U-turns Permitted

James launches a brutal attack against us rich people in 5:1-6. He has no time for pleasantries or the typical notion that it is not about how much wealth you have, it is about your attitude. So what do we do with this? 

Today we read James 4:13-17. James begins a two-part diatribe against rich people (us!). In this first section, he encourages us to think about our focus on inventing, designing, producing, and selling widgets to make a profit. Why are we doing this? Are we doing it (just) to make a living, or also to "live"? And what does that "living" look like?

Today we look at James 3:13-18. What is wisdom? What is the opposite of wisdom? James challenges us in strong words to think about our envies and jealousies, and to choose the way that makes for peace. How can we do that in this time of FOMO and bitter partisan division?

Today we look at James 3:1-12, the famous passage in which James talks about the danger of destruction caused by the tongue. Certainly, this is an issue for the individual at home, work and out and about. But there is also a kind of "dangerous speech" that we are seeing more of in our society today. How do we deal with dangerous speech on any level? James shows us: it is heart issue.

Today we read the well-known passage from James: 2:14-26. James speaks of the relationship between faith and works, not with the goal to figure out what we need to get into heaven when we die, but to show us that salvation is about the "here and now, making wounded people whole" (Diana Butler Bass).

Today Steve Brauning, missionary to the Dominican Republic for Resonate Global Mission, speaks to us today from Luke 4:14-21 about the mission Jesus took on when He came to earth and how we, in the power of the Holy Spirit, are called to work to continue that mission.

Today we look at James 2:1-13. James condemns the sin of discrimination - showing partiality as it occurred in the early migrant church. But how does that apply to us today? None of us want to show partiality or discriminate. Most of us believe we are past that. Are we? And what if it isn't so much about me as an individual but us as a society?

Today Rev. Dan Kim leads us through James 1:19-25, the famous passage that encourages us to not just be listeners to the word of God, but also to be doers.

James chapter 1 is a summary of the rest of the letter. It introduces most of the topics James handles in the letter. James is writing for his own people in exile, struggling. In today's world many of us struggle and feel exiled.

James begins his letter to people who are enduring hardships of various kinds. He explains to them how hardships can lead to growth, maturity, fullness, which leads to joy. Today we read James 1:2-4.

Today we introduce our sermon series on the Letter of James. A crucial discussion on this book over the last centuries has centered on whether (and how much) James supports the Apostle Paul's emphasis on "salvation by grace alone". But is that the best approach to understanding James? Join us and find out!

"An event has occurred as a result of which the world is a different place, and human beings have the new possibility to become a different kind of people...” This is how N.T. Wright describes the impact of what happened on Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead. We read selected passages from 1 Corinthians 15.

On this Maundy Thursday we read 1 Corinthians 1:30: On the cross Jesus took upon himself what we are not and gave us what He is: wisdom, justice, purpose and freedom.

Today is Palm Sunday - Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. This story doesn't happen in a vacuum - all kinds of events immediately precede it. John quotes the prophet Zecharaiah in his commentary on the events of this day, who proclaims that peace will come to the nations. What do you think: does Jesus bring peace?

What do these have to do with Deuteronomy? You might be surprised. Today we finish our series on Deuteronomy by looking at chapter 30, the last part of Moses' sermon to  Israel (the final chapters contain a song, some blessings and the report of Moses' death). What - or who - is our real life?

At the moment of this sermon series, Russia is waging a fierce, aggressive war in Ukraine. In the USA, the "culture wars" are waging. Group is pitted against group, each considering the other the "enemy". Does Deuteronomy offer us a way to respond to these and all wars? We will look at Deuteronomy 20 and ask ourselves that question.

Deuteronomy 15 presents an economy unlike ours. Redistribution of wealth and reparations are imperatives for Israel. What can we learn from that, without saying that we must emulate the Deuteronomic system? Are there echoes of this approach in the New Testament? And where does our final hope lie for our broken world?

Today we look at the blessings and curses that were to be spoken from the mountains Ebal and Gerizim. This ritual was to be done when Israel entered Canaan (and was done - read Joshua 8). The blessings and cursing were a direct result of whether Israel obeyed God or not. Which raises the question: is our relationship with God transactional? If so, doesn't that lead to all kinds of problems? Today...

In light of the attack on Ukraine by Vladimir Putin and his army, we are using our service time today (Feb. 27, 2022) as a time of prayer and reflection for Ukraine, Russia, Europe and our world. Please join us and dpray along with us.

Deuteronomy contains a number of passages that state that God wanted Israel to engage in "holy war", which some have called genocide of the Canaanite people. What are we to make of that? And how can we deal with the hostility between people in our own time?

Today we read Deuteronomy 6. This chapter includes the command to love God only and to teach our children to love and obey Him. One way to understand this chapter is with the image of being at home - home with God and home with each other. Join us!

Today we read the Ten Commandments from Deuteronomy 5. How can we read them in a way that doesn't strike fear into us or load a burden on us that we cannot bear to carry?

We continue our series on Deuteronomy, looking at Chapter 4: historical recollections give way to urgent exhortation. Moses reflects on God's presence with and care for Israel, and assures the people that his mercy will never fail. And then he asks this question: Has such a great thing as this ever happened with anyone else? 

Today Dan Kim speaks from Luke 7:11-17, the story of the raising of the son of the widow of Nain from the dead. Jesus says a startling thing to the widow as her son is being brought to the graveyard. He says the same thing to us.

Today we look (quickly!) at the first 3 chapters of Deuteronomy. Moses looks back on the last 40 years of history, and relates both the good and the bad of Israel's past. "The more honest we are in telling the stories of our ancestors in the web, the more we will be able to understand ourselves and the possibilities carried in our emotional DNA for our future.” (Diana Butler Bass, Grounded, pg 157...