Grace Alone Online

Most every Easter, John 20 is read as the ultimate narrative for the resurrection.  It is the g-to text for Easter; Mark 16:1-8 is not.  In most lectionaries it is avoided or simply not read.  It is not dramatic at all.  It leaves you hanging.  The women who go to the tomb leave running from it in fear and bewilderment.  They don't even see Jesus.  What was Mark thinking?  Is part of the text of Mark missing?  The Gospel ends at verse 8, however, in most bibles verses 9-20 have a note saying, "these verses are not found in the most reliable, or older manuscripts."  What does this mean?  Does it mean Mark is missing something here?  I assure you he is not....and here is why.....

Today is Palm Sunday!  Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the city of peace over which he cries because they kill the prophets and God's messengers.  and, they will kill him.  Why will people not listen to God's beckoning call to trust in Him alone.  Why do they seek only themselves and their own destruction?  Jesus weeps for His people, and us, who are obstinate to come to Him in all things.  God's love is ever-present and visible in Jesus' ride in peace to meet his own sacrificial death which brings about life, forgiveness and triumph over the ultimate enemy: death.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat is a well-known children's song.  But, this song comes to mind when talking about the river of life that we are on.  Christians are on a river of life, eternal life.  It is marked by being swept away by God's grace in the waters of Baptism.  God controls the river, the current, and we can either actively engage ourselves with where it is taking us through life, or we can be passive, and just float down the river.  Floating, however, has specific dangers that we don't think about.  Actively engaging in the direction of the river, however, is no less hazardous.  the difference?  God is leading, God is providing as we walk with Him.  We can also see all lives, Christian or not, as a river.  The flow of life itself is something a person cannot control, only God can.  This become clear in today's message where Paul and Lydia meet at a riverside.  Their river currents brought them to this location.  Were they passive or active in being brought together?  Are you actively engaging in where God is directing you?  Listen in and think about it.

This is the fourth Sunday in Lent, and also the second week of lockdown in PIttsburg, California.  Today's we explore the Dark Side of God.  The metaphors we find in Scripture are Light and Darkness.  Light is almost associated with Christ in the New Testament.  In Old Testament, God's glory and holiness is enshrouded in darkness.  In Genesis, in fact, we are told that God existed in the darkness of the firmaments before He created, from nothing, the light.  He is the light that shattered the darkness - however - he also dwells in darkness.  There is a dark side to God; one that is unknown, unfathomable, feared and awe-filled.  We do not know that side of God except in judgment, his wrath, his punishment for sin which is death.  As creatures who have fallen away from God, we do not see God in the darkness except through his light sent to this world: Jesus Christ.  We know him by faith.  Faith walks in the darkness of these times of COVID-19.  Let's walk together.

For this and next Sunday, our worship services at Grace Lutheran Pittsburg, California, will be online - in an audible format.  This is due as a prevention of contamination from the Corona virus in our area.  

Today's Lenten meditation is GOD'S WILL and MY IDENTITY.  The focus for today is on Mary, the mother of Jesus.  So many myths, stories, legend surround this amazing woman.  But what does Scriptures actually say, that make her so special.  Although we do not worship or venerate Mary, she is an important woman whom God chose to bring forth the Savior of this world.  How have you known her? stereotypes? What can we learn from her....about ourselves.  Listen in.

King David had big plans for the Lord.  He was going to build him a temple.  He didn't think that the Lord should live in a tent while He, King David, was living in a palace.  His dreams were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and approved by Nathan, the prophet, that told him to go ahead and build it to serve the Lord.  David was happy.  But that was not the Lord's plan.  Did David fail?  did he sin?  No, he just didn't see the big picture.  Has that happened to you?  Listen in...

ALL NEW SERMONS AS OF FEBRUARY 23.  Today is the First Sunday in Lent.  Lent is the period of self-examination and repentance in spiritual preparation for the death and resurrection of Christ marked by Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday.  Tbis Lenten series focuses on specific characters of the Bible.  Today is MOSES.

We explore the texts of Exodus 4, Numbers 20 and Numbers 21 about Moses and the burning bush, Moses and the water flowing form the rock and Moses and the bronze serpent.  Each of these episodes in the life of Moses tell us something about Moses and his relationship with God.  They tell us more, however, about God His patience, mercy and fidelity in bringing inept and inadequate people into lives of grace and mercy toward others.  for all practical purposes Moses' life and calling is no different than those of any Christian.  Find how much we are alike, but also how much God is for us. 

For the last six weeks "old sermons" have been posted as we have been doing other things in the congregation that simply could not be posted.  TODAY IS A NEW SERMON.  We end the season of the Epiphany with the Transfiguration of Jesus.  Why did this happen!  Why was Jesus transfigured before three of his disciples, and in the presence of Moses and Elijah?  For whose benefit?  What needed to be said or shown that wasn't already shown to the disciples?  The Gospel writers of this story place this transfiguration as the "changing" point of Jesus life ministry.  Jesus now prepares to walk the road to Jerusalem and his crucifixion.  Some interesting things about this story jump out historically and for the believer.  We must investigate.  Listen in....

My  faith is running on empty.  So should yours!  In his letter to the  Corinthians, Paul takes issue with a problem Christians were having  about the tension between what was preached and the proof of that word.   This tension exists for us too.  For example, to say, "I love you" is  empty and meaningless unless it is backed up by "proof".  So what is the  value of words.  Is the resurrection a fairy-tale story made up of  words only?  Is is there an historical impact behind that!  Listen on...

Luke's  story of a miraculous catch that Jesus did brought a new calling to  Peter and the disciples.  But the question is...what exactly was the  miracle?  If not the two boatloads of fish, then what?  Listen to why  Jesus did this and why Luke includes it in his Gospel.