Facets of Faith

You are blessed! Sermon from All Saints Day, readings:  Revelation 7:9-17 The multitudes of heaven worship the Lamb Psalm 34:1-7, 17-19, 22 Fear the Lord, you saints of the Lord; for those who fear the Lord lack nothing. (Ps. 34:9) Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or fol...

This familiar text offers a rich background for thoughtful conversation about what it means to be blessed.... so rich that we broke the conversation into two episodes!  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBL...

This familiar text offers a rich background for thoughtful conversation about what it means to be blessed.... so rich that we broke the conversation into two episodes!  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBL...

Looking back to move forward! Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:34-46 Psalm 1 Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Love God, Love Neighbor. It's so simple. Why do the Pharisees even ask? Perhaps because we always need to be brought back to these basics to re-center our identity and our work as God's beloved.  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE....

Scripture Readings:  1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Thanksgiving for the church at Thessalonica Matthew 22:15-22 A teaching on giving to the emperor and to God Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights res...

Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

We had so much great conversation about the parable of the wicked tenants and how this speaks to our own understanding of life as Christians and of God’s stubborn grace that we broke this podcast into two episodes!  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGL...

We had so much great conversation about the parable of the wicked tenants and how this speaks to our own understanding of life as Christians and of God’s stubborn grace that we broke this podcast into two episodes!  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGL...

As we get closer and closer to the crucifixion in our gospel readings from Matthew, tensions are rising between Jesus and the chief priests. In these tensions, the question of "by what authority are you doing these things?" is posed to Jesus. His answer puts the listener on their heels a bit as he challenges people to live a life worthy of the gospel (to use a phrase from last week'...

Community is hard... especially when we feel like things aren't "fair." But being the body of Christ means being a community where we lead with love and leave envy behind.  Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16 Philippians 1:21-30  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations...

This coming Sunday's gospel reading includes the parable of the vineyard workers, a parable that often rubs us the wrong way as we are confronted with the generous provision of God. Join Pastor Katie and David as they explore the challenge of this text.  Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:1-16 Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchur...

The bulk of the books in the New Testament are letters. Letters that were written to early communities of the church offering guidance and encouragement in response to their struggles of being followers of Christ in their daily lives. The book of Revelation is often pictured as a story of fire and brimstone, but listen as Pastor Katie, Keith, and David reveal the good news of God's love that...

The New Testament begins with four gospel accounts - four accounts of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Why are there four? Why not just one? Join Pastor Katie, Keith, David as they explore the similarities and differences between the gospels and how they (or rather, how one of them) connects with the book of Acts.  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran...

Scripture reading: Matthew 18:21-35 Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14   Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

There are a number of books with the messages of the prophets in what is frequently called the Old Testament. Prophets offered messages for the people in their current world as well as messages of timeless truths of God's promises that we see realized in Jesus and that we hear as meaningful in our current lives.  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Luth...

In the middle of the Bible is a collection of eclectic texts known as the books of Wisdom or Poetry. Each book has its own distinct flavor, but taken together, they offer a beautiful approach of expressing the joy and challenge of life and trusting in God's Good News for us.  Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or...

How long does it take to be sure that a fire is not consuming a bush? In Moses' call story with the burning bush, we hear the importance of a stance of curiosity in faith, in relationships, and in life.  Primary Reading: Exodus 3:1-15 Secondary Reading:  Matthew 16:21-28 Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or foll...

The Books of History in the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) covers a HUGE timeframe. In today's episode, Pastor Katie, Keith, and David try to summarize some of the highlights and ways to read these books of the Bible.  As always - let us know if you have any questions by sending us a message using the fan mail or by connecting with us on the church website listed below.  Let us know what y...

Who do yinz say Jesus is? Maybe the point isn't having an answer ready to go for this question from today's gospel. Maybe the point is engaging with and living with the question itself. After all, even Peter struggles with what his original answer means!  What does it look like for you to live with and continually engage with the question, "Who do you say Jesus is?" Scripture r...

The Pentateuch is the name given to the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Join Pastor Katie, David and Keith as they talk about the scope of these five books and how they help us begin our journey into the greatest story - the story of God's love for creation (including us!). Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St....

Joseph story is quite the story! His first major entrance is in Genesis 37, and his story goes on until the end of Genesis 50, the last chapter of the book of Genesis. There's a lot that can be said about him, but what does his story, specifically the time when he and his brothers reunite after they sold him into slavery teach us about living in God's purpose today?  Scripture reading: G...

We continue our conversation about the 101 basic question of what is the Bible. In this conversation, we dig into the content of the Bible and the overall structure of the Bible.  If you want to learn more about how Lutherans view and understand the Hebrew Scriptures in relation to Jesus while still respecting our Jewish neighbors, please reach out! This is an important conversation in the ELCA&ap...

Jesus met the disciples in the middle of a storm. What does this story have to say for us in our own faith lives.  Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 Let us know what you think or send us a question! Learn more about St. John Lutheran Church at stjohnchurchmars.org or follow us on Facebook . Scripture quotations from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Us...