Matthew on A Fresh Start

Quote

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:16-17 , Exodus 20:8-10 , Job 38:4-11 , Psalm 90:12, Matthew 6:27, 2 Corinthians 12:9

We will have to start over, with a different and much older premise: the naturalness and, for creatures of limited intelligence, the necessity of limits.

illustration

What Did Jesus Leave to Grow?

Author

H. G. Wells

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:6-7, Philippians 2:9-11, Mark 1:16-20, Matthew 11:28-30, John 10:10

H.G. Wells, himself an atheist, makes this point about the nature of greatness as it relates to Jesus: A historian like myself, who doesn’t even call himself a Christian, finds the picture centering...

blog

Where Is Jesus? A Question at the Heart of Advent

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 11:3

“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” It’s a simple question. It’s also a question on everyone’s minds in the gospels. But it hits differently when you remember who asks i...

illustration

The Inuit and the Wolf

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

1 Corinthians 10:13, James 4:7, Hebrews 2:18, Matthew 6:13, Galatians 5:16, James 1:13-15

In the vast, frozen wilderness of the Arctic, an Inuit hunter used a clever technique to trap a wolf. He took a sharp knife and carefully coated its blade with layers of animal blood, letting each lay...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Job 38:1-11

Author

William Rowley

Keywords

Scripture

Job 38:1-11, Genesis 1:, Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25, Psalm 74:14, Psalm 104:26, Genesis 1:21

Note: This was originally part of a guide for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (RCL Year B) , which includes Job 38:1-11 and Mark 4:35-11 . I have adapted the discussion of each of these t...

liturgy

God has spoken! Clearly He declares: Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 9:2, Psalm 103:12, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 86:5

Pastor: God has spoken! Clearly He declares: Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven! As far as the East is from the West, so far have your sins been removed. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's ...

Quote

Author

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Keywords

Scripture

Deuteronomy 30:19, Psalm 118:24, Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:34, Jeremiah 29:11

Trust no future, howe’er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,—act in the living present! Heart within, and God o’erhead!

liturgy

Full, Full Nets

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 4:12-23, Mark 1:14-20, Luke 5:1-11, John 15:16, Luke 5:4-6

Jesus, You call us from what we know to something new From a life on this sea with this family From the nets of generations before us You call us to a new beginning A new being and doing You call us ...

lectionary

19th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Charles Teixeira

Keywords

Scripture

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Matthew 4:5, 1 Corinthians 9:13, Genesis 2:7, 1 Peter 2:4-5

Preaching Commentary Introduction In Paul’s second extant letter to his beloved Timothy, the passage of 3:10-4:5 records Paul’s final charge to Timothy. Calling on Timothy’s trust of Paul’s ministr...

lectionary

Baptism of the Lord

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 3:13-17, John 1:29, Romans 6:4, Ephesians 1:7, 2 Kings 5:null, Joshua 3:null

Preaching Commentary Defined by Action and Accessibility Action defines us. We either play the game or we sit on the sidelines. We either get our hands dirty and by doing so gain credibility or we ...

lectionary

16th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 18:21-35

Preaching Commentary What is Forgiveness? Forgiveness isn’t an act of will or a reaction to an apology. Forgiveness is an act of faith, faith in response to the extravagant sacrifice, grace, and me...

lectionary

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Isaiah 6:1-8, Jeremiah 16:14-21, Jeremiah 16:16

Preaching Commentary Peter's and Isaiah's Confessions Jesus calling the disciples from their fishing appears in Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20, and Luke 5:1-11. Yet only Luke makes the beaut...

lectionary

Second Sunday of Advent

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 3:1-12, 2 Kings 1:8, Malachi 3:1-4, 2 Kings 22:8-13, Isaiah 40:3-5

AIM Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? A Dry Spell It had been a dry period for “Team Israel,” 400 plus seasons without a shout out from God. Since the proph...

lectionary

15th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Christian Calendar

Scripture

Matthew 18:15-20

Preaching Commentary An Applicable Passage There are a number of passages in God’s Word, both in the Old and New Testaments in which the original context no longer bears much resemblance to our own...

lectionary

Third Sunday in Lent

Author

Bud Thoreen

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 13:1-9, Luke 12:51, Job 4:7-9, Matthew 25:31-46, 1 Kings 4:25, Hosea 9:10, Isaiah 34:4, Jeremiah 5:17, Joel 1:7, Matthew 3:10, James 1:22

Preaching Commentary Straight Talk from Jesus Jesus Christ did not mince words. He seems to have always spoken the unvarnished truth, but, I think, with a smile on his face and compassion in his a...

Quote

Author

John O'Donohue

Keywords

Easter

Scripture

1 Peter 1:3, Luke 24:1-12, Mark 16:1-8, Matthew 28:1-10

We ask that streams of Easter light might flow into the intimacy and privacy of our hearts this morning, to heal us and encourage us and enable us to make again a new beginning.

liturgy

God of mercy, we come before you with open hearts

Author

Keith D. Schroeder

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 6:9, 2 Corinthians 4:1, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 80:3, Matthew 16:18, Isaiah 43:19

Leader: God of mercy, we come before you with honest hearts. We bring not only our praise, but also our pain. We confess that at times we have lost heart. Hear now our lament, and kindle in us your ho...

liturgy

Based on the Call of Matthew

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 18:null, Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-28, Luke 18:13

This prayer also works well for the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18) Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner. I have failed to love as You Love I have treated others as objects and...

lectionary

Ash Wednesday

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Scripture

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Matthew 23:4, 5, 13-36, Mark 12:42, Luke 21:2, Isaiah 58:6, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

AIM Commentary Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? "Hear O Israel..." The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) commands the Israelites to love the Lord their God with h...

lectionary

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 23:1-12, Psalm 119:null, Matthew 11:28-30, Deuteronomy 6:8

Preaching Commentary If religion is to be true, its leadership must be true. —Frederick Dale Bruner [1] Humble Leadership Whenever Anthony Bloom, a former bishop and archbishop serving in Londo...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, Isaiah 58:1-12, Ezekiel 9:1-4, Revelation 7:1-4, 9-10, Revelation 13:16-17

Regarding Ash Wednesday Note: This passage appeared as part of the lectionary for Ash Wednesday. It starts with the gospel passage for that day, but attends to the other passages and themes, so it...

lectionary

Ash Wednesday

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 58:1-12, Isaiah 29:null, Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:null, Luke 4:21, Matthew 6:4

Lent 2024: Do This in Remembrance Relationship and Ritual AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? Aren’t we doing what you’re asking of us? The people of God are wo...

illustration

Baptism: A New Beginning out of the Watery Chaos

Author

Rowan Williams

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-2, Genesis 8:6-12 , Isaiah 32:14-17, Matthew 3:13-17, John 3:5-8, Romans 6:3-4

At the very beginning of creation, the book of Genesis tells us, there was watery chaos. And over that watery chaos there was, depending on how you read the Hebrew, the Holy Spirit hovering or a great...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 5:1-12

Preaching Commentary Imagine Jesus at the beginning of his ministry He calls his first disciples – the educated and advantaged? No. Some fishermen. He travels around his home region of Galilee proc...

liturgy

Let Me Live Grace-fully

Author

Ted Loder

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 16:23, 29–30, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11, Mark 6:31, Matthew 11:28–29, Philippians 4:6–7, Psalm 23:1–3

Thank you, Lord, for this season of sun and slow motion, of games and porch sitting, of picnics and light green fireflies on heavy purple evenings; and praise for slight breezes. It’s good, God...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Isaiah 58:1-12

Author

Rachel Clark

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 58:1-12, Isaiah 29:null, Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:null, Luke 4:21, Matthew 6:4

Ancient lens What's the historical context? Aren’t we doing what you’re asking of us? The people of God are wondering why their fasts and rituals have not accomplished what they hoped. “Why h...

lectionary

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, Revelation 21:2, 10, 22-27, Revelation 22:1-5, 1 Kings 6:20, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 2:9, Genesis 3:23-24, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:15, Genesis 3:17-19, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:23, Genesis 1:26-27, Exodus 33:20-23, John 14:9, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, Mark 15:34, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Exodus 28:15-21, 29-30, John 4:13-14, John 7:37-38, Matthew 27:46, John 3:2, Romans 8:29

Preaching Commentary Pulling Back the Curtain The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a “pulling back of the curtain” to reveal both the unseen realities of the present (what is really going on in the wo...

Quote

Author

D. Michael Lindsay

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 12:1-4 , Psalm 23:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Matthew 4:18-22, Joshua 1:1-9

At their core, transitions are the internal adjustments by which we reorient ourselves to new environments, new experiences, and new seasons of life.

lectionary

24th Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Cody Sandahl

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 25:1-13, Jeremiah 1:10

Preaching Commentary Ancient lighting took Work I remember watching a movie (I think it was The Mummy ) where the protagonists descended into an underground structure built by the ancients. The ...

liturgy

We make our beginning in the name of Almighty God

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 12:1-4, Exodus 3:1-12 , 1 Kings 18:20-39, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:1-4, Psalm 95:1-7

Pastor: We make our beginning in the name of Almighty God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

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