Sermons from The Grove

When one of Jesus' disciples draws his attention toward the beauty of the temple, Jesus declares that in the future all the stones will be thrown down. When asked about the specifics, Jesus instead commands his disciples to be on guard and to not be anxious about the troubles that are to come.

Shortly after Jesus teaches about loving the Lord with all heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself, Jesus gives a warning about the scribes who oppress widows and then points to the example of a widow who gives out of her poverty. The Lord calls us to give of our financial resources in our abundance and our poverty.

In a series of four teachings, where Jesus responds to questions in the temple, Jesus lays out the rendering, the reward, the requirements, and the ruler of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus addresses the chief priests and the scribes in a parable about a vineyard left in charge of tenants, who mistreat the servants sent to collect fruit. In this rebuke of the Pharisees, we're called to examine our own hearts and ask if we are more concerned with the blessings of the Lord or a relationship with God himself.

In the temple, Jesus has a confrontation with the chief priests and challenges them to choose between a fear of God and a fear of man. As Christians, we also have to choose which fear drives our lives.

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, Jesus addresses inauthentic followers who praise Him as He enters but fail to follow Him. Jesus curses a fig tree, pointing us to beware of follows who look like they are producing fruit but lack actual fruit. Jesus also cleanses the temple, condemning those who are not sharing the mission of God.

Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus as he's leaving Jericho, highlighting the fact that Jesus can restore the sight of the blind. Contrasting with the spiritual blindness of the disciples, we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus can heal our blind spots.

The events of Easter Sunday changed the entire world. But can we trust the words of the gospels? Did Jesus Christ actually rise from the dead? The earliest gospel has an abrupt end that can reassure us that Jesus is alive and well, still working today.

As Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem, James and John ask Jesus for places at his right hand and his left, revealing a deep desire for position in our hearts. But Jesus responds by showing the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God.

When a rich young ruler comes up to Jesus and asks him what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus points him to the gospel, reminding all of us that there's nothing we can do to earn our salvation.