U-turns Permitted

Wise Work

Today Dan Kim walks us through the concept of "wise work" as opposed to "sloth". Sloth is an act of commission, surprisingly enough. Sloth is the refusal to act as neighbor and kin to other, including the failure to be responsible toward those who precede and follow us in this world and remaining inactive when action is necessary. The building of the tabernacle in the desert is an example of wise work which unites God, His People and His Land.

Amos the Prophet of Economic Injustice

Today we look at the prophet Amos, who prophesied during a prosperous time in Israel, but a time that was characterized by economic injustice and wealth inequality, just like today. Amos not only pronounces the judgment of God, he foresees that even Nature itself will rise up against those who misuse and abuse God's people and His Land.

The "Kindly Use" of the Land

Today we look at 1 Kings 21:1-29, the story of King Ahab and Naboth. This story is often used to admonish us not to be greedy or pout if we don't get our way. As laudable as that admonishment is, that is not what this story is about. It's about Empire grabbing and exploiting land. Ahab did it, and the culture which we come from, the Western Culture, has been doing it for centuries also. Click here for the whole article on Sub Saharan Africa mentioned and read from in the sermon. And click here for the article on the Anathoth Community Garden.

Put It In Your Heart

Today we look at the responsibility we all have to make the daily life choices necessary to maintain the dance of God, His Land and His People. The Book of Leviticus lays out what that meant for Israel in the land of Canaan in great detail. While the specific guidelines of Leviticus may not all be applicable to us today, the themes are: God dwells among us, calls us to walk in justice with each other and to care for His creation.

God's Gift of Rest

Today Dan Kim leads us in exploring the story of the manna in Exodus 16. God sent the manna because Israel was hungry and they complained. But there was more going on than that - Israel needed to be taught that, contrary to the Empire of Egypt, all our food and everything we need is a gift from God, not to be acquired by exploitation of people, animals or land. And because we live as a gift from God's hand, we are able to rest.

God has given us seeds

Today in our series "God, His Land and His People", we look at Genesis 1:26-30, often known as the "Cultural Mandate". There is much here to learn, especially about what it means to be caretakers of creation and join in the dance to which God invites us. It's also challenging, because so much of who we are as western culture seems bent on destroying that creation.

The Dance of the Created Order

The 2nd part of the introduction to the series "God, HIs Land, His People". We will be looking at 6 theses or foundational perspectives upon which the Old Testament prophets based their prophecies to the people of Israel. They help us understand how God sees His relationship to human communities, non-human life and the non-living creation. You can find the theses referred to in this sermon by clicking here.

God, His Land and His People

Today we start our Winter 2021 sermon series looking at Old Testament themes: God in sacred relationship to His Land and His People. This is the first of two introductory sermons in which we lay the groundwork for our study. Today we read parts of Jeremiah 32. For more information on sources click here.

Thoughts Between Two Difficult Years

At the beginning of 2021 we read Hebrews 12:7-17 together, which speaks of God teaching, training and disciplining us. Our image should not be that of an angry father, but of Jesus Christ who came to be with us and show us the way. How can we follow HIm this coming year?

Walking in the Light

Today we conclude our Advent/Christmas series on the Light that came into the world with Jesus. We look at 1 John 1:5-8 which speaks of how we can walk in the light in our lives today as followers of Jesus.