Treasures New and Old

(Text: Matthew 25:31-46) Just two days before he will be stripped, beaten, imprisoned, and handed over to be crucified, Jesus tells of the final judgment of the nations.  At that judgment, Jesus reveals a startling truth; whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Jesus.  And it is Jesus's verdict that determines your future.

(Text: Matthew 25:1-13) Speaking with his disciples about the coming of his kingdom, Jesus tells several parables about the need to be ready.  Today we hear the story of ten bridesmaids waiting for the groom to arrive.

(Text: Matthew 22:1-14) When he is challenged by the chief priests and the leaders of the people, Jesus responds with parables where those who think they are on the inside find themselves cast out.  How can we hear these troubling parables today?

(Text: Matthew 20:1-16) In his last teaching stop before coming to Jerusalem, Jesus is asked by his disciples about the sort of reward they can expect, since they have left everything to follow him.  In response, Jesus tells a parable of day-laborers with an offensively generous employer.

(Text: Matthew 18:15-35) Nothing is closer to the heart of the Gospel than the forgiveness of sins.  But here in this text, Jesus speaks about forgiveness not in terms of the Gospel, but rather by the rules of the Law.

(Text: John 14:15-27) In this Lenten reflection from 2018, Pastor John explores just how it is that Jesus's Last Supper Sermon can be called by Martin Luther "the best and most comforting sermon preached by Christ while on this Earth."

(Matthew 14:13-33) Immediately after participating in the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000+ people, the disciples find themselves alone in a boat in the middle of a storm.  Why is it that trials so often follow times of abundance?  Where is God when they come?

(Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29)  Here at the end of the sermon on the mount, Jesus holds up two alternatives: the difficult way that leads to life, and the comfortable road which leads to destruction.  How do you know which path you are on?

(Luke 2:1-20) In this 2018 Christmas Eve sermon, Pastor John explores the ways God keeps confirming his promises to us, especially when they are hard to trust.

(Text: Matthew 6:7-21) In this reading, Jesus gives his famous instruction about treasures: "Do not store up treasures on Earth, but in Heaven."  But how exactly do we do that?  How do we get treasures into heaven?  And more importantly, how do we withdraw them?