[VANDERBILT LECTIONARY |
2024 September 29
WE HAVE TO FIGHT OUR OWN DEMONS
Mark 9:38-40 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.
2024 September 22
JESUS NAZARENUS REX IUDEORUM : INRI
Mark 9:30-37 : 9:30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it, 9:31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again."
2024 September 15
Matthew 16:13-16
“Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
2024 September 8
Psalm 125 : 1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people from this time on and forevermore.
2024 September 1
You shall not worship God in vain
Mark 7: 5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 But they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
2024 August 18.
WISDOM IS DESIRED, BUT IT IS NOT FOR GRASP
KINGS 3: 3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father; except that he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”
EVERY MORNING IS A NEW CREATION
The sages hold that every morning is a new creation, and the very person is newly created.
1 Kings 19:4-8: 4 Elijah himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." ... 8 He got up and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
2024 August 4
Gospel of John
6:32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
6:33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
6:34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
2024 June 30
2 Corinthians 8:13 -15
I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
2024 June 23
Let us go across to the other side
Mark 4:35-36
4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them,
"Let us go across to the other side."
4:36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat,
just as he was. Other boats were with him.
2024 June 16
Mark 4:26-29
26 He said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow,
though he doesn’t know how. 28 For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade,
then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is ripe,
immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
2024 June 9
UNITED WE STAND
UNITED WE STAND - REFURBISHED
Mark: 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
3:25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
2024 June 2
The Purpose of the Sabbath
The Purpose of the Sabbath
Mark 2:27-3:5 : Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind,
and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."
2024 MAY 26
Ascribe to the Lord Glory and Strength
Psalm 29
29:1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy splendor. 29:3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters.
29:4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
The Spirit moves, as the wind blows
ACTS 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
2024 May 12.
THE LORD’S LAW IS A BLESSING NOT A BURDEN
Psalm 1
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
2024 MAY 5.
SING A JOYFUL SONG TO THE LORD
98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
98:2 The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
98:3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
GOSPEL OF JOHN 15:1) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2) He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. … 5) I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
2024 APRIL 21.
GOSPEL OF JOHN
10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
10:16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
2024 APRIL 7.
GOSPEL OF MARK
20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
2024 March 31 - EASTER
WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT RESURRECTION
GOSPEL OF MARK
16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 16:6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you."
2024 March 24.
John 12:14-15
Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, ‘ Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.’
2024. March 17.
Gospel of John: 12:28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." 12:29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."12:30 Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.
SAVING THE WORLD - John 2:14-17
“ He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. To those who sold the doves, he said, ‘Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
John 2:14-17
“ He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. To those who sold the doves, he said, ‘Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
Gospel of Mark
8:31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
8:32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
8:33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
Gospel of Mark 1:13-15 : “He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Mark 9:2-5 “ Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
Gospel of Mark: 1:35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 1:36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him.
1:37 When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you."
1:28 At once Jesus’ fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
In the history of early Christianity, Galilee is one of the most important theaters right after Jerusalem. Most of the miracles Jesus performed, happened in the cities and towns of Galilee, in Cana, in Korazin, in Bethshaida, and especially in Capernaum, where the home of the Apostle Peter became the headquarter of the baptizing movement.
Gospel of John:
1:49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
1:50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 1:51 And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
2024 January7.
Gospel of Mark:
1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 1:10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.1:11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
John 1:12-14
“ … As many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. “
it was freely performed, based on
Philippians 4:4-7 :Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2023 December 10.
- refurbished from December 5, 2021
Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. '"
CHARITY SAVES FROM DEATH – Proverbs 10:2
Matthew 25:34-36 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
Matthew 23:9-12
And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father--the one in heaven.
Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 22:34-39
But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
THESSALONIANS 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:1-5 "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Matthew 21:34-38: When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. … Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.”
Matthew 20:1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
John 3:13
"No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
The New Testament text here is talking about the ascension, and in this particular part it says that "No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man."
MOHAWK TRANSLATION OF THE FULL HOLY BIBLE
Dedication Prayer
Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Israel, who turned the rock into a pool of water, and the flint into a spring of waters. PSALM 114
2023 SEPTEMBER 3.
You Shall Not Avenge Yourself
Romans
12:17-21 : Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the
sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at
peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give
place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I
will repay, says the Lord.” Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed
him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap
coals of fire on his head.”
Matthew 16:18-19 : “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
MOSAIC SERMON
MAY WE LISTEN TO GOD
Psalm
85:8-9 : Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak
peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their
hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his
glory may dwell in our land.
Refurbished from 2021 OCT 10 on 2023 AUG 6.
– Mark 10:17-21
Someone
asked Jesus: “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal
life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good
except one—God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not
commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not
defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’ "
PSALM 86:1-4
Hear, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
EVERYONE MUST HONOR EVERYONE’S FATHER AND MOTHER
Matthew 3:8-10 : “Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
ABRAHAM is recognized by all churches, even by the Islam as the forefather in Faith, as the Book of Genesis reads: “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Psalm 33:1-2 : "33:1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright.
33:2 Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. "
ALL AUTHORITY BELONGS TO GOD
Matthew 28:16-20
But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted. Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
The Spirit keeps calling
Acts 1:6-7 : Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
GOD IS ALWAYS LISTENING
PSALM 66:16-20: Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me. I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.
Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.
Gospel of John 14:1-6
Jesus said, `Do not let anything trouble your heart. You believe in God and you must believe in me also. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to make a place ready for you. If I go to make a place ready for you, I will come again. I will come to take you so that you may be with me. You know where I am going, and you know the way. Thomas said to Jesus, `Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, `I am the way. I am the truth. I give life. No one can come to my Father unless I take him there.
JESUS IS THE GATE
Gospel of JOHN 10:7-10 : So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. "
May We Break the Bread Again
Gospel of Luke 24:30-31
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
2023 April 16
PEACE BE WITH YOU
John 20:21-23 : Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
EASTER IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Mathhew 28:1-2 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
According to the Gospels Jesus had seven sayings on the cross. Many, especially secular scholars agree that only one of them could be seen as really authentic because it is almost a self-implicating statement, the famous “My God my God why you have forsaken me? ”
ZECHARIAH 9:
9. Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem;and the battle bow will be cut off; and he will speak peace to the nations: and his dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
2023 March 26
“We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
March 12, 2023
THE LORD IS AMONG US
Exodus 17:5-7 the Lord
The Lord said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?”
What is born of the Spirit is spirit
John
3:3-7 : Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the
kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him,
"How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second
time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I
tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of
water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born
of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You
must be born from above.'
February 26, 20232
THE BREAD OF TOMORROW - Deuteronomy 8:2-3:
“You
shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you these
forty years in the wilderness, … and fed you with manna, ... that he
might teach you that someone does not live by bread only, but one lives
by every word that proceeds out of the LORD’s mouth.”
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THE LORD IS KING
PSALM 99
The Lord is King. Let the peoples tremble! The Lord sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion. He is high above all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name. God is Holy!
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February 12, 2023
WE SHOULD KNOW BETTER
Gospel of Matthew 5:27-30 :
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you to that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.”
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February 5, 2023
Gospel of Luke 2:36-38:
"There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. "
WHO SHALL DWELL IN YOUR SANCTUARY?
Psalm 15:1-5 : “ Lord, … Who shall live on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, (...) he who doesn’t lend out his money for interest, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken."
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS (INRI)
Matthew 4:12-13
“ Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. Leaving NAZARETH, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.”
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of January 15, 2023
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of January 8, 2023
Reflection on the Word for the Fourth Sunday of Advent in 2022 (December 18, 2022)
Baptism by Fire - (Matthew 3:11,12)
" I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
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GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND HELP - (Psalm 46:1-3)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 46:3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH (Luke 20:34-37)
65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind. 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent--its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.
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Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of October 16, 2022
God’s Justice is Just Luke 18:1-8
Jesus
said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor
had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming
to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while
he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God
and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I
will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually
coming.'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And
will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and
night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly
grant justice to them. (...)”
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of October 9, 2022
The Lord’s Mercy is Conditional Luke 17:11-14 “As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. ‘ As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance. They lifted up their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' When he saw them, he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' As they went, they were cleansed. "Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of October 2, 2022
MAY GOD INCREASE OUR FAITH
Luke 17:1-5
He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of September 18, 2022
BLESSED BE THE LORD’S NAME ! PSALM 113:1-4
“
Praise the Lord! Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the Lord’s
name. Blessed be the Lord’s name, from this time forward and forever
more. From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord’s name is
to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, his glory above the
heavens.”
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of September 11, 2022
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of September 4, 2022
GOD IS UNCHANGING
Isaiah 1:19 : " If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword; for the Lords’s mouth has spoken it.”
.................................................................................. The World to Come is ahead - Gospel of Luke 9:
9:59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 9:60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 9:61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." ………………………………………………………….......
GOD IS OUR ULTIMATE PARENT
- Galatians 3:23-26
3:23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 3:24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
We need faith to have peace with God - Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. ………………………………………………………………….
When the Spirit calls, duty calls – ACTS 2 :
41 Then those who gladly received Peter’s word were baptized. There were added that day of the Pentecost about three thousand souls. 42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people.
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Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of May 22, 2022
BlessGod, and God will bless you – Psalm 67: 1-5 –
May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations, let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you. Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.
FOR THE SAKE OF THE LOVE OF GOD
The Festival of the Dedication – GOSPEL OF JOHN –
10:22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,
10:23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.
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Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of May 1, 2022 Follow Me, Said Jesus – JOHN : 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 21:18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." 21:19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."
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Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of April 24, 2022 God is the Judge only – John 20:21-23 “ ... the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. " ……………………………………………………………………………
Reflection on the Word for EASTER SUNDAY of 2022 We desperately need resurrection – Matthew 28 : 1-7 Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ ” .....................................................................
Reflection on the Word for Palm Sunday of 2022, on April 10. Blessed Be the King – LUKE 19:37-40 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."
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Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of April 3, 2022 - LENTEN
The World to come
Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ……………………………………………………………………………
Reflection on the WORD for the Sunday of March 27, 2022
Repent and sin no more
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of March 20, 2022
Repentance is essential to live
Repentance is essential to live - Luke 13:1-5
LENTEN SUNDAY of March 13, 2022
postponed from March 6, 2022
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of February 27, 2022
Reflection on the word for the Sunday of February 20, 2022.
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of February 13, 2022.
Be like a tree planted by the streams of water. - PSALM 1
1
Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor
stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his
delight is in the Lord’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. 3
He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces
its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he
does shall prosper.
Reflection on the Word for the Presentation of the Lord (Sunday)
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of January 30, 2022.
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of January 23, 2022.
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of January 16, 2022.
Reflection on the Word for the Feast of the EPIPHANY of 2022.
A Christmas Message of 2021
ALWAYS REJOICE
Reflection on the Word on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021 - Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice
in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be
known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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Reflection on the Word on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 5, 2021
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Reflection on the Word on the First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021
Reflection on the Word on the Sunday of November 21, 2021
Psalm 93 : 1-5 -
THE TEMPLE OF THE HEART
Reflection on the Word on the Sunday of November 14, 2021
God is a Warrior King
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IS JUST ONE
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of October 31, 2021
THE LORD ENLIGHTENS US
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of October 24, 2021
GOD IS OUR REFUGE
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of October 17, 2021 – Psalm 91:9-16
Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation."
WE NEED SHABBAT
Reflection of the WORD on the Sunday of October 10, 2021
MARRYING YOUR SOULMATE
Reflection on the Word for the Sunday of October 3, 2021
September 26, 2021
Mark 9:38-40
9:38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 9:39 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 9:40 Whoever is not against us is for us.9:41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
September 19, 2021
Everything is possible with God
Gospel of Mark 9:33-35
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."September 12, 2021
CREATION IS HAPPENING
19:1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
19:2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
September 5, 2021
BE FREE OF PRIDE BEFORE GOD
From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin.
She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go--the demon has left your daughter."So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Sunday August 29, 2021
YOU SHALL NOT LEND MONEY AT INTEREST
O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the LORD; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.
AUGUST 22, 2021
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
Psalm 34:15-22
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all. He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
AUGUST 15, 2021
PRAY FOR THE BREAD OF TOMORROW
John 6:51-58
6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 6:52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
6:53 So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 6:54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 6:55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 6:56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 6:57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
August 8 , 2021
We Must Choose The Lord
Sharing is a Miracle
Gospel of JOHN : 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.6:12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." 6:13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 6:14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."
July 18, 2021
TO REST IS A MUST
6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
6:31 He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
6:32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
The Word of God is among us
June 13, 2021
The Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
- Gospel of Mark: 4:26-34
June 6, 2021
Jesus is our brother
Gospel of Mark 3: 3:31-35
Sunday of May 16, 2021
He was carried up into heaven
Gospel of Luke 24: 46-50
Book of Acts 10:44
Sermon for May 2, 2021
The Water Cleanses Us
Book of Acts: 8:27-36
Sermon for April 25, 2021
Let Us Pray For The Sick
Acts 4:5-7
* Sermon for April 18, 2021
May the Peace Be With You
Luke 24:36b-47
* Sermon for April 11, 2021
Jesus always goes extra mile
Gospel of John 20:24-27
Let the Easter Tide
refurbished and repurposed version from 2020
PALMS SUNDAY 2021
My Rock and My Redeemer
* Sermon for March 14, 2021
Repentance Heals
John 2:13-17
* Sermon for March 7, 2021
My House is the House of Prayer
John 2:13-17
* Sermon for February 28, 2021
Take up your own cross
Mark : 8:31-38
* Sermon for February 21, 2021
Jesus was in the wilderness forty days
Mark : 1:9-15
* Sermon for February 14, 2021
Prophet Elijah regularly visits people of faith
MARK 9 : 2 - 7
* Sermon for February 7, 2021
JESUS HEALS US
MARK 1 : 34-39
* Sermon for January 31, 2021
GOD SANCTIFIES US
MARK 1 : 21-28
* Sermon for January 24, 2021
MAY WE REPENT EVERY DAY
MARK 1 : 14-20
* Sermon for January 17, 2021
HEAVEN IS ALWAYS OPEN
JOHN 1:45-51
* Sermon for January 10, 2021
GOD TALKS
Genesis 1:1-5
Isaiah : 61:1-4
Mark 1:1-8
* Sermon for November 22, 2020
Be doers of the word
Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46
* Sermon for November 15, 2020
GROW EVERY DAY
Gospel of Matthew 25:14-15
Respect the Commandments with your actions
Gospel of Matthew 23:1-7
* Sermon for October 25, 2020
FOR THE SAKE OF THE LOVE OF GOD
Matthew 22:34-44
We have to avoid bad company
Reading : Matthew 16:21-28
Reading : Matthew 16:13-16
THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Reading: PSALM 17
* Sermon for July 26, 2020
Happy is everyone who fears the LORD
Reading: Psalm 128
A LADDER TO HEAVEN
* Sermon for July 12, 2020
HE SAT BESIDE THE SEA
* Sermon for July 5, 2020
His dominion shall be from sea to sea
Reading: Zechariah 9:9-12
* Sermon for June 14, 2020
BE WISE AND INNOCENT
Reading: Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10:11-16
* Sermon for June 7, 2020
FARE WELL
reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
* Sermon for May 31, 2020
PENTECOST SUNDAY
The Holy Spirit came as a gift from above
Reading: Acts 2:1-4
* Sermon for May 24, 2020
Ascension just kept happening
Reading: Acts 1:6-14
* Sermon for May 17, 2020
In God there is no change,
but we must change for the better
- reading : Acts 17:22-31
* Sermon for May 10, 2020
JOURNEY OF THE WEEKS
- Reading : 1 Peter 2:2-10 -
* Sermon for May 3, 2020
Return to the Lord
1 Peter 2:24 - 25
* Sermon for April 26, 2020
The Road to Emmaus
Gospel of Luke 24:13-35
* Sermon for April 19, 2020
Easter as a Season
Gospel of John 20:19-31
* Sermon for April 12, 2020
Holy Week - Good Friday - EASTER Sunday 2020 / Eastertide
Gospel of Matthew 28:1-10
* Sermon for April 5, 2020
Palm Sunday 2020 /
Gospel of Matthew 21:1-11
* Sermon for MARCH 29, 2020
Fifth Sunday in Lent / Do not serve man, serve God
Romans: 8:6
* Sermon for MARCH 22, 2020
Fourth Sunday in Lent / Spiritual Growth
Mark 4:26-29
* Sermon for MARCH 8, 2020
The practical nature of the Lenten Season / Being Reborn
John 3:1-17
* Sermon for MARCH 1, 2020
LENTEN SUNDAY / To fast or not to fast, that is the question
Matthew 4:1-11
* Sermon for February 23, 2020
TRANSFIGURATION / We have to transfigure it out
Matthew 17:1-9
* Sermon for February 16, 2020
YOU SHALL NOT MURDER
Matthew 5:21-37
* Sermon for February 9, 2020
THE LIGHT OF THE SOUL
Matthew 5:14-16
* Sermon for February 2, 2020
PRAY FOR OTHERS
Matthew 5:44-45
* Sermon January 26, 2020
GOD IS NOT PARTIAL
ACTS 10:34-36
* Sermon January 5, 2020
A BRAND NEW DECADE
Gospel of John 1: 1-2
* Reflection on December 24, 2019
The Grace is in the Child
Isaiah 9:2-7
* Sermon on December 22, 2019
How to celebrate Christmas? (Or why?)
Matthew 1:18-25
* Sermon on December 15, 2019
JAMES THE JUST
James 5:7-10
* Sermon on December 8, 2019
ABRAHAM, the Forefather in Faith
Matthew 3:8-10
* Sermon on November 24, 2019
John the Prophet
Luke 1:68-79
* Sermon on November 17, 2019
The Temple of temples
Luke 21:27-38
* Sermon on November 10, 2019
There is resurrection
Luke 20:27-38
* Sermon on November 03, 2019
The Son of Man came to seek out and save the Lost
Luke 19:1-10
