Message delivered by Pastor Nate Winterhof.

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him.

She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to what he was saying.

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks.

Luke 10:38–40

The story of Mary and Martha seems to be written for our time.

One sister is doing all the work of welcoming Jesus into her home, while the other one sits at the feet off Jesus.

This story has sibling rivalry, the balance of an active and contemplative faith life, and our easily distracted human nature.

We will dive into all of this and more.

See you Sunday!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.

“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”

He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”

And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:25–29

Sunday’s gospel is the well known parable of the Good Samaritan.

We know the content of the parable (man beaten, left for dead, several people pass by until a Samaritan helps)

and we also know the basic focus on helping others in need.

But the preamble to the parable is just as interesting.

Jesus is asked about eternal life by a teacher of the law to test (or trick) Jesus.

Jesus redirects the conversation, and the man affirms the basic summation of all Jewish values:

love God and love neighbor.

But who is my neighbor? Who am I responsible to care for?

What are the limits of my necessary assistance? It is to this question Jesus offers the parable.

Join us Sunday as we dig into this powerful and provocative teaching of Jesus.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.

Luke 10:1

The sending of the 70 (or 72) becomes the start of the apprenticeship for the disciples becoming apostles.

Disciples are students of a rabbi, while apostles are those sent by God to share the good news and invite others to follow in faith.

The first mission came with mixed results as this holy work is challenging and difficult.

There were some high points mixed in.

Join us Sunday as we consider this story and how we too share in the mission of being sent in Jesus’ name.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Luke 9:57–58

Following Jesus was a complete commitment.

The disciples left their jobs, families, and homes.

In many cases, they traveled with Jesus for three years, going from place to place, sharing the good news and healing people.

This was not a call for everyone and Sunday’s gospel shares examples of would be followers who could not quite be all in on following Jesus.

For us, being all in on following Jesus make look different, but the call to discipleship is challenging and transformational.

Join us Sunday as we consider the call to be a disciple of Jesus.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

I beg you, do not torment me,” for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.

(For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.)

Luke 8:28–29

Sunday features one of the most powerful healing stories in scripture.

A man is severely afflicted with demons, living among the tombs and shackled.

One can only imagine the pain and anguish life must have been.

And while most people avoided any contact with the man, Jesus makes a special trip to meet him and restore his mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Jesus sets him free from his bondage and he then shares with everyone all that Jesus did for him.

Join us Sunday as we consider this story and how Jesus sets us free.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Chris Christensen.

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Acts 2:3–4

Sunday is Pentecost, a day we celebrate the power of the Holy Spirit and remember how the disciples were given the ability to speak the gospel in every language.

I have often wondered whether Pentecost was a miracle of hearing or a miracle of speaking.

But perhaps it is both!

It is a miracle when people share the good news of Jesus Christ and also when people truly receive the message of God’s amazing love and grace.

Join us Sunday as we hear from the Spirit.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.

As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:20–21

In Jesus’ farewell discourse (chapters 14-17 in John) Jesus offers his wisdom, insight, and encouragement with the disciples on their last night together.

Chapter 17 concludes with Jesus praying for unity for the church.

In a time of fragmentation, division, and entrenchment, this prayer continues to be a prophetic call to faithfulness.

Unity, however, does not mean uniformity.

Jesus’ prayer for unity does not mean we all have to agree.

Instead it calls for us to see one another as brothers and sisters, all part of the same divine family.

Join us Sunday as we consider Jesus farewell prayer for us.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.

John 14:26

As Jesus was preparing to go to the cross he was also preparing the disciples to carry on the ministry and mission of the church.

He promises them that even though he is leaving, he will not leave them orphaned

(14:18)

and will send the Advocate to lead and guide them.

The Advocate is the Holy Spirit which will continue to teach the disciples (and us) all the ways of God and remind us of the important things about God we already know.

We all need this!

Join us Sunday as we explore the role of the Advocate and Jesus’ ongoing presence in our lives.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.