LBFC Weekly Sermons

People argue a lot over rituals, historically. Who can do what? And what is the "right" way to do whatever? What matters is what God is doing. We must become less, and what He does is what we should join.

In this consideration of Nicodemus' after-dark meeting with Jesus, Jesus turns the question to whether or not Nicodemus will give up what he thinks he knows and embrace the life from above that Jesus offers. It's a while ride with many, many allusions to Hebrew scripture.

This week we pause to consider what we celebrate on Resurrection Sunday, particularly focusing on the testimony in John's gospel. The world is already a much different place than it was before Jesus, and the remarkable changes are still taking place! The goodness of the final re-creation is on the horizon.

This week we consider John 2:13-24, wherein John tells about Jesus clearing out the temple courts that were being used as a marketplace. Why was Jesus so upset? Perhaps it reminded him of another scene of idolatry involving a golden calf! The temple was the place of the Rock - or supposed to be.

This week we consider John 2:1-13 in which Jesus blesses a wedding feast in Cana by turning six huge jars of water into wine! What is he doing? And what is he not doing in this the first of the signs of the new creation that John tells us about in his Gospel account?

This episode is particularly oriented toward our LBFC family and friends. How do we show that we are friends in this time and under the present conditions? Let's ask God together.

Many things have happened in the world over the past months, and now Russia has attacked Ukraine and news and video and pictures of war are all over. What a mess! We are but dust, we are sick, and need.... what? who? 

This episode is sort of an addendum to our Black History Month series - a one-time message responding to the spirit of war and fear that has come upon many. There's a continuity of underlying themes even if the symptoms of our need differ.

Moses, in a farewell address recorded in Deuteronomy, told the people that God would raise up a prophet from among them. They must listen to Him. On the Mount of Transfiguration, God's voice spoke from the heavens telling Peter, James, and John about His son, Jesus - that they should "Listen to him!" These three disciples reported these words of God for our benefit. So what did Jesus say? It's easy to grasp, but hard to trust Him and do what He said. His words are a fitting conclusion to Black History Month.

Listen to Him!