Today's Word: Recent Episodes
Jeff Farley
Sing about tribulation is a serious scriptural tradition! It helps us get our relationship with God clear! From Psalm 22:1-11!
This episode "Sing Hope" talks not only of God giving us hope, but reminds us that for many of our black brothers and sisters, hope is what has brought them to this day where we can worship together.
As we begin a five week segment on "Singing" we are invited to see the Israelites sing as they leave Egypt in Exodus 15:1-21.
So do you know what Epiphany is all about, that special day we celebrate the arrival of the Magi to Bethlehem? This scripture story is from Matthew 25:34-40.
Christmas has come, but that's just the beginning. Luke 2:22-38 reminds us that Jesus is just getting started!
Sometimes we get so caught up in the craziness that we miss the point. Luke 4:16-21 helps us to get back to the Christ in Christmas!
Christmas only becomes Christmas when Jesus starts his ministry of healing, preaching and sharing God's love. From Mark 2:1-12.
On this second Sunday or Advent we are looking for hope and wondering where will see it. Isaiah offers an answer in Isaiah 9:1-7. In the child!
This second sermon in the series on "Hope" is from Luke 1:26-38 and reminds us that God is seeking a few willing servants to go and do the gospel work God desires! Oh, and there is stuff about angels too!
When we are entering into Advent, one of the things we need to hear is hope. And when there is 77" of snow in the driveway, we need to hear hope. And when the missles are falling we need to hear hope. A sermon from John 1:1-14!
Generosity is all about caring, sharing, and freeing. But it is also about empowering others to follow Jesus and so much more! Our scripture is Luke 18:18-30!
So in this series on generosity we've talked about caring, sharing, and now coming to freeing others. Luke 4 16-19 reminds of Jesus reading Isaiah and applying it to himself, and by extension, to us!
Part of our call is to be generous and sharing with others the life God has given us, so they can grow in faith.
When Jesus shared that what the Samaritan did for the man on the road clarified who are neighbors are, his listeners heads must have exploded. Tak a listen!
So when David asks Nabal for food, Nabal refuses, and David straps on his sword. But Abigail comes, taking a huge risk, and makes peace. I Samuel 25"2-35 offers a glimpse into what a peacemaker can do!
The people of God are called to respond to a crazy world with peace, humility and gentleness. How's that working for you? From Ephesians 4:1-16.
The third sermon in a series on peace, this one about the Samaritan woman. But even though she was thought by many to be an outcast, Jesus saw her for what she really was, a child of God, made in God's image!
Today's podcast is all about Mary's faith leading to Mary's declaration of praise, and to her peace. Maybe if our faith grew, we could be like Mary!
In the midst of life's storms it is hard to remember Jesus is in the boat with us. Maybe if we woke him, the wind and the waves might not capsize the boat!
Finally the brother find out that Joseph their long lost brother is alive and now invites them back to being a family.
Just wehn it all looked good and the 11 brothers were going home, Benjamin is discovered with the stolen cup and the joy in their mouthes turns to ashes. But get this. God still has them!
Joseph is now Pharaoh's man to deal with the famine! And along come Joseph's brothers looking for grain. Be very careful what you say, and how you act, because Joseph's brother's will now be bowing down to Joseph!
So Joseph, who is now in prison, becomes the interpreter of dreams. You never know what God has planned for you. But God has you for sure!
Joseph who is in the pit now hears his brothers negotiating his price with Midianite traders and off he goes to Egypt! Itis an amazing story from Genesis 37:21-36.
This is a continuation of the story about Joseph son of Jacob who was called Israel. From dreams to the pit he goes, a place, the pit, many of us know well. All of this from Genesis 37:12-20!
Just like Joseph we have dreams. Joseph's was reminder that God had plans for him. God has plnas for us as well.
When the disciples hit the streets, they spoke in many languages. Why? What did God hope would be the result. Have you ever had someone in a foreign place speak to you in your native language? Comforting isn't it!
On this Memorial Day weekend we remember, those lost in war, and those lost, murder by an angry young man.
InLuke's 15 chapter we hear all about God's joy at one of his children come home! So perhaps, we need to starting acting like God, and so much like mom, and invite those wayward siblings home!
Jesus seems to miss the punishment in the story of the paralyzed man and instead focuses on mercy! From Luke 5:17-26!
It is amazing to see how wonderful the world is in which we live. And when we understand that it is because "God is here" as Jacob did, our wonder only grows! Rejoice, he is risen!
So as the women leave the empty tomb, Jesus greets them, and what he says, explains their dropping on their knees and worshipping!
When Jesus meets the women at the empty tomb, he tells them to tell the others to get up and go to Galilee! Why? A sermon from Matthew 28:1-10!
On Palm Sunday Jesus comes home to Jerusalem. He is welcomed, but something is changing. From Matthew 21:1-11!
This podcast is all about Unplugging as a spiritual discipline! Starting with Genesis 2:1-3 and Mark 1:35-39, we talk about those pesky devices and about the need to reconnect with the Lord of the Universe.
We are talking about spiritual disciplines and today's is simplicity! Looking at Matthew 6:19-21 and Philippians 4:11-12! Did you know there are more storage lockers in the US than houses!!
While there are lots of spiritual disciplines, listening may be one of the more challenging, especially with so many distractions. Getting quiet like Samuel did and just being ready to respond when God speaks is really important!
We can grow our spiritual muscles by doing some basic spiritual exercises like praying! From Matthew 6:1-15.
We're beginning a series of five messages on Spiritual Disciplines and today is about Fasting. Jesus fast before his encounter with the devil, and yhr prophet Isaiah offers a corrective to Spiritual Disciplines done for the wrong reasons.
Sometimes we disagree with each other and sometimes we separate and go different ways. But as we see in this story, God can even use those differences, all differences, to God's glory!
The church's calling to care for and feed the poor and hungry. The early church's story in Acts 4:32-37 and Acts 6:1-7 tells the story.
When we sit down and eat together, the most amazing conversations can take place. Like here in John 6:1-15, where Jesus decides to feed all the people who came to him for healing, clusters of people munching away and talking about God's Kingdom!
Our podcast for Sunday, February 6.
We are the baptized and as such wile we have differences, they should not divide us, but make us better!
Together we are the baptized and as such the body of Christ, Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:12-17
In baptism, Paul suggests, we die and rise with Jesus. In your baptism, did you see that you have risen!
Whe the Israelites came to the Red Sea they had to make a decision, step out in faith, or safe safe in Egypt. We too standing at the waters of baptism have to decide as well, will we follow Jesus or not!
But what if you can't? Then live life fully aware that you are baptized! Just as Jesus was!
So it's Christmas and Advent is coming to it's close. The child has come to Bethlehem. Are you ready for him? From Luke 2:1-20.
Into the midst of hopelessness, in crazy times such as these, the Word comes! Listen to John 1:1-14 and do as Advent suggests, prepare!
This episode finisheds a four episode series on confession, this one "Repair" from Luke 19:1-10!
As we go through the process of seeing sin, and confessing it, we then get to repenting, that is changing our behavior. John calls his followers to repentance, and so does Advent as we prepare for the arrival of the Christ.
So deal with sin is a process: seeing sin, confessing, repenting, and then repairing the damage. David knew about it all too well as Psalm 51 reveals!
In order to deal with sin, we first have to see it, acknowledge it, admit it. Looking at Genesis 3:1-24!
Hospitality is doing the Lord's work! Read Luke 10:25-42 and see how hospitality makes a difference.
So, in judgment Jesus makes clear the King will want to know how we have cared for others. It reveals it seems, whether Christ is in us! Matthew 25:31-46
As God welcomes creation in Genesis 1 7 2, we are invited to welcome others into our midst!
Jesus when he last talks to the disciples he gives them a mission statement. How are we doing with that? Matthew 28:16-20!
So discipleship and the following of Jesus really grows in community so much better then when we are on our own! A sermon from Ephesians 4:1-16.
This is the story from John's gospel of Jesus' invitation to some new disciples to come and follow him. The text is John 1:35-51.
The second half of a sermon series on things lost and found, sheep, coins, and a son, from Luke chapter 15:11-32.
So Jesus talks about those who were lost but now are found and God's joy, just as he sits and eats with taxcollectors and sinners. All from Luke 15:1-10.
The last of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control and in my mind it is the most difficult. Or maybe the one I least like to let shine! The scripture reading is about King David from 1 Samuel 26:1=23.
Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Be gentle just as Jesus was! From 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
This sermon looks at the fruit of the Spirit faithfulness using the story of Israel's experience in 2 Chronicles 20:20-30!
We are talking about the fruit of the Spirit "goodness". And looking at Psalm 107. God is kind because he is good, and so should we be.
One of the fruit of the Spirit is kindness. King David shared it with Saul' grandson. We are to share it with the world.
Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but boy is it one that is really hard to put to work. The scriptura is from Matthew 18:21-35 where Jesus answers Peter's question about forgiveness, and reveals God's patience in the process!
The second fruit of the Spirit is joy. So how much joy is in your life? Are you singing and shouting and dancing the good news that Jesus is alive. Those disciples did just a few short days after this encounter with Jesus in the upper room in Luke 24:33-53!
As the Holy Spirit lives in us, the fruit of the Spirit appears. So how are you doing on being loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled? From Galatians 5:13-26!
When the Spirit comes, God's people get up and go - and make a difference! From Acts 2:1-12
When Paul reminds folks about resurrection power in Colossians 3, he notes that being kind is one of the signs that resurrection power is at work.
Paul takes great pains to explain the resurrection body, one that is better than the frail one we have! 1 Corinthians 15:25-58!
So at the end of life, what matters? The resale value on your house? Or where and with whom you will spend eternity? Thinking about the Apostle Peter's words in Acts 2:22-36
Are you tired of being tired and sad. Maybe it is time to look to Jesus' response to grief as he visits Martha and Mary and raises Lazarus from the dead in John 11:17-44!
Do you need healing? Healing is crazy stuff, but is part of the story of Jesus in our lives! From Mark 5:21-43.
Felling all dry and crisp. Worn out from winter and Good Friday and Covid and politics. It's time to get refreshed with a new infusion of the Spirit. This is taken from Ezekiel 37:1-14.
The women went to the tomb expecting a dead Jesus. Somehow, that wasn't what they found. Instead an angel it appears told them hie was alive! Crazy! But a great beginning.
On Maundy Thursday, called Maundy following the Latin "Madatum" meaning command, the command to love one another, we gather at the table and celebrate the Lord's supper. Jesus welcomed even the one wo would betray him!
Jesus is seems was a perfectionist too! In the events of Palm Sunday he proves to have all the details down.
The Communion story from Mark's gospel! Find more information and links at https://www.otisvillepres.org/links
Ever play a game where winning doesn't happen the way you think? Isaiah 53 suggests that God is doing a new thing, and has decided a suffering servant will save God's people. A new way of winning!
We've always wanted to be superheroes, right? But a superhero of faith? Hebrews 11:32-12:3, reminds us that there are lots of heroes!
We all have fears, including fears about making a difference for God. Rahab overcame hers!
This tells the story of Passover from Hebrews 11:23-29 and Exodus 12:21-36, and the story of Blanket Sunday!
This is the story of Jacob's blessing of Joseph's sons from Hebrews 11:20-22 and Genesis 48:1-22. So, how are you passing on the blessing?
So, heroes of faith aren't always heroic. They are just like us, amazingly fallible. But take heart and keep the faith!
The story of Abraham and Sarah's journey to the Promised Land and Sarah's pregnancy are all based on faith according to the author of Hebrews. How are you doing at "believing the impossible"?
A sermon based on Hebrews 11:1-4, and Genesis 4:1-12! Cain and Abel, and Abel brings the better sacrifice and so Cain kills him! Why? Why was Abel's sacrifice better?
Have you ever named a child. It's hard! Tring to decide what name to use. Your name? Your parents? or something else. Zechariah and Elizabeth named their son Joh, and people were surprised.
Are you a Zechariah or a Mary? This episode is from Luke chapter 1:26-38 where the angel comes to tell Mary that she is about to be the mother of the Messiah Jesus.