where we are planted.

"Upside Down" - Luke 6:27-38

"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

"Questions Worth Asking: Why Baptize?"

Text: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Synopsis: Like all symbols, baptism bears a surplus of meaning for followers of Jesus who follow him through the waters. Baptism is a past, present, and future act. Baptism gives us a tangible act to teach us the failures of our past do not define our belonging to Christ in the present, or our opportunity to walk into a new, hopeful future filled with possibilities.

Keywords: Epiphany, baptism, Baptist, ordinance, sacrament, Kingdom of God, citizenship, peace, justice, love, life abundant.

“Love Sunday: Carol through the Chaos" - Micah 5:2-5a

Text: Micah 2:2-5a

Synopsis: The sermon preached by the prophet Micah, which we hear in Handel’s Messiah and understand retroactively as a Messianic prophesy about Jesus, is a hopeful word to the Hebrew people in their darkest hour. As the armies of Assyria beat on the doors of Zion, Micah reminds the people of God’s past promises and future plans to bring restoration, peace, and justice to the whole human family through the little town of Bethlehem. Even in the most chaotic of times, the God of Promise invites us to continue to carol and sing songs of love and liberation as we work to build the Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven. So, don’t let anyone steal your song as you carol through the chaos of life.

Keywords: Advent, Christmas, love, chaos, stress, peace, prophetic, Messiah, songs, singing, hope, Kingdom of God

"Joy Sunday: The Upside-Down Kingdom" - Luke 1:46-55

On Joy Sunday, we hear a glorious Cantata from J.S. Bach and a Song of Liberation from Jesus’ mother Mary. Music lifts us from the mire of life and reminds us of the promises of God for a future where every story matters, every life has worth, and every hunger is satisfied. How can we keep from singing with such Good News?

"Until the Day is Done" - Philippians 1:3-11

Text: Philippians 1:3-11

Synopsis: Paul writes a word of gratitude and encouragement to the church in Philippi to remind them that the good work God has begun among them will come to fruition in time. God’s growth is gradual but also inevitable. So, give yourself the grace to know we are all God’s work in progress. God’s good work takes time.

“Spoiler Alert” - Matthew 25:31-46

On Christ the King Sunday, we celebrate the return of the King who will come to bring justice, mercy, and balance to a world of disparity. But, for those of us who like to judge others and decide who’s in and who’s out––spoiler alert! Jesus is the only True Judge, and his mercy is a mystery and his justice will satisfy the cravings of those who hunger, shiver, and weep.

The Apostle Paul and the Evangelist Matthew offer us two important perspectives on judgment and human destiny. Paul envisions a God of grace who seeks to reconcile and embrace the whole of humanity and tear down the dividing wall between insiders and outsiders. Paul fought against the religious practice of “works righteousness,” that idea that we can work our way towards salvation through religious rituals or purity laws. Matthew, a Jewish repentant Tax-Collector, teaches us that (while rituals and purity laws won’t save us) we have a moral obligation to be agents of peace, charity, and justice in our world.

By holding these two ideas in tension, we humbly hand Christ the King the keys of judgment and seek to live like the prophet Micah teaches us: with justice, kindness, and humility with our God.