Faith Speaks — Reverend Neil Taylor — Sermon Podcast

First Week of Lent

Read Luke 4:1-14

This morning, we will explore the Holy Spirit's role in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the events surrounding Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. As we study the story, keep in mind that Luke, our Gospel writer, presents Jesus as the perfect man and the model we should follow. This one thing we learned very clearly during Epiphany now has a laser focus as we enter the Lenten season.

Read Luke 6:17-26

Blessings & Woes

I don’t know about you, but today’s gospel is hard to hear. I’d rather be rich than poor; I’d rather be full than hungry; I’d rather laugh than weep and be spoken well of than hated, excluded, reviled, and defamed. Does anybody find today’s gospel hard to hear?

Today’s gospel doesn’t align well with the values of a capitalist society. It doesn’t align with our constitutional right to “the pursuit of happiness” or our programs for happiness.

Read Luke 5:1-11

Our Gospel text is the story of how Christ called Peter to be his disciple. At the beginning of the story, he is fishing for fish by the end of the story, he is fishing for men. It is fascinating to consider the men Jesus chose as his first disciples. He didn’t go to an executive search consultant or visit the placement office at the local college. He started by calling men with dirt under their fingernails—blue-collar workers, men without much education, men who knew about hard work and the value of perseverance.

The progress of this story is very simple. First, Peter caught fish, then Jesus caught Peter, and then Peter caught men. It all begins with a frustrated fisherman cleaning his nets after a long and hard night.

Read Luke 2:22-40

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

Today's Gospel reading is a story full of joy—the joy of parents faithfully fulfilling their faith practices, especially the joy of two older people who see the baby's identity and testify to his world-historical significance.

Read Luke 4:14-21

Good News is Bad News is Good News

This morning's gospel reading is undoubtedly about the good news in connection with Jesus as he preaches his first hometown sermon in Nazareth. But like a lot of good news, there is often a little bad news lurking quietly. Perhaps Martin Luther was not too far off when he famously said, "The gospel is bad news before it's good news."

Read John 2:1-11

Jesus' Glory and a Wedding

After the story of the Cana wedding, John adds his narration in v. 11.

"This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him."

John focuses on seeing Christ's glory: "His disciples saw his glory, and they believed in him."

That's why John is writing this Gospel. He wants to reveal the glory of Christ to us, and he wants us to receive the grace of believing. So it would be perfectly in accord with John's intention if we ask the question:

What is the glory of Christ revealed in this story of the wedding at Cana?

A More Meaningful Baptism

Read Luke 3:15-22

1. Baptism is about identity

2. Baptism is about God’s work

Read Matthew 2:1-6

Six Miles From Jesus

How long would it take to walk six miles? If you’re fit and the terrain is relatively flat, you can walk it in a couple of hours.

The most important event in the Bible—and in all of human history—took place six miles from Jerusalem.

Read John 1:1-18

When Did Christmas Begin?

When did Jesus Christ's earthly life really begin?

John 1:14 tells us that "the Word (referring to Jesus Christ) became flesh and lived among us." That takes us back before Bethlehem to the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb. Christmas began not in Bethlehem but nine months earlier when the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and implanted the divine-human Person of the Lord Jesus Christ within her.

Read Luke 2:15-20

CHRISTMAS DAY  | THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF CHRISTMAS

Our text is the second part of the Christmas Gospel we heard last night. It shows that Christmas has a ripple effect. The good news radiates outward, just like when a pebble is thrown into the still waters of a pond.

To catch up with Christmas Eve, preached by Bishop Mark Engel, go to https://youtu.be/kb3Bg5fI7zghttps://youtu.be/KnlHkNscllI