First Baptist Church of Asheville Podcast

April 2, 2023. Palm Sunday. Year A.

The city shakes when Jesus enters with a phalanx of shouting crowds. This is the first of three uses of the word “shake” (nrsv: “turmoil”). The second is when the temple veil splits and the earth “shakes.” And the third is when the guards at the tomb “shake” and become like dead men. Matthew’s first placement anticipates the crowd’s question, “Who is this?” This is the one whose coming was foretold, the one whose entrance tilts the world on its axis, the one who collapses the distance between God and humankind, and turns the tables on death.

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

March 26, 2023. Fifth Sunday in Lent. Year A.

Martha has been to Bible Study and worship every Sunday and doesn’t need convincing about the resurrection. “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day,” she retorts, when Jesus assures her Lazarus will live. But Jesus isn’t referring to the last day. He’s referring to the next few hours. He’s talking about now. By raising a four-day-dead Lazarus, he demonstrates God’s present power over death. Which begs the question: what potential resurrections might we be overlooking in the present as a result of our faithful farsightedness?

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

March 19, 2023. Fourth Sunday in Lent. Year A.

Samuel’s anointing of David is a crucial guide for how we discern faithful leaders. Initially, David’s candidacy isn’t even considered. The distinguished oldest son appears to be the obvious choice. But Samuel is adamant that outward appearances are immaterial. Rather, “the Lord looks on the heart.” These matters of the heart are applicable to both religious and civic contexts. We hear Jesus’ own convictions about this in his woes to the scribes and Pharisees (Mt. 23:27-28). Leadership matters not only merely for keeping “order,” but for the sake of our survival and flourishing.

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

March 12, 2023. Third Sunday in Lent. Year A.

Preacher: Mark Yaconelli

Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

March 5, 2023. Second Sunday in Lent. Year A.

What does it mean to be born “from above,” or “of the Spirit”? Nicodemus can’t wrap his mind around the invitation, assuming such a life is impossible. But his incredulity prevents him from understanding Jesus, and blinds him to a more comprehensive understanding of life in the resurrection. As a result, in the end, Nicodemus’s relationship with Jesus ends with his participation in a dignified burial. But those born in the Spirit discover what abundant life really means, as they continue encountering the risen Jesus in their daily lives.

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

February 26, 2023. First Sunday in Lent. Year A.

In Luke’s version, Jesus is led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he is tempted. But in Matthew, the Spirit leads him there to be tempted. The transition recalls God’s purposeful testing of Abraham by the sacrifice of Isaac, and the corresponding question, “Can Abraham be trusted?” Likewise, what does this sequence of tests reveal about Jesus’ trustworthiness? At every turn, Jesus rejects temptation, and confirms not only his faithfulness as the Son of God, but his readiness to face the challenges to come. These tests also beg the question of how congregations discern temptation, and how such encounters shape or reinforce our character in times of trial.

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

February 19, 2023. Transfiguration Sunday. Year A.

Pairing Matthew’s account with Psalm 2, we hone in on Jesus as the focal point of our full attention. Just as God displaces kings and rulers and peoples in favor of one son in Psalm 2, the Transfiguration confirms Jesus as the person to whom we owe our sole attention and devotion. Where Moses signifies the Law and Elijah the Prophets, God’s voice identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of both. When the dust settles and the glory subsides, Matthew’s conclusion of the account says it all—“they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.”

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

February 5, 2023. Fifth Sunday after Epiphany. Year A.

For many, the Lord’s Supper (or Communion, Eucharist) signifies a memorial meal--we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). For others, Communion invites intense examination and self-reflection, or represents being spiritually fed and nourished by Jesus. Each of these ways of imagining communion are meaningful and true. But today we consider what it means to be taken by Jesus in the Lord’s Supper. How does communion reveal not only our consuming, but our being consumed by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection? VISION: Joyful Feast HYMN SUGGESTIONS Hymn of Praise 457 Come and Feast, For All Are Welcomed REGENT SQUARE (lilting, UP) Hymn of Faith 394 Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts QUEBEC Hymn of Response 458 Let Us Talents and Tongues LINSTEAD (Jamaican, world music) ) OTHER MUSIC ANTHEM Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjielo (chant based, pensive) OFFERTORY TBD Tate COMMUNION MUSIC TBD Tate BENEDICTION Halleluya, We Sing Your Praises (world music, joyful, upbeat)

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

January 29, 2023. Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. Year A.

We shy away from Jesus’ healing miracles because, for one, we know too many people—ourselves included—who’ve sought healing and been disappointed. Add to the disappointment the smarmy, deceptive practices of certain expressions of prosperity gospel preachers, and Jesus’ miracles become even easier to ignore. Yet, Jesus did and does heal. His name spread far and wide due to his reputation for healing. Today we discover his healing is inseparable from his teaching and preaching. From Matthew’s perspective, the hearing comes before the healing. But the healing does come!

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis

January 22, 2023. Third Sunday after Epiphany. Year A.

One thing the Psalmists cannot be accused of is trying to protect God from their feelings. We (and the lectionary, including the careful trimming of today’s Psalm) do an excellent job of taming their voices to sound more palatable, polite, and churchy. Today we will hold up some of the most common themes of prayer in the Psalms, from asking for protection, to revenge against enemies—real matters of the heart (see v.8). Together, we ponder the question, “What’s to prevent our prayers from sounding like the Psalms?” Continued, p. 2…

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis