Words of Welcome

Luke 7:11-17 John the Baptist was sitting in jail waiting to be executed. As he sat there in that cell, he wondered if he had fulfilled his calling. Had he prepared the way for the one would bring God’s salvation to the world? Was this Jesus, whom he baptized, the one they were waiting for? (Lk 3:1-6). With all of these questions running through his mind, he decided to send a few disciples to check things out. These disciples asked Jesus: “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?” ( Lk 7:18-19 CEB). Jesus told them to tell John how he healed people of their diseases, gave sight to the blind, raised the dead, and brought good news to the poor. Look around you: What do you see? What do you hear? Go back to John and report what you’ve seen and heard.  This question comes after the Centurion’s slave was healed, from a distance, on the basis of the Centurion’s faith ( Lk 7:1-10 ). It comes after Jesus travels from Capernaum to the village of Nain. A

Luke 7:1-10 What is faith? Is it assent to a set of beliefs? Or, is it putting your trust in someone else? We don’t recite The Apostles Creed very often, but it’s a standard Christian confession of faith. It begins with the words: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” It goes on from there to speak more fully of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, as well as his ascension and his partnership with the Father in judging the world. There’s also a brief mention of the Holy Spirit and then statements about the holy, catholic church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. While we Disciples may have set aside the creeds in the name of unity, this creed does raise the question: what do I believe and why? Is belief the same as faith?  As we approach the reading from Luke, the question is twofold: What did the Roman Centurion know and believe, and why was Jesus amazed at his f

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31  In the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , Indy joined his father, Henry Jones, Sr., on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Just like with Raiders of the Lost Ark, they’re in a race against forces aligned with Adolph Hitler. If you know the Indiana Jones movie series, you know it’s filled with many twists and turns, pitting good against evil, and of course, lots of booby traps to be avoided. According to the movie, legend had it that an ancient order of knights protected the cup, which was hidden in a cave. Henry Jones, Sr., had made the Grail his lifelong quest and had a notebook filled with research that would help lead them to the Grail. At one point or another, both sides get possession of the notebook, and in the end, those on both sides who survived the booby traps ended up in the room where the cup of Christ was hidden. This chamber was filled with many cups and chalices. Most of the cups were exquisite in their beauty and value. So, which of t

John 14:8-17    Anniversaries commemorate events of the past. Some anniversaries, like the seventy-fifth anniversary of D-Day, are solemn occasions. Other anniversaries, like the ones we observe today, are celebrations. We’re celebrating them on Pentecost Sunday, which is one of the three most sacred days in the church year. While anniversaries look back, Pentecost speaks to the future by looking back to the birth of the church and its mission in the world. One anniversary we celebrate today is personal to me. Thirty-four years ago today I was ordained to the ministry at Temple City Christian Church. When hands were laid upon me that day, I had no idea of what the future held. I had plans for the future, but you never how things will turn out. You might even end up in Michigan of all places! Then there’s the congregation’s anniversary, which we celebrate today. Forty years ago, on July 16, 1979, Central Woodward Christian Church began its life here in this building

John 17:20-26 When Jesus concluded his farewell remarks, he looked up to heaven and said: “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you” ( Jn. 17:1 ).  With these words, Jesus began what is often called his “High Priestly Prayer.” In a few moments, he will leave for the Garden where he will be arrested, but first Jesus prays for himself, for his disciples, and for everyone who will believe in him through the witness of his disciples.  Two words stand out in this prayer—the words in and one, which in Greek are en and hen. The word in reminds us that our oneness is rooted in a relationship that begins with Jesus and the Father, and then extends outward to include everyone who will believe. The prayer begins in verse one, but we pick up the prayer in verse 20. Jesus has already prayed for himself, that God would glorify him. He has prayed for the disciples, asking that they would be one as he and the Father are one. Now, Jesus focuses on thos