Isaiah 2:1-5 & Matthew 24:36-44

The practice of waiting involves a posture that is largely uncomfortable and laden with anxiety. In any given scenario, not “doing” can be perceived as apathetic, detached. When it comes to matters of the heart, not “doing” can be perceived as even unfaithful. How do we challenge the narrative of faith being just about what we do? What does it look like to wait on the will of God, instead of the will of man? Listen to this message and hear how both Isaiah and Jesus faithfully anticipate God’s action. 

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Christ the King Sunday is a transition Sunday between the church seasons of Ordinary Time and Advent. Before we turn our attention to the story of promise that leads to Bethlehem, we turn to Luke’s account of the crucifixion. Amid scoffing and slander from those who sarcastically call him Messiah and king, Jesus reveals that to be Messiah and king is to give one’s life for others. Jesus uses his power to welcome a despised sinner to paradise but puts his own death into God’s hands. Extraordinary. What does it look like to move from an ordinary posture of living to an extraordinary posture? What does it look like to live hopeful and forward? In this message we ponder ways in which we can transition our lives fully into God’s control.

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In this message, women of Nativity ages of 10 to 94 lend their voices to this worship service. Women were an integral part of the early church, and are an essential voice in its life and ministry today. Many thanks to Breanne Johnsen for delivering the message by expanding our understanding of family through her own story. A special Thankoffering was taken for the Doris Karlik Local College Scholarship for women. It was a great day in the life of Nativity!

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Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, try to trap Jesus by concocting an unrealistic and convoluted case of a serial widow who marries a succession of seven brothers. Jesus responds in a rather sarcastic manner by teaching about God to whom all are alive and in whom all relationships are fulfilled. Ann then there is Job...his life has burned down to nothing, and yet in the ashes he finds a faith that will not die: “My Redeemer lives.” What good does it do to not trust in the presence of a God who defeated death and the disciples despair by coming back to life? Why has this "story" survived to this very day? In this message we ponder the presence of God in seemingly Godforsaken moments of life.

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In this All Saints Sunday message we ponder what it looks like to live and act like a "saint". With echoes of the prophet Isaiah and Mary’s song of praise, Jesus reveals surprising things about who enjoys blessing and who endures woe. He invites his disciples to shower radical love, blessing, forgiveness, generosity, and trust even on enemies and outsiders. This message is meant to challenge, and inspire you to embrace your blessedness, and to avoid woeful living. 

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In John 8, Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin. In Romans, Paul wraps up the readings with theological might…we are justified by faith in the cross of Christ. In this Reformation Sunday message we ponder God’s divine redemptive activity on the cross, and our inability to earn it. And for that we exclaim, thanks be to God!

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In this Sunday’s message we explore what life looks like for us when we wrestle and persevere for what is righteous and good in our world we do this through the lens of two biblical stories. First, we hear of how Jacob wrestles all night long with a divine adversary who ultimately blesses him and changes his name to “Israel,” a name that means “he wrestles with God.” And in the gospel of Luke Jesus tells a parable of an unjust judge who is worn down by a widow’s pleas. How might these two stories shape us to be what God created us to be?

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Jesus’ mission includes making people whole again. Jesus encounters and heals ten lepers, yet  only one, a Samaritan recognizes that he has been healed of his leprosy. The others moved on seemingly unaware or without gratitude that they had been healed. In this message we ponder the relationship between healing and gratitude.  

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Part 4 of 4 part Stewardship Series Because of God, Followers of Jesus Do For God

Paul’s letter to Timothy is a personal message of encouragement. In the face of hardship and persecution, Timothy is reminded that his faith is a gift of God. He is encouraged to exercise that faith with the help of the Holy Spirit. In this message we consider the stewardship of God’s mysteries in how we  share and pass on faith to our family. 

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Jesus tells a parable in which the poor one is “lifted up” and the rich one is “sent away empty.” In this message we explore compassion as the divine attribute that binds us to one another, that keeps us from being insulated by wealth or comfort, and that reorients us toward generosity, stewardship, and love.

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