Village Pres Sermons

When John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus knew then that things would be difficult for him. Yet, after miracle upon miracle, Jesus’ disciples assumed the Messiah’s life would be defined by power. The real power in Jesus’ life was the power of love. The question of the ages is this: why is love such a threat? Why did Jesus unsettle folks so much that they preferred to have him killed? Our scripture...

Rev. Tom Are returns to the passage in Mark 8 for a second time in the series “Life in the Wilderness” because in some ways the story is told twice. Once with a blind man who receives healing, and once with a disciple—Peter—who can’t see, or at least can’t see clearly. The blind man has an advantage, however, for he knows he can’t see. Peter has no idea what he is missing. Like the blind man, the...

Jesus does more miracles in Mark’s Gospel than in any of the other Gospels. But this particular miracle takes a little extra. Jesus opens the eyes of one who cannot see, or tries to, but his sight is still blurry. So, Jesus tries again. Thank goodness, Jesus is persistent. Our scripture reading is Mark 8:22-26. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@vil...

This story doesn’t make sense here. We’re hearing about the mission of the disciples, and then in Mark 6:17-25 suddenly we’re in Herod’s court. Mark puts this made-for-television scene into the middle of his story. But Rev. Hallie Hottle preaches that perhaps this is how power’s drama always shows up - in the middle of our otherwise orderly narratives, making nonsense out of what we previously tho...

Rev. Tom Are preaches that Mark 5:1-20 is one of the strangest stories in Mark’s Gospel. There is a man described as being possessed by a legion of demons. It’s hard to know exactly what that means, but the consequence is that to his community he is as good as dead. But when Jesus comes to him, he looks through the chaos and sees a human being. Jesus gives this demon-possessed outcast his life bac...

Rev. Tom Are preaches everything that Jesus did revealed God’s intention for us. He taught. We still study his teachings. But he also put his teachings into practice. If he had just taught, he might have escaped the cross. But he didn’t. Our scripture reading is Mark 2:13-17, 21-22. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Hav...

Early in his ministry, a man was brought to Jesus him carried by his friends. The friends made all the difference. Rev. Tom Are preaches when it comes to friendship, sometimes we do the carrying; sometimes we need to be carried. Both are human, and both are holy. Our scripture reading is Mark 2:1-12.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.o...

Mark 1:14-20 narrates the calling of Jesus’ first disciples. They were going about their day when Jesus calls them to come and follow him. They drop everything, which is more than the nets they had in their hands. They drop their assumptions about what their lives were for. This raises two questions: what made them leave everything to follow Jesus? And why do you suppose Jesus picked them?  Suppor...

In scripture, wilderness is almost never “nature” that is beautiful and spiritual. Wilderness is a testing place. It’s where the word of God is questioned, and the ways of God are doubted. It is also the place that the faithfulness of God is learned. Upon being baptized, Jesus is immediately driven into the wilderness. Casting Jesus into the wilderness is the work of God’s Spirit. It seems clear t...

Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry. All four gospels tell of this event. Mark, true to form, is brief and succinct—no additional details—just the facts. In Matthew, John the Baptist protests that Jesus should baptize him. Luke has Jesus being baptized among other people which makes the dove descending and voice speaking from heaven all the more spectacular. In John’s gospel,...

Rev. Tom Are begins a new sermon series titled “Life in the Wilderness.” About 30 years after the life of Jesus, someone we call Mark wrote the first gospel. It was a theological witness to the redemptive love of God revealed in the life of Jesus. It was also a testimony to the reality that this love is often ignored, belittled and even battered. We will walk with Mark as he leads us to Easter. In...

All the gifts have been bought, wrapped and opened. What is there to do now? I wonder if we can take some time to settle in and delight in all that God has given us—a new baby who will change the world with his birth, life, death and resurrection. Our scripture reading is Matthew 2:1-12.   Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4...

We will soon greet a new year. There will be beauty and brokenness, blessing and burden, but we can greet it with joy—a joy that will carry us through because Christ humbled himself. Not because he thought less of himself, but because he thought so much of you. Our scripture reading is Philippians 2:5-11.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagep...

The angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” What’s the nature of this world-encompassing joy? It’s complicated. For it is both at the same time a gift and a discipline, an experience of grace and an act of courage. Our scripture reading is Luke 2:8-20. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-...

Joy and happiness are alike, but not exactly the same. Happiness is often based on circumstances, but joy can be a courageous act of defiance in spite of the circumstances. That’s why the season is not one of happiness, but of joy. Our scripture reading is Luke 3:1-18. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer req...

Will you have visitors for the holidays? Elizabeth did. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth was so joyful she could barely contain herself. When her unborn child kicked, it was interpreted as a response of joy. When someone wants to visit you, it is a joyful circumstance. Rev. Tom Are preaches Christmas means God wants to visit you. Such news might cause you to jump for joy. Our scripture reading is Luke...

Sometimes joy finds us; sometimes joy feels far away. The Apostle Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Always? What about when times are hard? Paul believes that faith gives us reason to touch joy, even when we aren’t feeling it. Rev. Melanie Hardison preaches joy is something we can choose, and its presence can make all the difference. Our scripture reading is Philippians 4:4-7. Support the s...

Faith is work. Love is a labor. Hope is steadfast. Paul describes Christian DNA just this way because faith is more than what we think and love is more than what we feel, as both show up in the choices we make as to how we will live. Hope lives in the Christian in the same fashion. Rev. Tom Are preaches hope is not just a conviction, but a practice. Our scripture reading is 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5....

Love. It’s what makes life human. Rev. Tom Are preaches we are defined by who we love and who loves us. The apostle Paul describes love, and interestingly enough, he does not speak of love as something that we feel. Love is something that we do. Our scripture reading is 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a.  Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-2...

The earliest writing in the New Testament is 1 Thessalonians. The first words of Christian faith we have in the New Testament are found in this letter. The letter begins with the basics: Paul gives thanks for the church’s faith, love and hope. But already, at the very beginning, it is clear the basics are a lot of work! Our scripture reading is 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Support the show Contact Villag...

Rev. Zach Walker asks what does it mean to care for something that will outlast us? And what if we don’t know how to best care for it? These are haunting questions as we consider how we are called to care for God’s Creation. Perhaps those questions are meant to bother us to the degree that we would do something about it. Our scripture reading is Leviticus 25:23-24.  Support the show Contact Villag...

In this two-part sermon series “The World God So Loved is This World,” Rev. Tom Are reflects on the changing nature of our planet as a result of climate change. The news is challenging, even threatening, and we see the consequences daily. But there is good news, too. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a prayer reque...

Rev. Sally S. Wright preaches about God’s inexplicable presence of awe and glory mixed with the daily focus to spot God on the move. God is both in this place and in everyplace. So, then why do we have churches, sanctuaries and holy places? Our spiritual grandfather Jacob shows us what it means to have places of worship and to find God on the move. Our scripture reading is Genesis 28:10-22. Suppor...

Rev. Tom Are considers the final Great End of the church. Our spiritual grandparents taught us that the church exists for the promotion of social righteousness. Jesus was always concerned about how we relate to others, so a concern for healthy communities is a faithful concern. Our scripture reading is Amos 15:21-24. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communicatio...

On World Communion Sunday, Rev. Tom Are reflects on the Sixth Great End of the church, “The Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World.” When we share a meal with others, it is easier to see them as friends. Our scripture readings are John 13:34-35 and Matthew 28:16-20. Support the show Contact Village Presbyterian Church villagepres.org communications@villagepres.org 913-262-4200 Have a pra...