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Sermons

Thursday’s Passion: Following a Servant with Dirty Feet (Jn. 13:1-38)

Take a look at the man in this photo.  Can you tell me who this is?  His name is Steve Jobs.  Can you tell me who he works for?  He works for Apple.  Jobs is the CEO of Apple, Inc.  Apple is one those companies that has a widely recognized figurehead.  In a book called Branding Faith author Phil Cooke writes about these kinds of organizations.  Cooke calls them “personality driven.” That’s not a criticism.  It is merely a description of groups whose existence and health are directly tied to a person, to a personality.  Cooke writes that being a personality driven group is good and bad.  For example, the direct link between Apple, Inc. and Steve Jobs is good.  Jobs gives the company a personal face.  He gives the company an appealing image.  But, when Jobs’ health recently started failing, so did stock in Apple.  The fate of Apple Inc. is wrapped up in this one man.

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Monday’s Passion: Following an Anti-Religion Activist (Mk. 11:12-19)

 

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.  12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.  15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”  (Mk. 11:11-17 TNIV).Read More »Monday’s Passion: Following an Anti-Religion Activist (Mk. 11:12-19)

The Offering: Leave it at the Altar (Rom. 12:1-2)

I recently saw a t-shirt which made for Christians.  On the front of the t-shirt is something that looks like a fire-fighter’s logo or crest.  Inside the crest are these words: “God doesn’t sell fire insurance.”  Beneath the crest are these words: “But he gives it away to his friends.”  On the back of the t-shirt is one more line: “Are you a friend of God?”  There, in three lines, is a t-shirt designer’s summary of the Christian faith: God doesn’t sell fire insurance.  But he gives it away to his friends.  Are you a friend of God?  Here, the Christian faith is all about “fire insurance.”  And what is “fire insurance”?  It refers to the fires of Hell.  Based on this t-shirt synopsis, the Christian faith is primarily “fire insurance” to save you from Hell.

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