Grace Abounds

What kind of king is Christ Jesus the King? That’s the question at the heart of the encounter between Jesus and Pontius Pilate recounted in John 18. It’s a question followers of Jesus have wrestled with from that time to this. It’s a question that continues to resonate for us today. How would you answer it? *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about...

In both the reading from Daniel and Mark we are given signs of a time coming where there will be suffering and also deliverance. These apocryphal texts use grand imagery to reveal a simple truth. That truth is that God’s people are afraid and God remains with them always. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve o...

Our hope, the Psalmist declares, is not in human leaders; our hope is in the Lord (Ps 146), who is everlasting, who made us and loves us forever, who is with us and for us always. This is the hope that does not disappoint us, as the Apostle Paul proclaimed in his life and in his letters (Romans 5:1-15). This is the hope we have in our Savior Jesus Christ. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worshi...

God promises a new heaven and a new earth where “pain will be no more”. This promise can be hard to believe, just as it was hard for Martha to believe that Jesus would resurrect her brother Lazorus. However, we can be assured that a promise for the future is also true for us today, as we live in the liminal space of momentarily forever. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am...

Martin Luther and other re-formers of the church call on us to pass along the gospel gold that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Luther affirms the truly good news that Christ sets us free from sin and death and worries about our own salvation, and free for love and life and serving the Lord and our neighbors. How might you pass along this gospel gold? *** Join us In-Person or Online...

Diaconia is the Greek word for service. It is more than just a word, but the work to follow Jesus in his example of service. As a church we can get caught turning inward when we must look outside our doors to meet Christ in our world. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing li...

It is because Jesus loves the rich man that he calls him to let go of his many possessions, embrace generosity, and “follow me” (Mark 10:17-31). It is because Jesus loves us that he calls us to do the same. Follow Jesus in a life of overflowing love. Let go of whatever is hindering our relationship with the Lord and embrace generosity. Give as we can for the glory of God and the good of the people...

The religious authorities test Jesus with a question about the rules of marriage and divorce. The disciples try to enforce the rules of social decorum by shooing children away. Jesus teaches them, and us, that it’s not about the rules, it’s about our relationships (Mark 10:2-16). *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to...

There is a lot of power wielded in this world. Much of it at the cost of the powerless. God’s ultimate power is different. It is the kind of power that shows mercy and would die for us all. We are gifted this power by the Holy Spirit and must decide if we will use it to destroy and judge each other or use it to create the kingdom of heaven on earth. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sund...

When the disciples argue over who is the greatest among them, Jesus reframes their debate (Mark 9:30-37). James cautions against seeking greatness from selfish ambition, and offers godly wisdom for being truly great (James 3:13-4:8). What does greatness mean to you? *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our com...

Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”. They know that he is the Messiah, but they are not quite sure what that means. We must ask the same kind of question, “How do we define the identity of Jesus?”. We must also ask what that means for us as followers of Christ. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to...

“We are saved by grace through faith in Christ, not works,” writes Paul (Eph 2:8-9). “Faith without works is dead,” insists James (James 2:17). What does faith mean to you? *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email office@stjohnslutheran.church and request to be adde...

The commandments and laws given by God have continued to be observed through the generations. This observance, however, can take a judgmental tone when the law is strictly interpreted. Jesus pushes back on this way of following the law and introduces the Gospel into its interpretation. How might we do the same? *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more a...

“Choose this day whom you will serve” - Joshua’s challenge to the people of God (Joshua 24:15). “To whom can we go?” - Peter’s response to a question from Jesus (John 6:68). “Take up the whole armor of God…and stand firm” - Peter’s encouragement to his friends (Ephesians 6:13). These familiar words have a common theme. They’re about the choices we make every day; about how we intend to live our li...

Scripture rings with invitations to embrace the wisdom of God. Lady Wisdom beckons us to “walk in the way of insight” (Prov 9:6). David counsels us to ‘do good and pursue peace.’ (Ps 34:13-14). Paul encourages us to “make the most of the time.” (Eph 5:16). And Jesus calls us to eat the living bread he gives, the living bread he is (John 6:51). Will you accept the invitation? *** Join us In-Person...

Both the Israelites and the people gathered in front of Jesus demand signs from God. They are afraid and want to know that God is there looking out for them. We also want to see signs from God and find the bread of life Jesus talks about. The answer to what we seek might just be closer than we think in the community around us. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am....

When presented with the problem of feeding 5,000 people the disciples are caught up in the scarcity of what they don’t have. This is something we do as well, in a society that is so focussed and acquiring more because we’re told we don’t have and are not enough. When trapped in the scarcity around us it is easy to miss the places of abundance. Jesus reminds us of the abundance of his blessings and...

*** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email office@stjohnslutheran.church and request to be added! If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at pastor@stjohnslutheran.church. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s comm...

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5). John opens his Gospel with the awesome declaration that Christ Jesus is the light of the world, who gives us life, who is with us always, who shines with the grace of the Lord. May we reflect Christ’s glorious light. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcom...

When Jesus calls his disciples he gives them the authority born from the Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit that drives them out to unknown places to teach, preach, and care for those in need. We are given the same mission. A mission that does not send us in, but sends us out. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve...

A leader in the religious community and a woman on the fringe of society would have had little in common. But what they share is their desperate need, and their faith in Jesus to help them. He does. And in so doing, Jesus makes known that nothing, not physical suffering, not social rejection, not lack of resources, nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our L...

When we cry out, who answers? When Job cried out, it was God who answered from the whirlwind. When the Disciples cried out, it was Jesus who answered and calmed the storm. When we cry out, God answers. The answer may not always be what we expect, but there is always a response because God has been here since the beginning. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Fin...

Jesus teaches the kingdom of God “is like a mustard seed” that grows into a thriving mustard plant (Mark 4:30-32). The Psalmist sings those who trust in God will “flourish like a palm tree” (Ps 92:12). Ezekiel declares a tender twig will grow into a “noble cedar” and provide shelter for every kind of bird (Ezek 17:22-24). And the Apostle Paul reminds us that in Jesus Christ, we are a new creation...

Home can mean many different things. Jesus found this hometown to not be very hospitable. Yet, though this encounter he broadens the definition of home and family. We can find home in God and in the community that surrounds us. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Ema...

What does it mean to “Keep the Sabbath” as a day of rest from work (Deut 4)? Is it a rule? Is it a burden? Is it an invitation? When local religious authorities accuse Jesus and his disciples of breaking the law by ‘doing the work’ of eating and healing on the Sabbath, Jesus responds by showing them what the Sabbath is really all about (Mark 2 & 3). *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship...