Sermon from June 12, 2016
Author Archive: Brian Johnson
Wrong Season
The last week we’ve had several inches of snow. It’s April and people here are ready for spring. It’s one thing to have snow in January when it’s expected. It’s another thing to have snow when the flowers are starting to bloom. Granted, here in Michigan snow in early April happens more years than not, but rarely in these quantities. Something similar took place in the Bible. The people of Israel asked the prophet Samuel for a king. After he appointed Saul as their king, Samuel gave a farewell speech. In it he warned the people to not turn away […]
To What Can it be Compared?
I will open my mouth in parables,  I will utter hidden things, things from of old Psalm 78:2 The sages in Jesus’ day used two basic teaching methods: aggadah and halachah. Aggadah involves using stories and parables to convey a message. Halachah is a more direct approach, diving directly into the legal details. Both methods are important. Parables make complex ideas easier to understand but can lose some of the details. Halachah can communicate the raw, technical details, but it can lose anyone who doesn’t have enough knowledge. Jesus used both approaches, depending on his audience. He was in […]
Walk
Teach me your way, O LORD,  and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart,  that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 I got a fitness tracker last month. These little gadgets seem to be all the craze right now. I see I’ve walked over 7000 steps today. By showing me how much I’ve walked, it encourages me to get in my required steps each day, hopefully leading to a healthier lifestyle. How I walk has impacts on the much of my life, not just while I’m walking. The Bible uses the word ‘walk’ […]
Master and Apprentice
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve–designating them apostles–that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Mark 3:13-19 […]
Light
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 As we lit the Advent candles at church this morning, I thought of the lighting of the Hanukkah candles now, […]
Where the Patriarchs Sleep
Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. Genesis 23:1-2 During my first Israel trip 10 years ago, my group visited the traditional Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. When Abraham’s wife Sarah died, he bought the cave for her burial. Upon his death, his sons buried him there, too. Two generations later it is mentioned again by Jacob: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in […]
Mt Meron
Upper Galilee is a region few visit on normal tours. Will tall, rugged hills and remote villages, it historically has been more out of the way. Few Bible stories took place here. After the first Jewish revolt ended, many fled here to escape Rome’s watchful eye. The second highest point in the country is located in Upper Galilee. Standing tall at nearly 4,000 feet, Mount Meron offers a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. I wasn’t sure what we would find there. Driving most of the way up and parking our car near the top, we set off on a trail […]
Join the Dance
There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 12:7 As Sukkot wraps up, the festival of Simchat Torah (The Rejoicing of the Torah) occurs. I still freshly remember witnessing it in Jerusalem four years ago. The Torah scrolls were out. People were dancing in the streets with them and singing. What a joyous occasion! I don’t remember ever being in a Christian church seeing people nearly as excited about having a Bible. As […]
Not Permanent
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:4 Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) began with the blood moon Sunday evening. I was finishing constructing my sukkah as the moon was eclipsing. I’m still too nervous about constructing it outside, so it’s in my living room. I must confess that it does not meet sukkah standards. The Lord said to set up and spend time in […]