Brazil Trip Report Download MP3 Audio

The vegetable garden has endured some challenges this summer.  While we are used to some crop loss due to the local rabbit population, we have never faced the deer damage like we have this year.  It’s a good thing our family is not depending on this year’s harvest in order to be able to eat through the winter.  If our welfare was at stake, we would have had to have been much more protective.  Now if we had installed tall fences and hired guards, and still seen our garden failing, we might have reason for frustration.  Jesus uses the image of a vineyard and the managing of its care and resulting harvest to illustrate His mission in coming, and His understanding about His impending death.  We are in a series for Communion Services in which we examine the passages where Jesus tells of His coming suffering, death and resurrection.  Jesus is preparing His followers to understand that the moment of His greatest humility is also the moment of profound glory.... Download MP3 Audio

Marriage is a relfection of Christ's relationship to His church. Download MP3 Audio

Sunday, July 31st, 2011 One of the things that make Scripture accessible to us is that it records events set in real, time-space history.  Of course, this also requires that we understand the culture and setting into which a particular Scripture was written.  Sometimes the cultural gap is narrow, and sometimes it is wide.  In our passage for this morning Jesus uses the image of sewing a new piece of cloth onto an old -garment.  This will take some explanation.  Today, people buy new garments that are distressed—purposely torn—to give them the appearance of age and wear.  If this is something you have done recently you will need to pay particular attention to how Jesus uses His image to illustrate the amazing newness that arrives with Jesus, and the new age His redemptive work ushers in.  Our text is Mark 2:18-22.   Download MP3 Audio

Mt. 23:1-12 Download MP3 Audio

There has been a lot of talk about the weather this week.  As extreme as the weather has been, predicting the weather has not been that difficult.  Hot, hot and more hot.  While West Michigan is not the easiest place to do weather forecasting, there are some basics that even we armatures can do.  There are signs that tell you what to expect.  Jesus uses the image of being able to predict the weather by reading the sky to make a point about the failure of the religious leaders of His day to interpret the signs of the times.  Whenever we read about Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees it’s easy to side with Jesus against them.  Yet, we may be more susceptible to the influence of the modern day Pharisees and Sadducees then we realize.  At least, Jesus goes out of His way to warn his disciples to be on guard against their teachings and warnings such as this aren’t necessary unless the threat is real and dangerous.  We will consider ... Download MP3 Audio