First Mennonite Church February 3, 2019 The Bible and I Texts: Nehemiah 8:1-12 ; Luke 4:16-30 The Scripture readings for today represent two different responses from worshipers upon hearing Scripture being read to them. The Nehemiah passage has a larger background story. It began when Nehemiah was in Babylon as the result of the Jews … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church January 27, 2019 The Temptation of Securing Self and Accomplishment Matthew 4:1-11; Deuteronomy 30:11-20 There is a high cost in choosing life, freedom, and prosperity according to God’s definition in Deuteronomy 28, 29, and 30. In Deuteronomy, Moses urged the Israelites to choose life, to choose blessings, yet the way they were … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church January 20, 2019 Baptism: Our Granting of Identity and Mission Matthew 3:13-17 Names. Names confer identity, but names also have meaning. Do you know what either your first or your last name means? Some names, especially last names, originated based on the geographical location a family have lived; thus, we have such … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church January 13, 2019 Repentance: A Way of Living Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist is often called the “harbinger” or “forerunner” of Jesus. These titles simply mean: the one who signals the coming of something or someone, which, in this case, was Jesus’ entry into his public ministry. John came forewarning the people … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church January 6, 2019 Who Is Missing In Your Journey? Text: Luke 2:41-52; Psalm 127 Among many, there is a curiosity of wanting to know more about Jesus’ childhood stories. Some have come to call that period, the “Lost Years” of Jesus. Some have satisfied that curiosity in the apocryphal gospels replete with … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 30, 2018 Making Known His Grace Text: John 1: 1-5, 9-17 John introduces Jesus not as a baby that was born, but in a rather lofty and poetic language. John celebrates the coming of Jesus, emphasizing his origin, relationship and identity with God. He was the Word, the Word with God, … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 23, 2018 Christmas: A Love Story Text: Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew’s narrative tells us that Joseph is a righteous man. That means Joseph is a God-fearing and law-abiding man. He is humble, honest and simple. Zechariah and Elizabeth are also described as Joseph is, according to Luke, chapter one, verse six. Joseph’s … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 16, 2018 Advent: Joy, A Costly Gift Text: Luke 2:1-20 Often times what we see is not always the real thing. Take for instance photographs of the rich and famous. By photoshopping photographs, not only blemishes or the original backgrounds and other undesired features in the picture can be removed, but … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 9, 2018 Advent Walking In the Way of Peace Text: Isaiah 9:6-7; Hebrews 12:14 Isaiah’s prophecy announces the birth of a child king. By the description given of this child, the obvious is that it is referring to the birth of God’s promised Messiah. “Prince of peace” is one of the … [Read more…]
First Mennonite Church December 2, 2018 Advent: A Seedling of Hope Text: Isaiah 11:1-10 Have you heard about “Seasonal Affective Disorder?” This is the official name given to the condition of the change in mood or spirit affecting people due to the shortening daylight time in December and January. For many people, winter is a … [Read more…]