As you may have heard in sermons past, I have a great appreciation for church mothers and fathers who have demonstrated how to live out our faith through different periods of the last 2,000 years. One such person is Julian of Norwich. Julian was a 14th century church leader in England. I have two thoughts … Continue reading Julian of Norwich and Social Distancing
#ThinkAheadThursday! If you do not follow our church Facebook page, you may not be familiar with Think Ahead Thursday. This is a weekly opportunity to receive a preview of the upcoming sermon. It's meant to get us thinking about the sermon topic and wrestling with the Scripture passage before hearing some of my thoughts on … Continue reading Ways to love your neighbor
One common post you'll see during the COVID-19 period on this page is prayer. These posts will be prayers for those affected by the virus itself, the social changes, and the anxiety/fears of the times. I'd like to start with those on the 'front lines.' Many have compared this period to wartime, and there are … Continue reading Prayers (Part 1)
I started this blog in my first year at First Presbyterian, and have since fallen out of the habit of writing here. At a time like this, being able to communicate via this blog - instead of flooding inboxes - seems like a good idea. So I'll use this space to reflect on the impacts … Continue reading COVID-19
The story of David and Bathsheba is one that is simultaneously easy and difficult to preach, in my opinion. It is easy because the stark difference between greed, lust, adultery, and murder (all of which David commits in 2 Samuel 11) and repentance (which Nathan leads David to do in 2 Samuel 12). We all … Continue reading David and Bathsheba: 2 Samuel 11 & 12
A week late on this one, as I preached this sermon on October 14, 2018. Forgive the tardiness! Last week, we discussed Joshua renewing the covenant that God had created with God's people with the words, "Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods … Continue reading “Joshua Renews the Covenant” Joshua 24:1-15
Joshua is a difficult book to read. Yes, it contains wonderful verses for us to memorize. Verses like Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" and Joshua 24:15, "...but as for me and my household, we will serve the … Continue reading Thursday Thought: Joshua
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17 Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets. The law and the prophets point to Jesus. This week we discussed the foundation of the law and prophets: God's covenant … Continue reading Covenant and Commandments: Exodus 19 & 20
He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth -Isaiah 42:4 In chapter 12 of his Gospel, Matthew uses Isaiah 42 to describe Jesus. This morning as I read Matthew 12, I was greatly encouraged. Quoting Isaiah 42, Jesus is the servant, loved and upheld, chosen, in whom … Continue reading Thursday Thoughts: Jesus and Justice
This week I'm preaching on the Ten Commandments. I was thinking to myself as I prepared for this blog post, "How could I incorporate the Ten Commandments in prayer?" In reading a commentary article on Exodus 20, I was given an answer. The Ten Commandments have been interpreted by some to be a kind of … Continue reading Tuesday Prayer: Our Response
Pastor Drew's Desk 