"Seeing God"

Sermon Notes for October 22, 2017

Read Exodus 33:12-23, where Moses asks to see God.

So, we need a bit of background for our scripture here in Exodus. Last week we heard the scripture that comes before this, which was when Moses was up on the mountain with God, the people were upset because they couldn't see God. So they asked Aaron to help them out. Aaron took all of the gold and melted it down and made a cow, and said "Here. Worship this" And the people did! And they were happy.

Then Moses came down with the ten commandments and saw what they had done, and was so mad he smashed the tablets. Because the very first thing God had said was worship only me, and here they are, worshiping a golden cow. So he told them all what they had done wrong and melted down the cow again, convincing all of the people to repent for what they had done.

"Live in Joy"

Sermon Notes for October 15, 2017 

Read Philippians 4:1-13, where Paul gives a final greeting to the church at Philippi; and says, among other things:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (vs 4-7)

Dallas Willard once said, "We should, to begin with, think that God leads a very interesting life, and that God is full of joy. Undoubtedly God is the most joyous being in the universe. The abundance of God's love and generosity is inseparable from God's infinite joy. All of the good and beautiful things from which we occasionally drink tiny droplets of soul-exhilarating joy, God continuously experiences in all their breadth and depth and richness."

I love the image of God as being full of joy. In many ways it is the opposite of the stern, demanding God, full of judgment that is the first thing that comes to mind when some people think of God. I love this image so much, that I use part of this passage as a blessing in every wedding I do, reminding the couple to be joyful long after the honeymoon glow has faded.

"Tenants in the Vineyard"

Sermon Notes for October 8, 2017

Read Matthew 21:33-46, where a man deals with the tenants in his vineyard.

We find ourselves in the vineyard again today. Have you noticed that we spend a lot of time in vineyards in the Bible?

Vineyards are a hopeful metaphor a lot of the time.  When Noah gets to dry land the first thing he does after God makes a covenant with him is to plant a vineyard.  The text doesn't even tell us he built a house, but that vineyard was his first priority. Why is this a hopeful sign? Because it takes a long time to establish a vineyard. Most of them take at least three years before you even begin to get fruit.

"Words and Deeds"

Sermon Notes for October 1, 2017

Read Matthew 21:23-32, where a father asks his two sons to work in the vineyard.


I wonder about these sons this morning. I wonder about who they were and what else was going on in their lives. The first son, who simply and baldly says "I won't" is defiant in a way sons simply weren't at that time. We may be used to teenagers who talk back, but a son in open defiance would be strange for them.

And the second son, who maybe meant well and just had no follow through. Did something come up? Did he get distracted? Did he say yes with the best of intentions and then his time simply got away from him?

"Is It Fair?"

Sermon Notes for September 24, 2017

Read Matthew 20:1-16, where laborers earn a day's wages for a day -- or less -- of work.


Take a moment right now, and decide if you think this is a fair story.

No, right? Anyone who grows up in a culture where the work is supposed to match the pay, will immediately say that this isn't fair. That fair would be a proportional amount for everyone based on the number of hours they put into the field.

But is it a good parable? Does it make you think? Does it fill you with hope and joy about what comes next? I think we'll find that changes greatly depending on who you identify with. Because if you see yourself as one of the people who were out there at first light, ready and willing to work, this is a frustrating parable. This is a story about working harder for the same pay.

But if you identify with the people at the end of the day, the people who had been looking for work, but just didn't find it, the people who were still in the marketplace and hoping against all odds, this is a story of generosity and grace.

"Forgiveness"

Sermon Notes for September 17, 2017

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Jesus spends a lot of his ministry trying to build his followers into communities. Care for each other. Learn from each other. Eat with each other. Gather together in my name. Part of being a disciple is about being in community. That's my concern about people who identify as spiritual, but not religious Christians. Usually when people call themselves spiritual, what they mean is that they have a close personal relationship with God. It's just them and God far away from the rest of the world. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to have such a relationship with God. It's a good thing to go off and find God away from people. The trouble comes, when we have to go back into the world. We can't stay in our spiritual retreat forever and the world is full of people we have to deal with.

"Now What?"

Sermon Notes for September 3, 2017

Our passage this morning continues with where we left off last week in Paul's letter to the Romans. First he told this early church that they have to come together as one community, as one body, even though they are very different people with many different gifts. This week he tells them how they are supposed to behave when they come together.

Paul tells them that they must begin with love. The root of the church is a community that loves like Jesus showed us how to love.