The Mystery of Godliness Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-16 Rev. John Downs How are we to relate to an unseen God in a culture dominated by the visual?  Most comprehensively, in the incarnation, God reveals himself to us in Christ.  Beyond … November 5, 2023 Read More »

Holy Fruit and Holy Order Text: 1 Timothy 2:8-15 Rev. John Downs Even when it may grate against current cultural sensibilities, we do well to submit to the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the distinct and yet beautifully complementary roles … October 29, 2023 Read More »

Prayer and Salvation Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Rev. John Downs The ideas of scarcity and supply and demand may be useful in economic arenas to deal with things that are valuable, but not so in the Kingdom of God.  The … October 22, 2023 Read More »

Doctrine and Doxology Text: 1 Timothy 1:1-20 Rev. John Downs In contrast to false doctrine, true doctrine comes to us from God himself and can be recognized by the good fruit it produces.  While good doctrine is important for us … October 15, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Victory Text: Mark 15:42-16:8 Rev. John Downs Our Lord has entered in the darkness of this world and speaks to us, “Courage, dear heart.”  He provides us the courage needed to stand firm in our convictions even … October 8, 2023 Read More »

Faithfulness in a Fractured World Text: Ezra 3:1-13 Rev. John Downs God is faithful to his covenant promises even to his people in exile or, in more contemporary terms, to us who live in a fractured world.  We are not … October 1, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Death Text: Mark 15:16-41 Rev. John Downs It’s embedded deep within sinful human nature to want to run away from pain and embarrassment.  In today’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus, the focus is less on the … September 24, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Deliverance Text: Mark 15:1-15 Rev. John Downs None of us needs to be persuaded that fear and evil lie within each human heart from birth.  What we need instead is convincing that sin and its consequences have … September 17, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Witness Text: Mark 14:53-72 Rev. John Downs We as humans tend to love the idea of justice being done.  Unfortunately, just as with Peter in today’s text, our tongues and hearts reveal our sin and would condemn … September 10, 2023 Read More »

The Way of Betrayal Text: Mark 14:43-52 Rev. John Downs In Dante’s Inferno, the most despicable sin of all time, occupying the deepest circle of hell, is Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.  Today’s text helps us feel the weight of human … September 3, 2023 Read More »