A desperate father seeks help for his son and confesses to Jesus: "I believe; help my unbelief." That is our confession as well as we come to Jesus with all of our needs. He is the One who can rescue and redeem us.
The beheading of John the Baptist is a reality check for us all. In the midst of the darkness of our sin, the light and hope of Jesus and the Gospel shine brightly.
Before sending out his twelve disciples, Jesus encountered rejection by the people of his hometown. As Jesus' disciples today, it should not surprise if this happens, but Christ's power is made perfect in our weakness.
Sometimes life's storms are not always thunder and lightning, but storms within. Jesus, who stilled the storm on the Sea of Galilee, can still the storms within our lives today and bestow his saving peace.
In his Pentecost sermon, Peter the apostle quotes Joel the prophet that when God pours out his Spirit on all flesh, there will be visions and dreams that are God-given and mission-driven. We give thanks and praise for the gift of the Holy Spirit who calls us and keeps us in the one true faith.