Joanne Tramel emphasizes that the values of truth and justice that we hold as Christians are also values to be held as citizens of the United States. Truth is not always what we want it to be, so we are to be open-minded and pray for guidance. A main function of government is the pursuit of criminal and distributive justice and our responsibility is to hold our leaders to a standard that reflects the “What Would Jesus Do” virtues.

Betty Rupp takes us to Luke 8:4-8, in which Jesus delivers the Parable of the Sower. The Word of God is a seed that is sown, but cannot bear fruit unless received by those with good hearts who retain it and persevere through life’s trials. For God to grow this seed in us, we weed out troubles in our hearts by praying for perseverance and discernment.

This Trinity Sunday, Pastor Cana opens to Titus 3:3-7, in which Titus is being prepared to minister to the people of Crete and he is reminded that the Good News of Jesus has the power to create new humanity in the lives of the people. It is through God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that we are saved.

This Pentecost, Pastor Cana opens to Acts 2:1-21, which describes the Holy Spirit descending upon the crowd to grant gifts for them to go out into the world and multiply God’s church. The Holy Spirit’s work in the early church was to bring about miracles of understanding, so we rejoice.

Pastor Cana takes us through Acts 1:1-12, where the apostles witness Jesus’ ascension to heaven 40 days after the resurrection. They wonder what is next, but Jesus reminds them, as well as us, that our role is to return, wait, and witness.

Pastor Cana opens to Romans 8:31-39, where Paul covers the theme of no separation from Christ’s love. Nothing, which ever has been or ever could be, can separate us from Christ’s love. We are called to recenter on the powerful, matchless love of Christ.

Matthew 25:31-46 reminds us to treat the disadvantaged in society as we would treat Jesus. Joanne Tramel, keeping tradition to highlight historic Christians, points to the example set by Paul Farmer (1959-2022). Farmer was a medical anthropologist and physician who worked and advocated for impoverished patients, largely in Haiti and the U.S.

1 Peter 2:1-7 speaks on Christian identity to the young church and dealing with the feeling of instability. Jesus is the foundational stone for the House of God. We seek refuge in the foundation of Jesus, to be built on Him.

1 Peter 1:13-21 speaks on what holy fear is and Pastor Cana expresses that because of God’s holiness, grace, and justice, believers should have holy fear of God. When we repackage our idea of fear of God, it transforms into something better.

Psalm 26 focuses on the topic of vindication and Pastor Cana points out ways we feel the need for proof of our innocence. God is the only one who can vindicate us when we are wrongly blamed or shamed. Therefore, we are encouraged to pray boldly for vindication to the only true judge, our God.