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Action!: A Battle-Scarred Tongue
James 3:1-12 First of all, I want to be sure we remember the primary lesson from last week. We can do nothing to earn salvation; all we can do is believe that Christ’s work on the cross is effective,...
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Beatitudes II: Kingdom Desires
Matthew 5:1-12 Let’s continue with our series on the Beatitudes. Remember a couple of key points: First, we’re seeing characteristics of citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Second, these aren’t really...
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What Would You Uproot?
Luke 17:5-10 There are a couple of messages in Jesus’ words we’ve heard today that may puzzle us or even disturb our souls. Just remember, when the Bible does that to us, we’re growing. I feel the need...
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Undeniably Holy
Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 The idea of the transfiguration, depicted in our Matthew text and attested to in our 2 Peter verses, can seem more complicated than it is. Let me begin...
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A Good Yield
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 The Sower, by James Tissot The start of today’s parable, commonly called “The Parable of the Sower,” is a bit puzzling. It seems like we should call it “The Parable of the Sloppy...
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Out of the Fire
2 Peter 3:8-15a (NRSV) But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as...
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Reality Show
Mark 9:2-9 In the 1991 movie “Grand Canyon,” a well-to-do white lawyer, played by Kevin Kline, finds himself stranded in a scary part of Los Angeles after his car breaks down on his way home from a...
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One Mighty Vision
Isaiah 6:1-8 How can this ancient vision of God on his throne enlighten us regarding our own salvation? Well, for one thing, there is within the vision a pattern for restoration to God we still...
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The Need to Endure
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 When is God done saving you? Today’s Scripture reading, and a whole lot of other Scripture readings, bring us back to a very Methodist understanding of salvation. Yes, we have a...
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Hypocrisy and Redemption
2 Samuel 11:1-15 Anyone who calls the Bible boring clearly hasn’t read the story of David and Bathsheba. It has the same lust, murder and intrigue we expect to find in a late-night cable TV movie. And...
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Authentic Imitations
Ephesians 4:25-5:2 When Paul and other epistle writers challenged Christians to exhibit certain behaviors, they were seldom trying to be comprehensive. It was more like they were providing a series of...
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The James Series: Stung by the Tongue
James 3:1-12 We are called today to consider how we speak to others. As James notes, “all of us make many mistakes,” and we’re all familiar with what we sometimes call a slip of the lip. For the...
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The James Series: Single Minded
James 3:13-4:8 The image of an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, each whispering what to do, is a trope you see repeatedly in cartoons, advertising and comedy. It also is an external...
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How to Praise
Just because we’ve finished our series on Revelation doesn’t mean our visions of God must come to an end. Psalm 97 hearkens to a more primitive time for the Hebrews, when they contended with the notion...
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Showdown
For the next few weeks, we’re going to be hearing stories of the prophet Elijah. Before I go much further, it will help if you know a couple of the other main characters. First, there was Israel’s King...
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Tough Words
Luke 9:51-62 Tolerance is a catchword these days. Lord knows, we need tolerance. It is not all we need, but it is a good place to start. Regarding the first part of today’s verses, Scottish theologian...
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Burglar Christ
Luke 12:35-40 (NRSV) Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon...
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Division
Luke 12:49-56 (NRSV) “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you...
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And So We Begin
Romans 1:1-7 (NLT) This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in...
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Think About the Future
Romans 4:13-25 (NLT) Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith....
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