Text: Matthew 2:1-12 In the middle of December, Brandon and I were able to get away for an incredible six-day, seven-state, three-national park road trip. Over the prairies… through the mountains… across the desert… through Arches… our target was the Grand Canyon. I had never been before and it had probably been 25 years since…
Epiphany
Follow the Star: Mantle
Text: 1 Kings 19: 3-6, 9-12, 15-16, 19; 2 Kings 2:1, 7-12 Today as we wrap up the season of Epiphany, we focus on the prophet Elijah and his protégé, Elisha. A new king had arisen in the land – Ahab and his wife Jezebel – and instead of following the God of Abraham, Isaac,…
Follow the Star: Service
Text: Mark 1:29-38, Isaiah 40:21-31 Today, as we follow the star, we hear an invitation from God to serve. Why do we serve? Is it because we are trying to earn our salvation? Is it to gain brownie points with God or with others? Do we serve from a sense of duty or obligation? Or…
Follow The Star: Authority
Text: Mark 1:21-28 Our gospel lesson for today begins with Jesus teaching in the synagogue. And the people of Capernaum were astounded by his teaching. It wasn’t simply what he taught, but how he taught it. Jesus exuded authority: power, freedom, ability… The words were not simply something he had read, but something he possessed.…
Follow the Star: Repent
Text: Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5,10 Over the last year our routines, our work, our families, our vacations… so many parts of our lives were unexpectedly turned upside down and inside out. Including our church. One of my mentors often reminds me that church is often the place that we go to escape the change that…
Follow The Star: Invitation
Text: John 1:43-51 This year has begun with chaos, violence, grief, and pain. And I have to admit that when I sat down to write this sermon, the words just wouldn’t come. Or rather, I would write and then my anger and frustration would kick in and I’d have to delete what I had typed.…
Follow the Star: Identity
Text: Mark 1:4-11 Last week, we invited you to follow the star of the Magi… Not the one in the sky, but the one in the manger. The one who drew them over mountains and deserts and seas. I love how the Message translation makes clear that the object we are seeking and following is…
Follow the Star : Epiphany
Has God ever spoken to you? Have you ever seen a sign? Heard a voice? Met God in a dream? As I was finishing up my senior year of high school, I was kind of a mess. I could not figure out where I wanted to go to college, and my indecision was creating a…