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Matthew 13:10-17

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments, Observations, and Questions to Consider Thus far in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus has been busy.  He’s been teaching and preaching, he’s been healing, he’s been explaining, he’s been gathering disciples, and he’s been traveling.  And, here in chapter 13 he does something new.  He tells his audience a story – a parable –…

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2 Corinthians 7

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments and Observations Recently my congregation lifted up their voices and sang “Blessed Be Your Name” (Matt and Beth Redman).  The song speaks of the ups and downs in life – we sang of the times when we’re “in the land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow” we sang of the times…

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Hebrews 6:1-12

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments and Observations In the well-known and well-loved musical The Sound of Music, the governess Maria spends some time teaching her young charges how to sing.  She starts the lesson by saying (in song, of course) “Let’s start at the very beginning – a very good place to start.  When you read you begin with”….

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Revelation 4

MS
Mary Stegink

Comments and Observations Ah, Revelation – interesting language, vivid pictures, and challenging symbols – all pointing to that Day of Days when evil will be defeated once and for all, and God will gather up his own and take them home.  After explaining what he’s about and admonishing the seven churches, John turns his eyes…

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1 Timothy 3

EMS
Erin M. Stout

Comments and observations Timothy is a young pastor in Ephesus. Paul and Timothy had served the church together until Paul went on to Macedonia. Timothy was left behind in order to provide leadership in a rather challenging situation regarding self-appointed teachers who had slipped into the church. Their teachings were reminiscent of true Christian doctrine,…

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Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Epiphany 1C

Scott-Hoezee
Scott Hoezee

Luke’s substantial narrative powers surely did not all suddenly fail him in this third chapter. So we need a different kind of explanation for the curious way by which Luke frames up this part of the story. Consider: First, we get the odd insertion in verses 19-20 about John’s imprisonment following his finally crossing the…

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Acts 8:14-17

Epiphany 1C

Stan Mast headshot
Stan Mast

This snippet of early Christian history might seem unimportant, slim fodder for a sermon, and a peculiar choice for this first Sunday after Epiphany, until we see its place in the larger story of the Christian church. Then we’ll recognize it as one of the great turning points in the Gospel mission. That, in turn,…

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Acts 20:7-38

BS
Bill Sytsma

Circumstances and Vision: In September, 2012, nine months after being named the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (a cancer of the white blood cells).  After coaching only three games as a head coach, Pagano took an indefinite leave of absence in order to undergo treatments at…

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Galatians 5:1-15

BS
Bill Sytsma

Comments and Observations: Unity is often confused with uniformity.  When every individual within a group has the same opinion, practices the same habits, and has the same preferences; unity seems to be natural.  What happens, however, when individuals come from different racial, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds? We can be tempted to believe that unity…

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1 Timothy 5

BS
Bill Sytsma

Comments and Observations: Children have an uncanny ability to notice differences and point out perceived unfairness. Imagine a father who desires to support each of his three children as they graduate.  When his oldest son graduates, he co-signs a loan to help him pay for his education.  Two years later, when his daughter graduates, he…

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