The voice crying out in the wilderness……

Today we find ourselves in the second week of Advent, this time of waiting and anticipation of Christ’s return.  A time to reflect on our own lives and prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior. The scripture from the beginning of Mark’s gospel is titled, “The Proclamation of John the Baptist.”  Mark’s …

For the least of these…..

We have arrived at the end of Christ’s public ministry in the book of Matthew. Matthew’s gospel was written in the last half of the first century with an emphasis on the fulfillment of Christ as the Messiah. This passage of scripture opens with the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy from the book of Daniel, …

The parable of the talents….

We are closing in the on the holidays already which doesn’t seem possible.  Soon we will be in the season of Advent in the church, a season of waiting and anticipation of Christ’s return.  Like last week’s scripture, today’s scripture is about what we do while we wait for Christ’s return.  Today’s scripture is titled, …

Lord the Lord your God……….

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. I’m sure that today isn’t the first day that you’ve heard that statement, that sentence. It appears multiple times in scripture, it appears in song. What does it mean to love the Lord your God with all …

Give to God the things that belong to God…

In today’s reading two groups that were normally opposed to each other come together in an effort to trap a poor, itinerant preacher named Jesus. The Pharisees I have talked often about. They were the religious leaders of the day. They studied scripture, laws and customs and were quick to point out the transgressions of …

How do you want to be remembered?

"So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ.  When Christ who is your …

Authority.

I mentioned last week that we are near the end of Christ’s life in the book of Matthew.  He had made his triumphal return to the city of Jerusalem for the last time.  He had been hailed as a king, “Hosanna, Hosanna, in the highest!” His relationship with the high priests, those that studied and …

The kingdom of heaven………

This week the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner, an owner of an estate, head of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  Before I continue, in Christ’s parables we are invited into the story to find ourselves a part of it.  With the hope that …

Forgiveness…

The parable of the unforgiving servant.  This parable is pretty straight forward and applicable to today’s world.  Like the servant in today’s scripture we are to forgive as we have been forgiven.  All day, every day. Forgiveness, the amazing power that forgiveness possesses, it frees both the offender and the offended.  It breaks the shackles …

Who do people say that I am?

Who do people say that I am?” asked Christ.  Who do you say that I am?  A sharp, pointed question that might leave some struggling to answer.  Have we, have you, have I, thought about the answer to that question? After yet another exchange with the leaders of the church, Christ has some quiet time …