Month: March 2022

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John 12:1-8

I love all the different things that this passage brings to the table.  We know that Lazarus is joining Jesus at the table, Martha is still serving, Mary anoints Jesus with expensive perfume using her hair, Judas is there and upset at what he seems to view as a waste of expensive perfume.  Everyone is gathered around the table with Jesus, only six days before the Passover that would be Jesus’ last supper and I wonder what each of them might have been thinking.  Did they know this might be the last chance for them to be with Jesus, would that change how they behaved at the table?  Maybe this was literally their “come to Jesus” moment where they needed to reconcile themselves or their expectations and experiences of Jesus with him right there in the moment.  They had all had previous interactions with Jesus where he had given of himself for them, now in this time what did they want to say or do for him? 

Jesus is always for us and with us.  Our faith is a response to Jesus, to Jesus who loves us no matter what.  What would you say to Jesus if you were sitting at the dinner table with him, what do you say to Jesus now as you worship with him and pray to him?  Where do you need to find release and find your way to Jesus in this Lenten season?

-Pastor Carrie

“Jesus entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death.” Luke 7:1-2

Capernaum, centurion, slave, these are three words that make this healing story so interesting. Capernaum was a trade city on the sea of Galilee, making it a crossroads for different kinds of people. The centurion was a gentile, a roman officer. And a slave, cared for by the Centurion, but owned nonetheless. There were many reasons for Jesus to refuse this request to heal the slave by the Centurion. Many reasons to be prejudiced against him. But as was his custom, Jesus crosses all the lines and boundaries of difference to offer the healing and salvation of God. The slave is released from his deathly illness and the faith of the centurion is lifted up as an example to Jesus’ own people releasing them from the prejudice that a roman officer couldn’t have great faith. Consider all the assumptions we make about people different than ourselves. How might Jesus release us from our prejudice against them? 

-Pastor Travis Norton

Looking for last weeks worship? You can find it here!

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Jesus was not going to live into anyone’s expectations of him except for God.  He would live as his father had directed, often as had already been told by the prophets when he recalls the words of Isaiah:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus clarity in mission wasn’t always a favorite among those he visited. People were seeking to have their needs met through the one who had healed and saved before, they had false expectations of what they believed Jesus should do for them too.  Jesus does indeed work for us, and guide us, but we also need to work for him and let him lead us.  Our false expectations of what a Savior should or could do might be best met by a people who will meet him where he is and join in His mission for the sake of the world.

-Pastor Carrie

“Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Luke 4:12 

We start a new sermon series for Lent this Sunday. We’re calling it “Released” thinking through all the ways Jesus releases us from what enslaves us. We begin lent with the account of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Jesus resists each temptation, using scripture to thwart the devil and stay true to God. But he ends with this line- do not put the Lord your God to the test. Any relationship that is mature and strong has this value at the center. We don’t put each other to the test. We don’t insist that the other prove themselves to us, not their love, trustworthiness, integrity etc. As soon as you put someone to the test the relationship is poisoned, isn’t it? What does it mean to love, trust and obey God without making it transactional in some way? Jesus shows us what it looks like to truly love God. Let’s follow his example. 

-Pastor Travis Norton

Looking for last weeks worship? You can find it here!

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