The Way Around – (Luke 13:31-35) Lent is a 40 day spiritual journey that we take with Jesus. Last week we followed Jesus going on a pilgrimage into the wilderness. This week we continue this spiritual journey with Jesus who is going to Jerusalem, making his way through cities and villages. Some Pharisees come to […]
The Wandering Way – (Luke 4:1-13) Today is the first Sunday in Lent. In this first Sunday of Lent, we see Jesus, led by the Spirit, going to the wilderness. In a biblical sense, the wilderness is recognized as a special place. It’s more than just a geographic area. The wilderness is that place where […]
Work for the Good of All – (Galatians 6:7-16) For the past couple of decades, lots of people ebbed away from the church. The mainline denominations in the United States, and in other countries as well, struggle to avoid such rapid decline, and yet it seems not easy to find possible measures. Church involvement was […]
Live by the Spirit – (Galatians 5:16-26) I still vividly remember one particular visit I made to one of the members of Calvary UMC in Windber. I was a pastor there some years ago. She was an elderly lady, faithfully attending worship each Sunday. She had some health issues at that time, so I visited […]
One In Christ – (Galatians 3:23-29) In Galatians 3, Paul says that faith in Christ not only makes us children of God, but also unites us together in Christ. He says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians […]
How Are We Justified? – (Galatians 2:15-21) Today’s passage is part of the story of Paul telling Peter that he was wrong to withdraw from eating with the Gentiles (Galatians 2:11–14). In fact, Peter was visiting Antioch. While staying there, he had been eating with Gentiles for some time on a regular basis. But when […]
The Road To Damascus – (Galatians 1:11-24) Apostle Paul was a peculiar figure. He was not a part of Jesus’ original twelve disciples. Instead, he was a notorious persecutor of Christians. But, through one moment that he encountered the risen Jesus, he was transformed and became one of the greatest apostles who traveled thousands of […]
No Other Gospel – (Galatians 1:6-10) According to the Book of Discipline, every church is required to annually evaluate its pastor’s effectiveness for ministry. Well, to be honest with you, I don’t like that evaluation time. Whether I receive compliments or constructive suggestions on my effectiveness for ministry, I feel uncomfortable. But I know […]
Born to Be Loved – (Matthew 3:13-17) Down at the Methodist church, a group of fourth graders were studying infant baptism. Their Sunday School teacher asked, “Why do we use water in baptisms?” One youngster piped up and said, “To make the baby’s hair grow.” Today, on the first Sunday after Epiphany, we see […]
