Sundays at St. James

“The Path of Life” Main point: Greed leads to death. Jesus provides an alternative. Generosity leads to life. BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON Introduction Most people when given the choice between life and death will choose life without a moment's hesitation. It's an instinct. We are survivors. We strive to live.  These are the terms in today's gospel reading on greed. A path of life and...

“The Good Father” Main point: The Good Father gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON Introduction The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Prayer. Prayer is the habitat of the union we share with God. It is the environment where the life of God joins with the souls of God's children. It is the air we breathe in the spiritual life. It is the cup which holds the wa...

“The One Thing” Main point: In worship and adoration, we are doing the one thing that matters most. BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON Introduction Mary and Martha host Jesus. This is a familiar story to many, but, perhaps because of its familiarity, it has been misapplied in some Christian circles and has led to some low-level distress for the Marthas in the room. I pray you find some relief this morni...

“ Is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. ” Main point: The Spirit leads us to eternal life through obedience to these commandments. BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON “This commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away.” Deuteronomy 30:11 The story of the Good Samaritan. One of the most famous teachings from Jesus visits us this morning and invites...

“A Picture of Liberation” Main point:  BLESSING THE CHILDREN TEXT Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way; I am s...

“Already, Not Yet” Main point: Saints live in the “already” reality of the kingdom of God is greater than the “not yet.” BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON Introduction Lutheran Summer Day Camp Before I get started.. I want to introduce to you a statement that helps us make sense of so much about ourselves and the era we live in as Christians: Already, Not Yet. Keep that in your minds as we consider the...

“Jesus Enters the Scene” Main point: Jesus has power over the evil forces of our world and is at work driving them out. BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON Introduction There is a story of the young monk who came to his Spiritual Father, the Abbot of the Abbey, with a question… “Master, yesterday I was in the village and I saw a girl who was hungry. I was moved with compassion and gave her my lunch. We s...

“Trinity is Reality” Main point:  BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON A special greeting to all of the Fathers and Father figures present with us today. May all of your golfballs fly straight; may all of your neck ties stay in fashion for at least as long as it takes you to dribble food on them at your next formal dinner; and may your nap this afternoon be interrupted only by the noise of your children a...

“God Dwells in You” Main point:  BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON On this Great Feast Day, the story stands on its own two feet. On the Day of Pentecost the disciples were gathered in a closed room. The doors were locked, the windows were shut, and they were faithfully waiting, just as they were told to do. They were waiting for what God would do next. New things were about to happen. Things they coul...

“That They May All Be One” Main point: Our unity is an outgrowth of the unity God shares in the Godhead. BLESSING THE CHILDREN TEXT John 17:20-26 "I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one . As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us , so that the world may believe that you have sent me....

“Secure in God’s Hands” Main point: Our being is held in an absolutely secure relationship with the one who created us. BLESSING THE CHILDREN TEXT John 10:22-30 At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspens...

“Peter is Restored” Main point: The risen Christ meets Peter where he needs to be met in order to restore him to the mission Jesus originally called him to. BLESSING THE CHILDREN When you walked into the church building this morning you may have noticed you were surrounded by a school of fish. On the doors, fish! On the walls, fish! Everywhere, fish! Last night, the kids in Children’s Church had f...

“Faith and Doubt: Two Sides of the Same Coin” Main point: St. Thomas the Apostle is a worthy muse to lead us into the realm of Christian faith rooted in the resurrection of Jesus. BLESSING THE CHILDREN SERMON Introduction Easter greetings from Pastor Amy Dillard. She sent a text to me on Easter wishing you all the blessings of the resurrection. With all of the hubbub of that great feast day, I for...

“The Resurrection Declares Victory” Main point: The resurrection of Jesus secures victory over sin, death, and the devil. BLESSING THE CHILDREN   Holy Hilarity Why did the kid bring a ladder to school? Because she wanted to go to high school. Why did the cookie go to the hospital? Because he felt crummy. Why did the dinosaur cross the road? Because the chicken wasn't born yet. How does a scien...

“Enter into Christ” Main point: We enter into the death of Christ and hear the last words he said. INTRODUCTION As we walk through Holy Week we step in the footprints left by Jesus as he lived his final days on Earth. We tread where he has trod. Even in his death. We say along with St. Paul in the 3rd chapter of his letter to the Philipians… I want to know Christ and share in his sufferings by bec...

“Participation in Christ” Main point: We participate in (walk in) Christ by doing what Jesus did. GOSPEL John 13:1-17, 31b-35  The service of Christ: footwashing and meal) Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  The devil had already decided that...

“Jesus knows our every weakness” Main point: Jesus experienced the extremes of life and death with those who sat around the table with him. At the last supper, Jesus identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who will betray him, and sends him on his way. 21  Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.”  22  The disciples looked at one another, uncertai...

“The Mystery of the Grain of Wheat” Main point:  INTRODUCTION Knowing that his hour has come, Jesus announces that his death will be an exaltation. When he is lifted up in death, drawing people to new life, God’s name will be glorified. 20  Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21  They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we...

“Foreshadowing and Forethought” Main point: We contemplate the scene of this dinner and the impact of Jesus’ statement. INTRODUCTION Tonight we witness a familiar scene. Jesus is gathered with his closest friends around a meal six days before the Passover. It is a simple scene. It is an intimate scene.  It is one of the final scenes of his life given to us in the gospels because it happens just a...

“The Shadow in Our Praise” Main point: Today we praise God with our whole hearts in spite of what may beset us. INTRODUCTION I take for my text this morning The prophet Zechariah in the 9th chapter: Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!     Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you,     righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey,     on a colt, the foal of a donkey. This is a we...

“The Lost Son” Main point: God’s reckless love shows us the primacy of repentance and restoration. INTRODUCTION Overview: We encounter a timeless story of a gracious and benevolent Father of two sons.  Many notable authors in our day have composed beautiful, pastoral meditations on this story.  Henri Nowen, Dutch-born Catholic priest, professor, and psychologist  - The Return of the Prodigal Son:...

“Return to the Lord Your God” Main point: All circumstances observed should lead us to repentance. The environment of our repentance is an environment of grace. INTRODUCTION: During this season of Lent, I pray we will give ourselves permission to take an honest look at our lives and deal truthfully with what we find. A sober look may do us good and I pray we do not miss the opportunity. Today’s go...

“The Fox and the Hen” Main point: Jesus is resolved to travel to Jerusalem to suffer in spite of direct opposition from two deterrents: the Pharisees’ warning of danger and Jerusalem’s repeated rejection of him. INTRODUCTION: During this season of Lent, I pray we will give ourselves permission to take an honest look at our lives and deal truthfully with what we find. A sober look may do us good an...

“The Temptation of Jesus” Main point: In the ways humanity has rebelled against God’s will, Jesus has surrendered to God’s will and in so doing has shown us the path to salvation. INTRODUCTION: Contentment  Freedom in doing the will of the Father No need for power, though he could have claimed it. No need for safety of the body, though  No need even for food, as healthy and common as it may be. Al...

“The Heart in Lent” Main point: Beware: We must focus on the heart, but our focus can run a muck. INTRODUCTION: Tonight we begin our preparation for Easter.  We prepare by wiping the slates of our hearts clean through repentance.  We prepare by taking the gritty sign of the cross smeared across our foreheads. We prepare by attentively giving our hearts to God for 40 days of piety marked by prayer,...