Ten young girls were invited to be bridesmaids in a wedding procession. All of them showed up, but only half were prepared. How does this parable of Jesus connect to our spiritual lives? Listen in to Pastor David’s sermon on Matthew 25:1-13.
True Colors
One of the joys of walking, driving, or riding a motorcycle at this time of year is seeing all the tremendous, vivid colors of the changing leaves. I hope you are taking time in these weeks to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation!
Do you know why leaves change color just before they fall? Let me summarize, to the best of my limited understanding, why this happens. Leaves are green during the spring and summer because they contain chlorophyll. This green chemical allows plants to absorb the sun’s energy, which empowers the plants to grow and thrive and multiply. (Of course, this turns out to be a good thing for us humans, because plants take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen, which is the reverse of our breathing process.) This chlorophyll must be constantly produced by plants in order to take full advantage of the boundless energy of the sun.
But when it comes time for trees to take a long Midwestern winter’s nap, they stop producing chlorophyll. They have stored up as much energy as they need to survive the winter, and they say farewell to their leaves, which cannot survive cold temperatures.
When the leaves stop receiving chlorophyll from the tree, their greenness disappears. It is then that we can see their true colors. The reds, yellows, and oranges we see in this season are actually the real colors of leaves all through the spring and summer, as well. Only when the leaves are connected to their branches, when they are filled with live-giving chlorophyll, do we see them in their healthy green state.
People are just like these leaves. We come in many different sizes, shapes, colors, and varieties. And it truly is a beautiful thing to observe the diversity and complexity of humankind. (Those of you who have gone to Guatemala on our recent mission trips will understand!) God has done marvelous work in forming us, each a unique creation loved deeply by our Creator.
“I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” (John 10:10 NET)
And yet when we are connected to the true Source of Life, namely Jesus Christ, something amazing happens. The life given to us by Jesus Christ changes us in fundamental ways:
- Jesus makes us truly healthy. Just like leaves filled with chlorophyll, we are able to take in the life-giving Spirit of God and expel toxic, harmful behaviors and attitudes.
- Jesus unites us. Just as red, yellow, and orange leaves share the same greenness during the spring and summer, we all carry our own unique identities, but we are deeply united in our connection to Jesus Christ.
- Jesus gives us life. Just like leaves only stand a chance of surviving while connected to the tree, we are designed and built to be connected to the true Source of Life.
May God fill you with his Spirit each day, and may you remain connected to the Lord throughout the changing seasons of life!
Pastor David
Jesus is the Way
Jesus once famously said that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.” What does that have to do with our lives today? What is “the way”? And how does this connect to a piece of English literature from three and a half centuries ago? Click below to hear Pastor David’s sermon on John 14:1-14.
Jesus Gives Us Life
This week’s sermon is on a sharp teaching from Jesus, found in John 10:1-10. Whose voice do you listen to? Do you listen to the distracting voices of the world and the self, or do you listen for the voice of the Shepherd? Listen in to this week’s message:
Jesus is Our Pattern
This week, we begin a new series: investigating the character of Jesus for principles that we can apply to our lives as his followers. Come and listen in to Pastor David’s sermon on John 20:19-31, the story of Jesus’s resurrection appearances to the disciples and Thomas!
The Return of the King
In Matthew 21:1-11, Jesus enters Jerusalem with a huge crowd celebrating him as king. But another crowd trembles with fear: this means trouble! Which crowd are you in? Listen in to Pastor David’s message on this Palm Sunday passage:
Christ in the Passover
On Monday, April 14, at 7:00pm, we will host a “Model Seder” meal presented by a representative from Jews for Jesus. This event is free of charge and is open to any who wish to come.
The “seder” is the organized meal which Jews have practiced every year for millennia. This meal commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt during the time of Moses. It was this Passover meal that Jesus shared with his disciples just before he was arrested and crucified.
The “Model Seder” meal, presented by Jews for Jesus, is designed to reveal the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the sharing of the Passover seder. We will share in elements from the traditional Passover meal (note: not a full dinner) and see how the story of the Exodus is fulfilled in the story of Jesus. We will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper as part of this experience, which promises to be a moving, enlightening, and transformative moment in your spiritual walk!
Please come – and bring a friend!
Special note: We will give a love offering to Jews for Jesus at this event to help sponsor our presenter and the mission of this organization.
Sign up by completing this simple online form. Or you may sign up by calling LeAnn at 989-496-9148.
More information about Jews for Jesus:
Jews for Jesus is an agency that proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. The late Moishe Rosen, a Jew who has believed in Jesus for over 35 years, founded the organization. However, Dr. Rosen was quick to point out that he did not “start” Jews for Jesus. “Jews for Jesus began about 2,000 years ago, around 32 C.E., give or take a year. Jesus’ first disciples were Jewish, and there have been some Jewish people who have believed in him ever since.”
The organization has permanent branches in eight North American cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, New York City, Washington D.C. and Fort Lauderdale) as well as over 127 volunteer chapters spanning some 41 states and five countries. The group’s international branches are headquartered in Johannesburg, London, Paris, Odessa, Moscow, Essen, Rio de Janeiro, Kharkov, Dnepopretrovsk, and Tel Aviv.
To the Jews for Jesus, believing in Jesus makes sense in light of the Jewish Bible and in light of their experiences as “believers.” For those who argue that Christianity contradicts the meaning of Judaism, the Jews for Jesus say there are answers, which their representative will be happy to discuss after the presentation. Call (989) 832-3570 or visit http://www.mthaley.org for more information. There will be no admission charge.
Saved By God’s Power
After two weeks away from the pulpit, Pastor David returns to continue our study of 1 Corinthians. In the final section of this letter’s first chapter, Paul gives the fundamental reason for our unity and humility in the church, a reason that is summarized by the two words that we preach: Christ crucified.
Called to Be Holy
This week, Pastor David begins a series on the first few chapters of 1 Corinthians, a letter written to an ancient church with modern-day problems. Despite all the issues at Corinth, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 that the believers there are called to be holy, and that God will keep them blameless until the day of Jesus’s return. How does this passage reveal that “Jesus is the subject”? (And what does that phrase mean?) Click below to listen in to this week’s sermon!
In the Beginning
The Gospel according to John opens with three famous words: “In the beginning…” On this, the first Sunday of 2014, Pastor David preaches on John 1:1-18, a passage which introduces to us the Word of God: Jesus Christ himself. How can this Word and the light he brings into the world transform our lives? Listen in to this week’s sermon!