Talking About the Passion: Sermons from Holy Cross Lutheran Church

YES, of course Jesus rejects legalism, which is always about self-justification. But Jesus is not aiming at freedom for its own sake. Jesus is seeking to RETURN TO a way of observing the sabbath that has GOD at its center. 

Sabbath forms us and shapes us into a people who know deep in our bones that we are not the ones who control the world.

God is. 

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Only God's Spirit, the divine breath of life, can truly bring resurrection and hope amidst devastation.

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Just as Nicodemus sought clear answers from Jesus, we often desire control and predictability in our lives, but Jesus invites us into a lifelong journey of faith full of mystery and transformation. 

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After Jesus' ascension, the disciples are initially confused! Like them, we want to take matters into our own hands instead of waiting on God to act. But God is faithful and will act to give us all we need.

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 In a world shaped by conquest and dominance, the rule of Jesus is marked by mercy and compassion. The gospel challenges Christians to redefine success according to the measure of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, living in  ways characterized by love and compassion for one another.

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Jesus taking on flesh is a picture, an image of what it looks like to be fully alive, to live a fully human life-- it means to live for others.

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Though we may FEEL more free today than in the past, the shift from traditional moralism to the internalized pressure of self-authenticity, takes a huge toll on individuals. In contrast to the culture of achievement and performance, the gospel assures us of God's love through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ.

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Our relationship with God is made visible and manifest in our authentic relationships with one another.

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Jesus the Good Shepherd demonstrates for us what it means to love in truth and in deed, and not just in word. 

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In his account of the resurrection, John sees faith in Jesus as a gradual unfolding, not a one-time act. We are called to patiently embrace the sometimes-slow unfolding of God's work in our lives.

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