Taking the Sermon Home

Today wraps up the sermon series Jacob: A Promise and a Dream.  Jacob returns home, and faces his brother Esau.  The text is from Genesis 33 and 35.

What are Jacob’s concerns as he returns to the Promised Land?
How would you describe Esau’s reception of Jacob?
In what way is the Jacob story, our own story?
What have you learned about human nature through the stories of Jacob…and what have you learned about God?

Taking the Sermon Home

Today we continue the sermon series Jacob: A Promise and a Dream.  We encounter Jacob on the run in Genesis 28, sent by his father Isaac to find a wife to marry.  She is not to be a Canaanite woman such as his brother’s wife. 

·         What is God’s plan for Jacob?

·         In today’s reading, God comes to Jacob in a dream.  When do you find yourself most open to God’s presence and guidance for your life?

·         Jacob marked the place he experienced God with a stone pillar.  What visual reminders do you have that lead you to connect with the Lord?

Today we begin a sermon series on the biblical figure, Jacob.  Today he and his brother Esau are introduced, and read the story of Jacob stealing Esau's birthright.  The stories came from Genesis 25 and 27.

·         What do you surmise about their respective personalities?

·         What is your impression of Jacob based on this story?

·         What does a story like this lead you to think about God’s purposes and plans?

Taking the Sermon Home

The commemoration of apostles Peter and Paul happens is June 29, which happens to fall on a Sunday this year. Our readings today remember the courage of these early disciples of Jesus, and inspire us with their stories of bold faith. The color for the day is red, as the tradition remembers Peter and Paul as martyrs.

Describe a situation in which you had to defend your faith.

•  In what ways were you challenged? 
• How did you respond, and what gave you the strength you needed? 

Religious persecution is not only a thing of the past.

• Where do you read about religious intolerance in our world today? 
• What is our role as Christians in light of continued persecution? 

Today our readings from Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Matthew 10:24-39 speak of challenges and hardship inherent in the life of faith and discipleship.

• What do you find difficult in the life of discipleship?
• Why does the Prince of Peace speak of bringing a sword (Matthew 10:34)?  Why are division and strife necessary aspects of discipleship?
• Where do you find reason for hope in today’s readings?

Taking the Sermon Home

Today is Holy Trinity Sunday, a day to enter the mystery of how we know God.  Our texts are Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; and Matthew 28:16-20.  We noticed that the word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture; it is a doctrine, or teaching, discerned by the Early Church

· How would you explain the Trinity to someone that had never heard of it?

· When you pray, what aspect of the Trinity comes to your mind most often?  Why?

· What difference does it make to our lives, to understand God as being revealed in different ways?

Taking the Sermon Home

Sunday, June 1.  Texts: Acts 1:6-14; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

Today marks the final Sunday in the Easter Season—next Sunday is the festival of Pentecost, when we celebrate the in-breaking of God’s Holy Spirit. In the Acts reading, Jesus promises the apostles the power of the Spirit for their mission of sharing the gospel. In the reading from John, we hear Jesus praying for the disciples on the night before his crucifixion—entrusting them into God’s care.

• What kind of “power” comes with the Holy Spirit? 
• What does it feel like to wait on the Holy Spirit?  
• How do you know that God is with you in your life’s journey? 
• In both the Acts reading and the gospel, there is evidence of a close community of followers that prays together and provides mutual support. How might this strengthen their sense of mission? 

Taking the Sermon Home

May 11, 2014

Along with being Mothers’ Day, today is “Good Shepherd Sunday.”  The appointed readings include both Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd”) and John 10.

· In the gospel, Jesus warns about thieves and bandits that climb into the sheepfold rather than enter by the gate.  What do you think this refers to in your own life?

· What are the blessings of following a shepherd?

· How would you define the “abundant life” that Jesus promises to his sheep?

Taking the Sermon Home

May 5, 2014
The Road to Emmaus

Today’s gospel lesson from Luke features the journey of two men from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The risen Christ joins them and enters into conversation.

• Why do you think the men were walking away from Jerusalem?  
• Why do you think the travelers do not recognize Jesus at first? What causes them to know it is Jesus? 
• How are the men transformed by the experience? 
• When have your eyes been opened to the presence of the Lord? 

Taking the Sermon Home

April 27, 2014

Sermon Text: John 20:19-31

Today we read about a resurrection appearance of Jesus to the disciples, though Thomas is not present.  Among other things, Jesus announces peace.  Thomas announces he will not believe until he can touch Jesus; later, Jesus appears again to Thomas and the others.  We are invited to consider the ways in which we are called to believe without seeing.

• When has Jesus come entered into your fears and uttered, peace be with you (vv. 19, 21, and 26)?
• What aspects of “believing without seeing” are hardest for you?
• What causes you to come to believe (v.29)?

Taking the Sermon Home

April 13, 2014
Today marks the beginning of Holy Week. At Christ the King we celebrate Palm Sunday today, and Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem…but note that this is just the beginning of the end. We must witness the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples on Maundy Thursday, and journey to the cross on Good Friday, before beholding the empty tomb.

• Why do the crowds gather around Jesus and shout Hosanna? What are they looking for? 
• What do you notice about Jesus’ demeanor as he enters this city of hostility and eventual trial and conviction? 
• Matthew reports that the whole city was in turmoil, asking, Who is this? How might different people in Jerusalem answer that question? How do you answer that question? 

Taking the Sermon Home

April 6, 2014

The final extended story from John we are studying during Lent is “the raising of Lazarus” in Chapter 11.

·         How would you describe Martha’s emotions when she meets Jesus after her brother has died?

·         What do you learn about the nature and character of Jesus from this story?

·         Think of a time the Lord brought restoration and renewal in your life.  What blessings or unexpected events flowed from your awareness of God’s healing power?

Taking the Sermon Home

March 30, 2014
We continue to look for Signs of God's Presence in our sermon series from John.  The story of the man born blind is found in John 9:1-41.

• What are the various types of “blindness” displayed in this story? 
•  
• How did Jesus throw into question the prevailing attitude toward sin? 
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• What blinders do you wear that keep you from seeing things as God would have you to see? 

Taking the Sermon Home

The story of the Woman at the Well is found in John 4:5-42.  This third Sunday in Lent brings yet another sign of God’s Spirit present in the world, making things new.

·         How does Jesus break down barriers in this story?

·         What does the woman learn about herself through her encounter with Jesus?

·         Why do you think some call this passage, “the perfect evangelism story?”

Taking the Sermon Home

March 9, 2014

On this first Sunday of Lent, we read Matthew’s account of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness.

· The gospel writer reports that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness.  What do you think was the purpose of Jesus being tempted?

· What images come to your mind when you think of the wilderness?  Are they inviting, ominous, or both?  

· When have you had a “wilderness” period in your life?  What led you there, and what was the outcome?

Taking the Sermon Home

This is Transfiguration Sunday, the final Sunday before Lent.   The gospel text is from Matthew 17.
The day is set aside to remember a revelatory experience of Jesus and the disciples.

Through the Transfiguration, the disciples received insight regarding the nature of Jesus. What did they
learn?
When have you had an intense experience of God’s presence and power in your life?

In what ways did it change your perception of God?

Taking the Sermon Home

February 23, 2014--sermon title Perfect Timing
Our tour of The Sermon on the Mount ends this morning with Matthew 5:38-38, as Jesus offers yet more examples of “kingdom behaviors.” In today’s passage, the focus is on anger and vengeance.

What is the impact of vengeance--on the perpetrator and the recipient?
How is seeking vengeance different from allowing for consequences to occur?
Is it possible to “love an enemy” without “liking” him/her? How?
In the context of the gospel reading, being "perfect" relates to being mature, or fully grown into your intended purpose.  What keeps you from a fuller, more mature relationship with God?

Taking the Sermon Home

February 16, 2014
Sermon text: Matthew 5:21-37
Our tour of The Sermon on the Mount continues, as Jesus compels his followers to look deeper than the letter of the law, and into its spirit. Only then, he suggests, can we be honest about faithfulness and discipleship.

In what ways do we “hide” our true selves behind the law?

Jesus offers different examples of right behaviors in today’s teachings, but the underlying message is
consistent. What is that message?

What attitude(s) are needed in order to follow the law as Jesus suggests this morning?

Taking the Sermon Home

February 9, 2014

Sermon text: Matthew 5:13-20        Look What Love Can Do

Our tour of The Sermon on the Mount continues, as Jesus encourages his followers to be salt of the earth, and light of the world.

· How can you be both “salt” and “light?”  What different attributes do these two words convey?

· According to the reading, what is the purpose of good works?  What should be our motivation for performing them?

· As Lutherans, we understand salvation to come through God’s grace rather than through works. How do you understand Jesus’ emphasis in this passage on keeping God’s commandments, in light of the promises of grace?

Taking the Sermon Home

Today we begin a four week tour of passages from The Sermon on the Mount which is found in Matthew 5 through 7.  Today’s gospel is the beautiful and familiar “Beatitudes” in Matthew 5:1-12.

· Notice how the reading begins: Jesus sees crowds, yet he addresses “the disciples.”  Why do you think he speaks primarily to this subgroup?

· What seems radical or revolutionary to you about The Beatitudes?

· Picture a world in which the precepts of this gospel reading were lived out.  What image comes to your mind?  Where do you see “glimpses” of it in your day-to-day life?

Taking the Sermon Home

The sermon title for Sunday was Solids, Stripes or Plaids as we both celebrated the annual "Scottish Sunday" tradition at Christ the King, and considered the appointed readings for the day:

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-23

The readings tell us about the way in which the call to ministry unfolds.  In the gospel, we learn that Jesus’ call to the disciples was so compelling, that they dropped everything and immediately left their nets to follow.  Then in First Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we are to be united in mind and purpose as followers of the Lord.

What does the total devotion that the original disciples displayed “look like” in today’s world? 

What does one need to leave behind to follow?

What are some of the impediments to Christian community in churches today, and how can the same mind and purpose be fostered?

Taking the Sermon Home

The sermon on January 19, 2014 was Come and See.  The sermon text is John 1:29-42.

Today we read John’s version of Jesus’ baptism, and learn how the initial disciples were gathered.

How do the men learn about Jesus and what compels them to follow him?

How does the group grow beyond the initial followers?

According to today’s gospel, becoming a disciple of Jesus is all about invitation. Who has been
instrumental in leading you to become a follower, and who might you invite to come and see?

Taking the Sermon Home

January 12, 2014
Today is a celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord. The Old Testament reading is again from Isaiah, the 42nd chapter, and the account of Jesus’ baptism comes from Matthew 3:13-17.

The passage from Isaiah describes a servant (which could be Israel) that has been called to fulfill certain purposes—to bring justice to the nations, and release people from things that bind them. God calls each of us in our baptism. What are the ways you can discern God’s plan for your life?

The gospel of Matthew describes Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Why do you think Jesus was baptized, given his identity as Son of God?

What difference does your baptism make in your day-to-day life? 

Taking the Sermon Home

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, and Matthew 2:1-12

In our readings this morning, we anticipate the festival of Epiphany on January 6 and the occasion, according to Matthew’s gospel, when the three wise men come from the East to see the baby Jesus. They are led by the light of a star.

Matthew indicates that Herod is frightened by Jesus’ birth, and the fascination the wise men display. Why
do you think Herod is concerned? In what way does Jesus upset the status quo?

Who, or what, draws you nurture your relationship with God?

What are the gifts that you have, to offer the Lord?