Video sermon preview
Showing posts with label John 14:15-21. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 14:15-21. Show all posts
5/17/2020
An Advocate - John 14:15-21 - Sixth Sunday of Easter - 5-17-20
Video sermon preview
5/25/2014
More Love
This past week's Bible reflection (Smokey) fired things up for the beginning of Sunday's sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.
"More Love" podcast
"More Love" podcast
5/19/2014
Smokey
From age 3 to about 5, I had a constant companion. It was my stuffed Smokey Bear doll. I didn’t care that the character sought to build awareness about forest fire prevention. I just knew that when I was scared, lonely, anxious, depressed, sleepy, or simply fine, holding Smokey in one hand and sucking the thumb of the other made me feel better. I went through at least three Smokeys in those years. Each time I got a new one it took at least a few weeks before it felt right.Nowadays I don’t have Smokey. I still do have many times where I feel scared, lonely, anxious, sleepy, or simply fine, however. A hug from my partner, playing guitar, singing out loud, watching TV, listening to the radio, or staring at a computer screen make me feel better nowadays.
I didn't mention prayer or going to church. I know. It isn’t the first thing I think of when I’m not feeling my best. When I’m feeling out of sorts, I don’t have an automatic thought of “I need to get myself to church.” I want a hug, a guitar, a song, or something else to distract me from not feeling my best.
Jesus was saying good-bye and the disciples were upset. They were confused. They didn’t know what was coming next. And Jesus didn’t tell them to go to church. He told them to love. And he told them that he would send them an advocate; a counselor; a comforter to help them to feel better.
Do you think the spirit can communicate “you are not alone” in a hug from a loved one, or in the music from a guitar, in the melody and harmony in a song, on a moving, funny, or engaging program on television, with the familiar news voice on the radio, in words read and even friendships cultivated through a computer screen, or even in a Smokey Bear?
What comforts you?
5/27/2011
More Love
This week's Bible reflection (Smokey Bear) is still prominent in what is now Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"More Love" text
"More Love" podcast
"More Love" text
"More Love" podcast
5/23/2011
Smokey Bear
Here's this week's Bible reflection:
From age 3 to about 5, I had a constant companion. It was my stuffed Smokey Bear doll. I didn’t care that the character sought to build awareness about forest fire prevention. I just knew that when I was scared, lonely, anxious, sleepy, or simply fine, holding Smokey in one hand and sucking the thumb of the other made me feel better. I went through at least three Smokeys in those years. Each time I got a new one it took at least a few weeks before it felt right.
Nowadays I don’t have Smokey. I still do have many times where I feel scared, lonely, anxious, sleepy, or simply fine, however. A hug from my partner, playing guitar, singing out loud, watching TV, listening to the radio, or staring at a computer screen make me feel better nowadays.
What? I didn’t mention praying or worshipping?
No. I love worship and prayer, but it isn’t the first thing I think of when I’m not feeling my best. I usually (no not always) feel better at the end of a worship service or after praying than I did before. But when I’m feeling out of sorts, I don’t have an automatic thought of “I need to get myself to church.”
Jesus was saying good-bye and the disciples were upset. They were confused. They didn’t know what was coming next. And Jesus didn’t tell them to go to church. He told them to love. And he told them that he would send them an advocate; a counselor; a comforter to help them to feel better.
Thank you, Spirit, for being present in Smokey, my partner, a guitar, in song, in the television, on the radio, and on a computer screen.
How does the Spirit comfort you?
From age 3 to about 5, I had a constant companion. It was my stuffed Smokey Bear doll. I didn’t care that the character sought to build awareness about forest fire prevention. I just knew that when I was scared, lonely, anxious, sleepy, or simply fine, holding Smokey in one hand and sucking the thumb of the other made me feel better. I went through at least three Smokeys in those years. Each time I got a new one it took at least a few weeks before it felt right.
Nowadays I don’t have Smokey. I still do have many times where I feel scared, lonely, anxious, sleepy, or simply fine, however. A hug from my partner, playing guitar, singing out loud, watching TV, listening to the radio, or staring at a computer screen make me feel better nowadays.
What? I didn’t mention praying or worshipping?
No. I love worship and prayer, but it isn’t the first thing I think of when I’m not feeling my best. I usually (no not always) feel better at the end of a worship service or after praying than I did before. But when I’m feeling out of sorts, I don’t have an automatic thought of “I need to get myself to church.”
Jesus was saying good-bye and the disciples were upset. They were confused. They didn’t know what was coming next. And Jesus didn’t tell them to go to church. He told them to love. And he told them that he would send them an advocate; a counselor; a comforter to help them to feel better.
Thank you, Spirit, for being present in Smokey, my partner, a guitar, in song, in the television, on the radio, and on a computer screen.
How does the Spirit comfort you?
4/26/2008
An Advocate
This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (In a jam) changed significantly, but was still the starting point for this week's sermon at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Somonauk, Illinois.
"An Advocate" text
"An Advocate" podcast
"An Advocate" text
"An Advocate" podcast
4/21/2008
In a jam
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
How often have you been asked to help someone who’s put themselves in a difficult situation? How do you support someone who’s made bad decisions? How can you expect the support of your family and friends when you’ve completely messed up?
Harvey just called from jail. He’s been arrested for burglary and needs someone to bail him out. He needs someone to stand beside him through the upcoming trial.
Gladys just called from the courthouse. She’s been convicted of writing bad checks and needs some help paying her fine or she’ll have to spend 2 months in jail. She needs someone to stand beside her and vouch for the judge that she’ll pay her fine so that she can go home.
Bill just called. He’s been in a car accident and has broken both legs. He’s asking you to go to his home and bring clothes and personal items to the hospital. He’s also asking you to call his estranged children. He needs you to support him and to help him talk with his family.
Each of these folks is in a difficult situation. Some, if not all, of what is going on is definitely related to poor decision making on their part. But each of these people needs someone to support them as they face what’s ahead.
In this week’s Bible reading from John 14:15-21, Jesus promises that God will send an advocate (or counselor, comforter or helper) so that the disciples won’t be abandoned or alone when Jesus leaves. He’s continuing to give them words of comfort in his farewell speech to them.
I wonder. Would Jesus have said the same words to a group he didn’t trust? Is there anything we could ever do to make it so God’s spirit – the counselor, helper, comforter – advocate – would reject us?
I don’t think so.
How often have you been asked to help someone who’s put themselves in a difficult situation? How do you support someone who’s made bad decisions? How can you expect the support of your family and friends when you’ve completely messed up?
Harvey just called from jail. He’s been arrested for burglary and needs someone to bail him out. He needs someone to stand beside him through the upcoming trial.
Gladys just called from the courthouse. She’s been convicted of writing bad checks and needs some help paying her fine or she’ll have to spend 2 months in jail. She needs someone to stand beside her and vouch for the judge that she’ll pay her fine so that she can go home.
Bill just called. He’s been in a car accident and has broken both legs. He’s asking you to go to his home and bring clothes and personal items to the hospital. He’s also asking you to call his estranged children. He needs you to support him and to help him talk with his family.
Each of these folks is in a difficult situation. Some, if not all, of what is going on is definitely related to poor decision making on their part. But each of these people needs someone to support them as they face what’s ahead.
In this week’s Bible reading from John 14:15-21, Jesus promises that God will send an advocate (or counselor, comforter or helper) so that the disciples won’t be abandoned or alone when Jesus leaves. He’s continuing to give them words of comfort in his farewell speech to them.
I wonder. Would Jesus have said the same words to a group he didn’t trust? Is there anything we could ever do to make it so God’s spirit – the counselor, helper, comforter – advocate – would reject us?
I don’t think so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)