Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - May 24

Sermon (May 24) - "Where's the Fire?"

Acts 2:1-21

This is the story of Pentecost, the conclusion of the Easter Season, the 50th day after Easter Sunday, and the 10th day after Jesus' ascension.

Peter refers to Pentecost and the giving of the Holy Spirit as the "Last Days." This does not mean that the world will end in any moment. It's a figure of speech that states that this is a significant event in which God's people are being equipped to carry on Jesus' ministry and share the good news throughout the world.

Peter makes two very important points about Pentecost in his sermon to the people.

1) Only followers of Jesus are able to understand and appreciate the gifting of the Holy Spirit. The crowd doesn't understand what is happening. Most of them haven't yet heard about Jesus' resurrection, but this is about to change!

2) Peter's naming of this time as "The Last Days" is showing that the news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is about to transform the world. This is the time that the scriptures have pointed to over the centuries and it was being launched in that moment!

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

This passage offers three important points:

1) The Spirit will testify to the truth. 2) The Spirit will comfort the world but will also bring conviction of sin. 3) The Spirit will bring illumination to the disciples as they carry out Jesus' ministry.

The Holy Spirit is our advocate. The Spirit always points us to Jesus. The Spirit works through the disciples. We do not have to convince people about the good news of Jesus. The Spirit does this! The Spirit also increases our understanding of the work of Jesus. This leads to deeper gratitude and intimacy with God.

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - May 17 (Ascension Sunday)

Sermon (May 17) - "What Are We Confirming?"

Ephesians 1:15-23

Verses 15-19 - References their faith in Christ and their love for the saints
Verses 20-23 - References God's mighty working in Jesus Christ

This opening prayer of the letter invites the reader to comprehend who God is. This is made possible through God's self-disclosure.

Because of this comprehension, we have joy and hope at work in our lives.

V. 19 refers to "a great power" which is a theme of Jesus' ascension when he "ascended" his throne in heaven. This passage goes on to refer to how Christ has been exalted. Paul wants the church to know that Christ is head of the church.

Thoughts: What does it mean for us to celebrate Christ's exaltation over all things, including the church? How does this impact our daily living? What does this mean for the church?

Luke 24:44-53

Ascension Day (always on a Thursday, the 40th day following Easter Sunday) but celebrated in the church the Sunday after Ascension Day is an important holy day on the church calendar. It's a day to celebrate that Christ has been exalted through his ascension to the heavenly throne.

Luke wants us to know that Jesus' ascension leads us to be joyful. Even though Jesus left the disciples to be exalted, they knew that Jesus was the true ruler of the world.

Just before his ascension, Jesus' commissions his disciples to be his witnesses. This will not depend on our strength or abilities but upon the Holy Spirit who will come to empower the disciples.

The ascension of Jesus is not about Jesus zooming up to heaven, it's about Jesus ascending his throne to be the true king and lord over all creation. People living during this time would understand this deeper meaning since they knew of Roman emperors who ascended their throne in coming to power.

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - May 10

Sermon (May 10) - "Friends"

I John 5:1-6

WARNING: My main text for this Sunday will be the Gospel lesson and not this scripture, but it's still important! :)

This passage is seeking to help Christians know who they are, who the Lord is, and how we know these things to be true.

It is only the Spirit who can help us understand these truths. We cannot understand these things by only focusing on the wisdom of the world.

God's love is the source of who we are and how we are to obey. When we place our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, this leads to the church as a whole being transformed by God's love.

John 15:9-17

ATTENTION: This will be my main text for Sunday's sermon! :)

Similar to our I John reading, the Gospel writer wants us to know that belief in Christ is what leads us to love others. Like the previous passage about the vine and the branches, the key is for us to stay connected with Christ. This will lead to a strong connection with one another.

Our connection with Christ means that we are known as "friends" to one another. Notice the brilliant sermon title for this Sunday. :)

What does it mean for people in the church and fellow Christians to say that they are friends? What does it mean to be a friend to each other in the church?

Think about Jesus' words that we did not choose God, but God chose us. This is very humbling and it reminds us that God's grace always precedes our commitment to Christ. The baptism of infants illustrates this in a beautiful way since they are not of an age t publicly confess their faith. As the church provides nurture and love in the Christian way of life, there will be times later in life when that child will be prompted to accept his/her faith.

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - May 3

Sermon (May 3) - "Staying Connected"

I John 4:7-21

The letter of I John focuses on God's love.

For John, love is the continuation of God's love that was manifested in Jesus. Love is self-giving. Love is rooted in Christ's love who laid down his life for us. Because of this love, we are called to love one another.

This passage always reminds me of a song I learned back in my youth group days entitled, "Beloved, Let Us Love One Another." The song ends with everyone shouting, "I John, 4, 7 & 8!" In fact, it would be difficult for me to read this text out loud and not sing that song!

John 15:1-8

This scripture passage includes one of Jesus' famous "I am" statements. Here, it is "I am the vine." The "I am" statements is a play on the "I am" statement from the Old Testament which is the divine name for God (see Exodus, chapter 3 and the story of Moses and God at the burning bush.) All of these "I am" statements point to Jesus' divinity.

Vines and branches are meant to be connected. The focus for this Sunday's sermon will be on how we can stay connected in our relationship to God through Jesus Christ. John Wesley referred to the "means of grace" which are ways that we can stay connected to God.

Think of times when you have become "disconnected" from God. What was that like? How did you get reconnected?

The means of grace are meant to help us stay in a relationship with God for the long-term. List the several means of grace that are available to us to help us stay connected to God.

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - April 26

Sermon (April 26) – “Use Your Hands”

I John 3:16-24

Verses 12-15 give us an illustration of how we should NOT love. Our scripture passage then offers a positive meaning of how we should love.

Loving means:

vv. 16-18 – Christ is the model

vv. 19-22 – God is more than ready to forgive than we are!

vv. 23-24 – We are to believe and love.

The command to love is directed primarily to showing love to people in the church, but we can also see this applying to the community and world.

It’s clear that Jesus Christ is the model of what it means to show love. Love puts others first. It is unselfish. Love is more than lip service. This is all possible when we are in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

John 10:11-18

There are six dimensions found in this text:

1) Definition of a Good Shepherd

2) The problem with the hired hand

3) essential characteristics of the Good Shepherd

4) Future oriented words about the future of the sheep

5) An explanation of the Father's love

6) The Good Shepherd's relationship to the Father

This is a passage that shows us Christ's freedom and self-giving in his relationship to the Father. We will see this most supremely through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ toward the end of the Gospel.

The hired hand sees no devotion to the flock. Self-interest is the motivation.

This text also emphasizes the importance of oneness in the Christian community - v. 16b

It is Christ, the Good Shepherd who unifies the flock. Even though we are different, we find our oneness in Christ.

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - April 19

Sermon (April 19) - "Use Your Words"

Acts 3:12-19

The reason that Peter and John were able to heal a man wasn't because of them but because of Christ's healing power working through them!

V. 13 - Why does Peter refer to God as the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? This comes from the story of Moses and God in Exodus chapter 3.  Peter is saying that just as God used Moses to free their people from slavery centuries earlier, God is rescuing his people in the present as well!

Peter also lists some important aspects about who Jesus is in this passage:
1. Jesus is an innocent servant. He was put to death for our sake even though he was innocent.
2. Jesus is the Holy One. This title is used throughout Acts. See 4:27, 30; 7:52; & 22:14. Jesus was totally God-centered throughout his ministry.
3. Jesus is the Prince of Life. The word "prince" means "initiator." Jesus is the one who initiates life and this was most evident through his victory over sin and death on the cross.

Peter emphasizes that new life is possible through the name of Jesus. Jesus makes it possible for us to be made whole.

Luke 24:36b-48

This is a passage to help us know the mission of the church.  We are to share the good news of Jesus' resurrection with the world.

What does this mean? Repentance & forgiveness - This is what leads to wholeness and love. This is what can literally change the world! This doesn't just happen at an individual level but at a larger level like in the area of race relations and other national and global injustices.

V. 48 - We are witnesses. Being a witness means sharing our faith. How has God been active in your life? Where has God provided forgiveness, healing, and wholeness? Share these holy encounters with others.

V. 53 - Notice that the Gospel of Luke begins (1:8) and ends in the Temple! Creative!

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - April 12

Sermon (April 12) - "Come and Have Breakfast"

John 21:1-14

This scene takes place in a placed called Tabgha, just west of Capernaum. V. 4 is a way for John to point out the sunrise and hope at the appearance of the Risen Christ.

The disciples resumed fishing because this was what they knew how to do. They were getting on with their lives after the death of Jesus. They needed to support their families.

Like Mary at the empty tomb, they didn't recognize the Risen Christ at first.

The purpose of this story is to show the disciples that on their own strength, they can't catch any fish. With Jesus, they will be able to carry on the mission that Jesus started.

Forgiveness is a way for us to experience wholeness in our lives. This is what happened to Peter in this story with Jesus on the beach.

On the beach, Jesus is by a charcoal fire. Peter had denied Jesus by a charcoal fire!

The disciples were able to catch 153 fish, John tells us, enough for a whole village! The fun part of the story is that Jesus already has fish that he is cooking by the fire! This is to show us that Jesus does not expect us to be in ministry on our own strength. The Risen Christ is more than capable to empower us and provide what we need!

We must always be prepared to be surprised by the presence of Christ.


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - April 5

Sermon (April 5) - "Different Robes of Jesus: The Rolled Up Robe"

II Corinthians 5:1-5

Paul refers to the body as a tent and that God is preparing a house for us. Paul was a tentmaker so this was a familiar analogy. People need to live in some type of dwelling.

Paul also refers to our clothing. In Christ, we are not naked. We are clothed with Christ. It's a body that cannot be destroyed by death. (verse 4)

Our new bodies are waiting in heaven. (verse 1) The new body is animated by the Spirit (II Corinthians 15:44 & 46)

This passage raises the question about clothing. Clothing is to be an anticipation of wearing our heavenly clothing. We are a shadow of the people we will be when we receive our more complete heavenly bodies.

We have been focusing on the different robes of Jesus during the season of Lent. Easter reminds us that through the risen Christ, we are to put on our resurrection clothes and take off our old clothing that keeps us from being the people God wants us to be.

John 20:1-18

In writing his gospel, John creatively tells the story of Jesus by using the Genesis creation story as a backdrop.

John begins his Gospel by talking about "in the beginning."

On Friday of Holy Week (the sixth day of creation) Jesus is presented to Pilate as the man. God created man on the sixth day.

On Saturday in the creation story, God rests. Jesus' body rested in the tomb on Saturday.

In the creation story, Sunday is the first day of the week. In John's Gospel, Easter (Sunday) isn't just the first day of the week, but the beginning of a new creation through the resurrection of Jesus.

The placement of the rolled up robe shows us that something very mysterious has happened to Jesus' body. If his body had been stolen, nobody would have taken the time to take off the clothing! It appears that the body just disappeared leaving the clothing behind. It looks like this body was resurrected!

Mary sees someone who she thinks is the gardener but is really the resurrected Christ. Again, this gardener reminds us of the creation story. Jesus isn't the old Adam in the garden. Jesus is the new Adam in the garden, the Adam that has brought life out of darkness and chaos, new creation!

Verse 17 - Why did Jesus tell Mary not to cling to his resurrected body? This is to show that his relationship with Mary and the disciples would be similar but different. Mary is told to go and tell the news of the empty tomb. She becomes the first apostle! She has become known as the "apostle to the apostles."

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - March 29 (Palm Sunday)

Philippians 2:5-11

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Philippi while he was in prison for his faith. Philippi, located in northern Greece wast the first place in Europe to hear the good news that through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus is the true King of all creation. This church had a special place in Paul's heart. It gave him the most joy. One of the reasons he wrote this letter was to thank them for a gift they had given him.

The generosity of the Philippians to provide Paul with a  gift was significant. Even though they were separated by many miles, someone from their church was willing to make the dangerous journey to deliver this gift to Paul while he was in prison.

This passage is really an early Christian poem that Paul includes. It's a poem that offers a radically different picture of how the true King (Jesus) is vastly different from the present power and authority of the Roman empire.

Verse 7 speaks of how Christ emptied himself. God became human to show us who God is. God is loving and self-giving. This is made most evident through the cross.

Verse 9 - Jesus did what Israel and we have not been able to do - to fully give ourselves in love and humility for the sake of the world.

This passage helps us to see who God is. God is self-giving and loving. Is this the picture that people in our culture have about who God is?

Mark 11:1-11

The Jewish festival of Passover was a time of great celebration. People traveled from all over to the beautiful city of Jerusalem to gather with family and friends. It was a great big holiday.

Passover is the Jewish national day of independence. It was a time to remember how God rescued the Israelites centuries earlier from slavery in Egypt and led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land.

This is the context for when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. There was already a spirit of joy in the air. Jesus' entry into the city fed off of this spirit of celebration.

The crowd spread their robes on the pathway for Jesus as he rode into the city. This was something you would only do for royalty. They saw Jesus as an emerging king for their people. This was the same thing that was done 200 years earlier when a Jew named Judas Maccabaeus came into the city to begin a royal dynasty that briefly ended foreign rule over the people of Israel.

The word, "hosanna" has the meaning of offering praise to God with the hope that God will save the people right away. This fanfare is risky business because there is a strong sense that Jesus is riding into Jerusalem to become the King. The Roman Empire will not take kindly to such a challenge and neither will Israel's own religious leaders.

Yes, Palm Sunday is a day of celebration and excitement, but things will quickly unravel to the point where Jesus will be crucified on a cross just a few days later. Jesus will be ascend to his throne, but his throne will be a cross. Thankfully, the cross will lead to an empty tomb and resurrection.

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - March 22

Sermon (March 22) - "Different Robes of Jesus: Burial Robe"

I Corinthians 15:53-57

This is TOTALLY at the very top of my favorite scriptures list! In this chapter of his letter, the Apostle Paul explains the meaning of "resurrection." By resurrection, Paul is NOT referring to a "spiritual" non-physical state of being. The resurrection body is physical, just not subject to sin, illness, and death. This is what resurrection meant in the 1st century Jewish world.

This chapter depends on the readers having the particular Jewish worldview that there is the present age and a time is coming when heaven and earth will fully overlap and sin and death will be no more. When heaven and earth come together completely, God will give raise up the faithful and give them resurrected bodies. Jesus' resurrection was a foretaste of what awaits God's people at the close of the present age.

When people are given resurrection bodies, they will be changed and transformed and this will happen in an instant.

Many people today misinterpret this passage because our culture's worldview has changed significantly since the Jewish worldview of the 1st century. Their worldview believed that heaven and earth were two separate parts of God's creation. Today, we often see heaven and earth as far away from each other. The Jewish worldview believes that they are closer than we think and the future hope is that one day they will fully unite.

The word, "victory" is the greek word, "Nikos," the name of my blog.

Matthew 27:57-61

Matthew creatively helps us to see how this burial story of Jesus actually hints at what is to happen on Easter morning. We are told that Jesus was placed in a new tomb and it sealed with a large stone. In the 1st century, the body would have been wrapped, placed on one of the shelves. Tombs contained several shelves and several bodies. After the body decomposed, the bones would have been gathered and placed in a box.

In our Gospel reading, since the tomb was new, there were no other bodies. Jesus' body was the first one. Also, since Joseph had to request Pilate for the body, Matthew is showing us that Jesus had really died. People who believe that Jesus' really didn't die and somehow escaped and got married and lived a normal life, etc., etc.,  do not understand Roman crucifixion.

Jesus' main disciples were in hiding which tells us that there was no plot by the primary followers of Jesus to steal the body and then invent a resurrection story to make everybody feel good about a tragic situation.

Finally, Matthew is also careful to let us know that the women who found the tomb on Easter morning were the same women who were at the tomb on Friday evening so they knew which tomb to visit.

None of these details provided by the gospel writer, Matthew prove that Jesus' was resurrected. It does raise the question, if these details were reported correctly, why wouldn't we be open to the possibility that Jesus was resurrected from the dead? For many people, our worldview will not allow us to be open to this possibility. Maybe, something is wrong with our worldview that says that things like this cannot happen!

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - March 15

Sermon (March 15) - "Different Robes of Jesus: Spreading Robes"

Zechariah 9:9-10

Zechariah was an Old Testament prophet who prophesied after the Jewish community had returned from exile.

These verses are in the context of the hope that the Lord, a mighty warrior, will finally take up residence in the Jerusalem Temple. This will include a restoration of a ruler in the line of David.

The early church connected these verses with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem by riding on a donkey.

Luke 19:28-40

When Jesus came to Jerusalem, he knew what awaited him. It was now time for Jesus to embody his message of God's kingdom by offering himself to those who were rejecting him.

Jesus chose to use a donkey to ride into Jerusalem and the disciples helped to turn this into a royal processional by spreading robes along the way. The crowds start singing Psalm 118 which celebrates and praises God for defeating enemies and establishing a new kingdom of justice and peace.

Behind this celebration are religious opponents to Jesus. They are ready to take him down.

This scene raises questions for us: Are we willing to sing a song of praise even though we might not understand or agree with what Jesus is about to do? What are our motives in following Jesus? Will we only follow him if he does what we want him to do or will we follow him at all costs?

This scripture also raises a question about stewardship. Are we willing to offer what we have like spreading robes and a donkey so that God's kingdom will continue to advance?

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - March 8

Sermon (March 1) - "Different Robes of Jesus: Seamless Robe"

Psalm 22:1-18

v. 1a This is the Psalm that Jesus quoted when he was on the cross.

vv. 12-13 - The Psalmist's detractors are acting like savage animals.

v. 18 - While the Psalmist is dying, his neighbors are already dividing his property. The soldiers divided Jesus' robe which ties in with this Psalm.

The theology of Jesus' quote of this Psalm on the cross - Even though Jesus is asking why God has forsaken him, it's important to remember how Psalm 22 concludes. It ends on a positive note in offering praise to God.

John 19:16b-25a

Of the four gospels, this gospel best describes the tearing of Jesus' robe in the story of his crucifixion. This scripture reminds us of the tearing of clothes found in Psalm 22.

The Romans were experts at using crucifixion to deter people from challenging the authority of the the King. Pilate places the title, "king of the Jews" overtop as a way of mocking what people had been saying about Jesus.

Caiaphas in John 11:49-50 had made a comment about one man dying for the people. John obviously wants us to see that callous statement in the theological context of Jesus offering his life for the whole world by dying on a cross. John 12:32 also hints at the cross as well as Peter when he said he would be willing to lay down his life for Jesus - John 13:37-38.

The sign above Jesus was written in three different languages - Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. John is helping us to see that Jesus is the true King of the world. Even though the political and religious powers of that time didn't recognize Jesus' kingship, it was who he truly was.

John describes the gambling of Jesus' robe at the foot of the cross. He does this to point us to Psalm 22.  Jesus, like the Psalmist is the righteous sufferer on behalf of others.

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - March 1

Sermon (March 1) - "Different Robes of Jesus: Servant's Robe"

John 13:1-17

John focuses on three things in telling this foot washing story:

Passover - Whenever Jesus mentions a Jewish festival, he is doing so to apply that festival to Jesus himself. Passover is the greatest of all the Jewish festivals. John's connection with Passover gives us a hint that Jesus will be the passover lamb.

Jesus' approaching death - John prepares us for the approaching cross in the opening verses of this chapter.

The motive of Jesus' actions - This story reminds us of the good shepherd scripture in John, chapter 10. The good shepherd loves enough to be willing to offer his very life for the sake of others.

The foot washing helps us to see who God is. God loves us this much! The next time that Jesus' clothing will be mentioned is when he will be revealed as "the man" in front of Pilate in John 19:5. On the cross, Jesus will be naked, again showing God's vulnerability in giving everything for the sake of the world.

Peter's objection to allowing Jesus to wash his feet reminds us of when Peter objected to Jesus going to Jerusalem and to the cross.

Jesus tells us to follow his example which means that we are to serve in humble ways.


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - February 15

Sermon (February 15) - "The Different Robes of Jesus: Shining Robe"

Colossians 3:12-17

When Paul wrote this letter, he was most likely in a prison in Ephesus. This was a new church and Paul wanted them to continue to grow and bear fruit.

This scripture is being used for this Sunday because it speaks of putting on the clothes of being tender-hearted, kind, meek, and humble. Our Lent series which is beginning a week early on this Transfiguration Sunday is focusing on the different robes of Jesus. This passage from Colossians helps us to think about how God is calling us to put a shining robe of all of these characteristics of the Christian faith.

Like a wild horse that has been tamed, we too are called to put on the clothing of these characteristics so that we can be the people and the church that God has called us to be.

Mark 9:2-9

This is the transfiguration story as told by Mark. It also serves as the first robe in our Lenten series on the different robes of Jesus. Here, we focus on the shining robe of Jesus. This story of the transfiguration helps us to see the fuller reality of the presence of God.

Peter wants to prolong this moment by connecting it to an ancient Jewish festival known as the Festival of Booths.

By taking the disciples of a high mountain, he is helping them to see a new view of God's kingdom. This story of Jesus' transfiguration reminds us that there are more mysterious layers of reality in our world than we care to admit.

The presence of Elijah and Moses with Jesus is to show us that Jesus was continuing the work that began with these great prophets from the Old Testament.  This isn't a story about Jesus' divinity since Elijah and Moses were also transfigured and we don't think of them as divine.

Jesus' shining robe shows us that Jesus is radiating in the love, power, and authority of the kingdom of God that is breaking into the world in a new way.  The voice from heaven confirms that Jesus is the Messiah. It was expected that Elijah would be the forerunner of the Messiah. John the Baptist served this role for Jesus so he was like Elijah in this sense.

What does it mean for us to wear the shining robe of Jesus where we radiate the glory and love of God's kingdom which is coming to earth?


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - February 8

February 8 Sermon - "Look Up!"

Isaiah 40:21-31

This passage was written when the people of Judah were in exile. It is meant to assure them that the Lord is still with them.

The key is to have the people "look up." Notice that this phrase is used in v. 26 and 28.

Verse 27 sets up the scripture passage. How can the people of Judah keep hope when their experience is bleak?

The answer is that God is more than the sum total of our experiences. God often defies our what we are experiencing in the present moment.

Verse 31 - What does it mean to wait for the Lord?

Mark 1:29-39

Jesus heals many at Simon's house.

Jesus came to bring healing to those who were tormented. He came to bring release from the evil forces present in the world. Jesus shows his authority through these healings. Jess became the bridge to help people find healing from their bondage. On the cross, Jesus completed his healing and saving work for the world which he had started here in Mark chapter one.

As we face evil and demonic forces in our world today, it's important to remember that Jesus has already exercised his loving authority over them.

What evil forces do you see at work in the world? How can we offer God's healing love in those situations?


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - January 25

Sermon (January 25) - "Following Jesus"

Jonah 3:1-10

The Ninevites received warning that they would soon be destroyed, yet when they repented, God held back the wrath in store for them.

Jonah was an 8th century prophet who prophesied in northern Israel. While the Book of Jonah focuses on a serious matter, it is also playful with humor.

When the Lord calls Jonah to prophesy to the people of the despised Nineties, he runs the opposite direction, ends up being swallowed by a fish, only to be called again to go to Ninevah!

The theme of this scripture is repentance. The Ninevites end up repenting. This is a story of how God's love is universal and for all people. This is also a story about how we are sometimes reluctant to extend God's love to all people.

The end of the Jonah story becomes really serious when Jonah contemplates ending his life. Actually, the story doesn't have a clear ending and we are left to wonder how things turned out in the story. The story forces us to come face to face with the prejudices we have with other people.

Mark 1:14-20

This is a passage about hope. Even with the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus begins his ministry of hope and healing for the world.

Jesus is announcing a key theme of the gospels, that the kingdom of God is near. God's future is breaking into the present time through the ministry of Jesus. We are to repent BECAUSE the kingdom of God has come near. It has already come. We need to get on board.

Our response to the announcement of this good news of God's kingdom breaking into our present is to repent and to believe in this good news. We are called to follow Jesus and live a life of faith.

These first four followers of Jesus are models of discipleship. They begin to make Jesus the number one priority in their lives.


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - January 18

January 18 Sermon - "It Takes One to Know One"

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

This is considered a Psalm of Praise.  It describes the Psalmist experience with God by using very personal terms.

The Psalm overall can be divided into two parts: 1) A Hymn of Praise - vv.10-18 2) A Lament - vv. 19-24 Because of the shift of mood between these two sections, some scholars believe these were two separate psalms that ended up coming together. The close tie between vv. 1 & 23 show that this may have always been a single Psalm.

This Psalm shows that God is everywhere (omniscience.) The Psalmist cannot escape God. The Psalmist speaks very intimately that God created him (vv. 13-18.)

The reference to the womb may actually refer in the original Hebrew language to the earth - see v. 13. V. 15 makes this possible connection of womb/earth.

The point is that God knows us very well. V. 18 shows us that our journey through life is connected with God in so many ways.

This Psalm is associated on this Sunday with our I Samuel reading because of v. 18, "I am still with you" and Eli's closing comment to Samuel, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him" - I Samuel 3:18

I Samuel 3:1-10

This begins a story about Hannah who is barren. God grants her request for a son (Samuel.) Hannah's song of praise reminds us of Mary's "Magnificat" in the Christmas story where she proclaims that God lifts up the lowly and brings down the mighty. This theme of people being brought low and others being raised up is a common theme throughout the story of Samuel and Israel in general.

This is a story that emphasizes how God initiates a relationship with us.  Even though we are told that the word of the Lord was rare in those days, this story reminds us that God was still at work.

God addresses Samuel at different times throughout the night and finally, Samuel realizes who is calling him. Even though Eli has bad eyesight, he still knows that the Lord is the one calling Samuel. Samuel tells Eli about what the Lord said to him which is Eli will be brought low and Samuel will be raised up!

This story is to have us think about how God brings low and raises up and this includes us. Like Samuel, we too experience the highs and lows of living a life of faith. How does this connect with the Jesus story which includes the crucifixion and the resurrection. So much to ponder about this!



[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - January 11

January 11 Sermon - "Let There Be Light!"

Genesis 1:1-5

It's important to note that the creation story was probably written during the time of the Babylonian Exile when God's people were forced to leave their homes and live in a foreign land. The Temple had been destroyed and it appeared that God has forsaken them. The Temple was a symbol of God's presence and without the physical Temple, all was lost

With this historical context for the writing of this creation story, the writer is providing a reassuring word that God has not forgotten them. God continues to create and provide light where there is darkness. The people who were living in exile definitely felt like they were living in darkness during this time!

The writer of the creation story is borrowing from the Babylonian creation story account which was told much earlier than this one. The Genesis creation story serves as a polemic against the Babylonian captors. It is a way to say, "Our God is the true God, not your false gods!"

Light is a prominent theme in the creation story. In what ways has God provided you with light during a dark time in your life?

Mark 1:4-11

Today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday when we celebrate when Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Yes, just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating Jesus' birth and now he is already a young adult just beginning his public ministry!

This story teaches us that God is present with us in a particular way through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The church believes that Holy Baptism is one of the "means of Grace" in which God becomes known to us in a special way.

Baptism has traditionally been associated with 1) initiation into the life of the church 2) the forgiveness of sins 3) new birth 4) the presence of the Holy Spirit.  All four of these dimensions are at work in baptism.

The question often arises as to who can be baptized. The answer in the United Methodist tradition is anyone who professes faith in Christ or is at an age before accountability who has a parent or guardian who has professed faith in Christ and who is willing to make the commitment to raise that child in the Christian faith.

Infant baptism raises the question about individual accountability. Some people are against infant baptism because they believe the person should be of a certain age to "understand" the meaning of baptism. While we believe that one should grow in an understanding of the Christian faith and the meaning of baptism, we also believe that God's grace precedes our acceptance of it. We call this God's prevenient grace which is the grace which is present in our lives before our awareness of it. When we become aware of it, we are called to respond to it and affirm it. This is where personal accountability comes into the picture.

So, this is why we offer baptism renewals rather than re-baptisms. We do not re-baptize since God has already made a promise and will keep it. Instead, we renew our baptismal vows and rededicate our lives in following him.  The analogy I like to give is when a married couple wants to reaffirm their marriage vows. They don't go to the court house to get a new wedding license. Instead, they have a special reaffirmation of wedding vows ceremony.

This analogy isn't perfect but it makes the point that the focus should be on the renewal rather than the re-baptism. We will be reaffirming our baptisms this Sunday during worship. What a powerful moment when someone says to us, "Remember your baptism and be thankful." We are reminded that God has been faithful and that God's grace has been present in our lives from the very beginning. Our task is to respond in faithfulness to God's grace in our lives made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - December 14

Sermon (December 14) - "Reclaim Christmas: Scandalous Love"

Romans 3:21-26

Context of this scripture passage:
Paul is using the metaphor of a courtroom. Court was in session and everyone was found guilty. Israel was not able to be the people God had called them to be. Israel was supposed to be the solution to the problem of sin, but they were also part of the problem!

v. 22 - God's righteousness - This refers to how God is faithful to the covenant he made to Israel. It wold be through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that the world would be made right.

v. 23 - All have sinned. That is, human were created to reflect God's image in the world and we have failed in being who we were created to be!

Instead of God giving up on the covenant, God fulfills it through Jesus. Jesus is our representative and did what we were not able to do on our own.

v. 24 - The result of Jesus fulfilling the covenant is redemption. This word is a technical word in biblical times of buying back a slave. The metaphor is extended here because God's redemption means that we are no longer slaves! Humanity is now declared not guilty.

v. 25 refers to a piece of furniture in the Temple - the mercy seat. Instead of the mercy seat, we now have Jesus. Jesus has become the reality of what the Temple had been pointing all along.

v. 26 - We are justified by faith which means that those who accept the good news of Jesus are declared to be in the right and not guilty.


Luke 1:39-56

This is called the Magnificat because the first word of this passage in Latin is Magnificat. This is often sung by choirs and in monasteries.

Mary and Elizabeth were filled with joy because they shared in the hope of all Israel that one day God will fulfill a promise to bless the world through the covenant that had been made with Israel. In order for this to happen, the powers of this world would need to be overthrown.

This song reminds us of Hannah's song from I Samuel 2 in the Old Testament.

This scripture shows us Elizabeth, an older woman who is pregnant alongside a younger woman, Mary, who is also pregnant. They are joyful because they know their sons will be part of the long awaited fulfillment of God's covenant.

For this reason, Mary offers this incredible song of celebration.


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]

Sunday Scripture Commentary - December 7

Sermon - "Reclaim Christmas: Giving Up on Perfect"

Isaiah 40:3-5, 8-9

The prophet is offering hope to the people who are living during the Babylonian Exile.

vv. 3-5 - A voice calls out for a miraculous sacred highway to go through the wilderness so that the exiles will be able to return to their homeland.

This passage has been made famous by Handel's "Messiah." This was first performed in 1742 and in just ten years became one of the most popular pieces of music in England. This was during the same time period when John Wesley and the early Methodists were reaching more and more people through their organizations of small groups and societies.

vv. 6-8 - We are reminded that God's word will stand forever.

Luke 1:26-36

This scripture focuses on the annunciation of the birth of Jesus. This story tells us that Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb before she had any sexual relations. Some people assume that only modern day people are skeptical of this story because of the advancement of science. Even though people in the ancient world didn't know about x chromosomes and y chromosomes, they weren't ignorant of how babies were made. This would have been as much of a miracle to their ears as to ours.

Matthew and Luke's versions of this story are different in many ways which leads us to believe that this wasn't a story that was inserted into the story of Jesus decades earlier. If this was a later story that had been imposed into the story of Jesus, why wouldn't they have used one story instead of two? This was probably told very early and not later and some people have suggested.

The key to this story is v. 35 which tells us that the Holy Spirit is who has made this miracle possible.  The most important part of this story for Luke is not that this incredible miracle happened. The important part is that he wants us to know that Jesus' birth will lead to political consequences since this baby is referred to as the Messiah (King.) The Roman world would not take kindly to such a claim.

Is the real reason that people are troubled by the miraculous birth of Jesus due to the fact that he is given the title of Messiah? If Jesus truly is the king of the world, than that has implications for those who are claiming this title for themselves.


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]