As Jesus traveled around through the villages of Galilee, large crowds gathered around Him. Matthew describes those people as confused and helpless. Why did Jesus begin His ministry there, and why does the Gospel compare the people to sheep? Join Pastor Chris as he continue our series where we're "telling the story of Jesus," as the beloved old hymn says.

The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is "The Good Shepherd" by Daniel Bonnell, one of our favorites at Epiclesis. You can find his art at www.BonnellArt.com.

 

We're in the long season after Pentecost and on this particular Sunday, Pastor Chris began a short series examining the Gospel readings. Matthew's account of the person and work of Jesus is full of wonderful stories. Our first story records Jesus healing several people, and one of them in particular is praised by Jesus for her faith. The Greek word is "pistis." But does our word "faith" adequately and fully describe what the Bible means? Let's dive in and learn!

The painting associated with this sermon/podcast is titled "The Encounter" by Daniel Cariola. It is displayed in the chapel's lower level (recently excavated down to street level at the time of Jesus) in Magdala. The scene is the healing of the woman with the "issue of blood."

Other photos Pastor Chris referred to:

 

Duc in Altum Chapel exterior

Duc in Altum Chapel interior

Duc in Altum Chapel lower level

The Holy Spirit was surely present and at work many times in God's Story throughout the Old Testament. So, what made the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost different than previous times? Join Pastor Chris as he looks at three Old Testament characters, radically empowered by the Holy Sprit, as a lens through which to look at the breathtaking events of that first Pentecost Sunday.

The image posted with this sermon/podcast is a mosaic depicting the Day of Pentecost. The artist and location are unknown.

Scripture tells us that Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

And so, the ancient church, the early church Fathers, and the historic creeds affirm that the bodily ascension of Christ is a vital part of God’s Big Story. Without it, the saving work of the Lord Jesus would be significantly incomplete.

And yet more recently, the church, especially the Western church, has either neglected Christ’s ascension, or underestimated and misunderstood its significance.

In this sermon, Pastor Chris makes the case for sayingthat all four parts of the work of Christ-- Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension-- are critical and can’t be separated or removed from the other.

The artwork that Pastor Chris referred to is "The Ascension" by British painter Ford Madox Brown. The full image is here. The lower portion is here. The middle, here. And the top portion is here. The top portion is being used as the featured image for this podcast/sermon.

The handout/notes we used is viewable/downloadable here.

In this final sermon in a series on the first letter of Peter, we took a close look at the first six emperors of Rome. Why? To provide some vivid and even shocking context for what otherwise might seem like easy words and phrases in the Scripture passages. The details, frankly, are gruesome; and they are important for us to know. They're also why Peter's words hit all the harder: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

Are those words for us today, too? Yes, indeed, and Peter's admonitions help focus our responses to the sometimes gruesome nature of the world around us.

Join us as we dive into one of the most chaotic, brutal, but formational times in Christian history.

The image associated with this post is "The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer" (detail) by Jean-Léon Gérôme (1883).

Christian person, have you ever thought of yourself as a priest?

Our baptism makes us to be people who share in the priesthood of all believers. We are to minister in a kind of priesthood, through the power of the Holy Spirit, spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and offer sacrifices of love and praise to God the Father in and through our daily lives.

On this Sunday, Dr. Jay Dudley taught from 1 Peter 2:24 and showing that an intended result of Christ bearing our sin is that we die to it and live to righteousness. The word translated "die" here is a euphemism meaning "absent" or "missing." This suggests that we can increasingly die to sin-- by thinking and acting absent, missing, not available to it. The sermon explores this and three other biblically grounded pictures of spiritual practices that strengthen resolve and resistance to temptation and sin.

Time has a way of changing the way you can see things. What does that mean, and what might that phrase have to do with Peter's encouraging New Testament letter? Pastor Chris began a short series on the first letter of Peter. Could you use some encouragement? Let's listen carefully to Peter's words to Christians scattered across the known world and see how they might put a "pep in our step" as we live and work and serve in the "meantime." You have been born again! Your new life will last forever!

Note: The artwork associated with this podcast/post is Rembrandt's interpretation of St. Peter.

Worship on that first resurrection morning? Yes, indeed. From just a few verses in Matthew 10, we see the wondrous and thoroughly biblical four-fold pattern of Christian worship on display. Curious about how that works? Join us as Pastor Chris takes us through the beautiful details.

 

Note: The artwork associated with this podcast/sermon is an unitled work on the theme of Christ's resurrection by illustrator/artist Cliff Nielsen. You can find more of his wondeful work here on Facebook.

On this Palm Sunday, Pastor Chris looked at some things that Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones has in common with Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Those two remarkable biblical accounts share some beautiful parallels, and along the way we also took a look at one pivotal event just before Jesus entered the city. What might all three stories of those biblical stories reveal about the person and work of Jesus? Join us!

The painting associated with this sermon/podcast is titled "Ezekiel" (1979) by Richard McBee.