Worship at First Presbyterian Church of Marion, Illinois

John 6:1-15 Feeding of the 5000 This is a story that has a central role in the teachings of Jesus and about Jesus. The feeding of the 5000 appears in all 4 Gospels. It is not the same in each, and we probably know the synoptic version better. Let’s listen to John tell it. Jesus crosses the sea of Galilee, and the…

John 11:7-16, John 13:31-14:7, John 20:19-28 We get really stuck on doubting Thomas, so let’s look at the three times he appears in the Gospel of John and try to get a fuller view. Thomas enters the Gospel with an assured statement that he is willing to die with Christ, and he tries to rally (and does) the disciples to go with…

John 3:1-9, John 7:37-52, John 19:38 -42 Nicodemus is a religious authority. He enters this story in the middle of the night. He is curious about Jesus, and recognizes something in Jesus that draws him in. And yet, Nicodemus doesn’t get it after the first encounter. Something changes, and Nicodemus becomes brave enough to go against his peers, in the light of…

John 1:35-42, John 6:1-10, John 12:16-26 We will continue looking at threes and disciples for a couple of weeks. This week is Andrew. There is a pattern of his behavior in the Gospel of John, in which Andrew consistently helps guide people to Jesus. He doesn’t get a whole lot of attention, but appears and guides people to Jesus. He takes his…

John 18:15-27 and John 21:1-19 We talk about things coming in threes. Often deaths, or bad things, and infrequently good things do we mentioning coming in threes. Then, of course, there is the Trinity. These two passages have some threes in them, and some of the same characters and setting pieces, There’s Peter, there’s Jesus, there’s a charcoal fire, and some questions…

Acts 2:1-21;  Gift of the Spirit as miracle of communication  John 14:25-27; The peace of Christ  Dr. Rebecca Blair leads worship on the Sunday of Pentecost.

Philippians 2:1-13 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who became obedient to death. Paul reminds the church at Philippi and the church at 1200 S Carbon what it is we are to be about. You’d think we wouldn’t forget – we’re supposed to worship weekly, and pray more often than that, but sometimes we do forget. Paul…

Philippians 1:1-18a Paul in prison, thankful for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel. This the start of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. It shows an interesting side of Paul. Paul writes to them out of the beginning of the history of the Church. These letters are going to end up being foundational to the character of the Church, and I think…

Acts 17:16-31 Sermon at Athens: What you worship as unknown, I proclaim to you. Paul is safely in Athens while fleeing from Thessalonica. Paul is here in safety, awaiting the arrival of Silas and Timothy. Paul is in the synagogue and in the marketplace, preaching, evangelizing, arguing, and debating. He isn’t completely successful –Acts tells us they called him a babbler. So, they…

Acts 16:16-34 Paul and Silas in prison at Philippi, jailor and his family are baptized Paul is on the road here. He has moved from being Saul to being Paul, and from persecuting followers of the Way to being a follower of the Way. Along with Timothy, he is traveling and evangelizing, when the come to Philippi, where a family is converted…