Lent 3 2024Rev. Dr. Les MartinExodus 20:1–21, Romans 7:12–25, John 2:13–22 I am determined to know nothing among you, but Christ Jesus and Him crucified in the name of the living God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. We are back at the temple today. Just about one month after I preached about the temple on Candlemas. Just about…

Lent 2 2024Rev. Doug FloydGenesis 22:1-14 Abraham is called to “Go Ye Forth.” Lech Lecha. Some rabbis call him Lech Lecha, “Go Ye Forth.” Lech Lecha appears twice in Scripture. In Genesis 12 when Abraham is called to “Go Ye forth,” leaving behind is country, his family and his father’s house. This phrase appears a second time is in Genesis 22, when…

Lent 1 2024Rev. Dr. Les MartinMark 1:9-13 Did we in our own strength confide our striving would be losing.Were not the right man on our side,The man of God’s own choosingDost ask who that may be?Christ Jesus, it is he and he must win the battle. This year marks my 37th Lent since I became a practicing Christian. And if I’ve learned…

Last Sunday of EpiphanyRev. Doug FloydMark 9:2-9 On the last Sunday of Epiphany each year, we return to the story of Transfiguration. Mark tells us that Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. And He was transfigured before them. His clothes became radiant. Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, talking with Jesus. The disciples were terrified and in some…

Rev. Dr. Les Martin Candlemas 2024Rev. Dr. Les MartinLuke 2:22–40 In the name of the living God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Man. It was known as the Second Temple that they came to that day. The first Temple built by Solomon in the year 1000, had been destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 586. And they did…

Rev. Dr. Les Martin Epiphany 4 2024Rev. Dr. Les MartinMark 1:21-28 The town of Capernaum, Matthew 4:13 tells us, becomes Jesus base of operations. He moves there from Nazareth. Being an observant Jew, he frequents the synagogue there. In today’s Gospel, he is teaching there. That’s the crux of the whole story that he teaches and acts with authority. Mark being Mark…

Rev. Dr. Les Martin Baptism of Our LordRev. Dr Les MartinMark 1:4-8 In the name of the living God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Why was Jesus baptized? We read about it at least once a year. But do we really think about it? I mean, what was his baptism for? What’s your baptism for? Doesn’t seem like…

Rev. Doug Floyd EpiphanyRev. Doug FloydMatthew 2:1-12 For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”[1] In today’s Gospel, wise men come from the East. They saw his star. They came to worship. Since that time millions of Gentiles follow in their steps. In some sense we are worshipping today in their steps. Today we celebrate this…

Rev. Doug Floyd Christmas 1, 2023Rev. Doug FloydJohn 1:1-18 “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”[1] Merry Christmas! We are seven days into to our Christmas feast. Today we hear both the anguish of human history and the hope of the Gospel in this short verse. Consider the first…

Rev. Doug Floyd Christmas DayRev. Doug Floyd God rest you merry! Gentlemen (and Gentlewomen). We’ve been invited to a feast. Twelve days of rejoicing alongside Mary and Joseph, of beholding with the shepherds, of singing with the Holy Innocents and all the saints, of kneeling with the wise men before the babe who holds the world in His hands. One moment we…