Sermon Notes

The Gospel of Matthew paints the ministry of Jesus consistently, that Jesus is more focused on individual relationships more than corporate gatherings of people who may be:

As we go into the Winter Olympic Games and as we edge closer to the Super Bowl, I want us to pause for a moment as we watch these events.  Every one of the athletes, both male and female, have prepared for years on end to be at the top of their field.  And in the end, there is recognition, whether be a Lombardi Trophy or a medal.  There will be those who will be the cover of Sports Illustrated or Time magazine.  They will be all over every news outlet.  Most of these athletes feel the weight of representing a city or a nation. 

So, Jesus makes this unpopular statement to a group of people who have very negative opinions about Rome, except the priests, of course.

There are certain things that we never really grow out of.  In many ways, many of our behaviors are childish.  Now when Jesus states that we ought to be like little children, what I am about to say is not what Jesus meant.  What I am talking about is the childish things we do that are not good behavior. I could have entitled this sermon “Oh Grow Up” but I decided to stick to the accurate understanding of Jesus’ position on the idea of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

Looking forward to a busy week!

How many of you when sharing a story or even perhaps a tall tell like the character Huckleberry Finn, use the words “I Swear to God” when people do not believe your story?  It is something that we do without thinking about it.  If you are ever asked to testify in a court of law, they will ask you to place your right hand on the Bible and swear that everything you are about to say is true.  If what you say is not the truth, you are in danger of contempt and perjury.  It is built into our DNA.  On top of that, we only are willing to accept a truth that we are willing to accept.  It is a truth that meets our criteria and a truth that meets our personal convictions.

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This week we are going to focus on the story of Mary.  Mary is one of the most important characters in the New Testament.  Mary is spoken to about the Word.  She then conceives the Word.  Next, she gives birth to the Word.  Lastly, she nurtures the Word.  Too often, Christianity does not know what to do with Mary.  Some make her a goddess and others tend to ignore her completely.  I believe that all of Christianity needs to recognize that it was Mary that never left Jesus, except that one time they accidently left him at the Temple, for his entire ministry.

John the Baptist prepares a way for the Messiah who comes not only to help us but also to go head-to-head, as Will Willimon writes, against the powers that be.  This pronouncement eventually leads to John the Baptist losing his head.  King Herod Antipas was not as Great as his father, and not only that, but he also couldn’t shut John the Baptist up and he didn’t want the message getting back to Tiberius Caesar through Pontius Pilate that he couldn’t control his territory and he himself lose his power or even his own head.