Sermon podcast from Sunday, 7-25-21 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 6:1-21
Showing posts with label John 6:1-21. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 6:1-21. Show all posts
7/30/2018
Food
Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 6:1-21
Sermon video preview
"Food" podcast
Sermon video preview
"Food" podcast
7/27/2015
Presence
Last week's whimsical and questioning Bible reflection (But you'll have to wait an hour) provided the ideas for yesterday's sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL
"Presence" podcast
"Presence" podcast
7/20/2015
But you’ll have to wait an hour
This week's Bible reading from John 6:1-21 describes two very familiar miracles of Jesus from the Gospels: The Feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water.
Eating and Swimming?
In the first one – Jesus fed the multitude - starting with just five barley loaves and two fish. And there was much more left over.
In the second one Jesus – after retreating from the group that just experienced the miracle and wanted to take him by force to make him king – joined the disciples 3 or 4 miles out - by walking on the water – and then brought the disciples from a storm to safety. (Did he wait an hour before going into the water? Or does walking on the water not count in the “Wait an hour after swimming” rule? Or is that rule not a real thing anyway?)
That question aside. What’s going on in this week’s reading?
What’s significant about the food? Is it that the people were starving and Jesus came to the rescue? Is it that the people needed to be fed or they would become sick and die? Is it that Jesus understood that people like to share a meal together and he gave them the opportunity to get together and share a meal? Is it that out of almost nothing there was enough? Is it looking at an impossible situation and finding out we truly can imagine what’s impossible?
And what’s significant about the water? Is it that there’s always the possibility of storms in our lives? Is it that no matter how far we try to row out from Jesus, he’s still near? Is it that when we think we’re in dire straits that God has already been guiding us to safety? Is it looking at an impossible situation and finding out we can truly imagine what’s impossible?
Eating and Swimming?
In the first one – Jesus fed the multitude - starting with just five barley loaves and two fish. And there was much more left over.
In the second one Jesus – after retreating from the group that just experienced the miracle and wanted to take him by force to make him king – joined the disciples 3 or 4 miles out - by walking on the water – and then brought the disciples from a storm to safety. (Did he wait an hour before going into the water? Or does walking on the water not count in the “Wait an hour after swimming” rule? Or is that rule not a real thing anyway?)
That question aside. What’s going on in this week’s reading?
What’s significant about the food? Is it that the people were starving and Jesus came to the rescue? Is it that the people needed to be fed or they would become sick and die? Is it that Jesus understood that people like to share a meal together and he gave them the opportunity to get together and share a meal? Is it that out of almost nothing there was enough? Is it looking at an impossible situation and finding out we truly can imagine what’s impossible?
And what’s significant about the water? Is it that there’s always the possibility of storms in our lives? Is it that no matter how far we try to row out from Jesus, he’s still near? Is it that when we think we’re in dire straits that God has already been guiding us to safety? Is it looking at an impossible situation and finding out we can truly imagine what’s impossible?
7/27/2012
Enough and More
This week's Bible reflection, (Making the Impossible Possible) provides a beginning for what is now this Sunday's sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Enough and More" text
"Enough and More" podcast
"Enough and More" text
"Enough and More" podcast
7/23/2012
Making the impossible possible
This week’s Bible reading from John 6:1-21 tells the familiar stories of Jesus feeding the 5000 and also walking on water.
“How did those things happen?” “Did they really happen?” “Was it magical?” “What if I don’t think they really happened? Does that kick me out of the Jesus club?”
Try not to figure it all out. I don’t think that’s the point of the Bible stories. I think that they’re communicating deeper truth regardless as to how anyone reacts to questions like the ones I just asked.
I think one of the deep truths being communicated is this:
God has ways of making the impossible possible.
“How did those things happen?” “Did they really happen?” “Was it magical?” “What if I don’t think they really happened? Does that kick me out of the Jesus club?”
Try not to figure it all out. I don’t think that’s the point of the Bible stories. I think that they’re communicating deeper truth regardless as to how anyone reacts to questions like the ones I just asked.
I think one of the deep truths being communicated is this:
God has ways of making the impossible possible.
- Nope – no way THAT can be done. But God can make the impossible possible.\
- What I do doesn’t make any difference at all. It’s impossible to make an impact. But God can make the impossible possible.
- Restoring that relationship won’t happen. It’s impossible. But God can make the impossible possible.
- I can’t talk to that person and invite them to church. I’m terrified! God can make the impossible possible.
- There’s not enough love in the world for that person! They’ve been awful to everyone forever! God can make the impossible possible!
- The storm is too much. It is too fierce. I can’t make it! God can make the impossible possible.
7/25/2009
Rough Seas
This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (Food and water) has had lots of 'think time' this week -- but very little writing time -- but it is now tomorrow morning's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
7/19/2009
Food and water
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
This week's Bible passage (John 6:1-21) describes two very familiar miracles of Jesus from the Gospels: The Feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water.
Food and water.
What’s significant about the food? Is it that the people were starving and Jesus came to the rescue? Is it that the people needed to be fed or they would become sick and die? Is it that Jesus understood that people like to share a meal together and he grabbed the opportunity to let them get together and share a meal? Is it that out of almost nothing God provided enough? Is it looking at an impossible situation and finding out that God has ways of making the impossible possible?
And what’s significant about the water? Is it that there’s always the possibility of storms in our lives? Is it that no matter how far we try to row out from Jesus, he’s still near – terrifyingly so? Is it that when we think we’re in dire straits that God has already been guiding us to safety? Is it looking at an impossible situation and finding out that God has ways of making the impossible possible?
What are your thoughts about this week’s Bible reading?
7/24/2006
Back in the day
I've got a new "Opening the Bible" blog entry at i.ucc. It's about some familiar Bible stories (Jesus feeding the 5000 and walking on water) but I've given it a different perspective. The entry is called 'Back in the Day"
Back in the Day
I recently commented to some friends that in order to say, back in the day when referring to past events, one should be able to remember back at least 20 years and have in that memory a picture of themselves as an adult.
This week's Bible passage (John 6:1-21) describes two very familiar miracles of Jesus from the Gospels: The Feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water. I couldnt help but notice the similarity of these events with some Old Testament passages. It is as if the writer or John was making sure the people understood that these miracles Jesus had done were signs that showed he really was the one. Jesus was the one theyd thought about, learned about from their parents and grandparents and heard of the miracles that were so similar to back in the day.
Jesus was with a large crowd of people in a nice grassy area. He wanted to feed them. All that was available was Five loaves of bread and two fish. So he gave thanks and gave the food to his disciples (that sounds like the words that preachers say at communion time!) who then gave it to the people. They ate their fill and there was a whole lot of food left over. I think that event would have reminded people of some back in the day miracles like when God fed the people manna when they were hungry (Exodus 16) and when the prophet Elisha fed a large group of people with only a little bread. (2 Kings 4:42-44)Jesus needed to retreat from the people when they wanted to make him king. He went up to the mountain to pray. (That sounds like Moses in the wilderness!)Then Jesus went and walked on water staying dry while everything around the disciples boat was swirling and blowing. I think that event would have reminded people of a back in the day event where Moses led the people on dry land while the Egyptian horses and riders were swallowed up by the rushing water.
So why remind people of back in the day events as they relate to Jesus? I think it is to show that God is still active with miracles even though many would scoff. I also think it is to show that this time the miracles were from the real, ultimate and complete savior chosen one anointed one messiah that the people had been expecting.
Maybe it can remind us that God is by no means done being active in the world. Jesus is by no means done providing for us and loving us so completely and unconditionally that we probably dont have the means to fully understand it.
Maybe it can remind us, simply, that just like back in the day; God is still speaking,
Back in the Day
I recently commented to some friends that in order to say, back in the day when referring to past events, one should be able to remember back at least 20 years and have in that memory a picture of themselves as an adult.
This week's Bible passage (John 6:1-21) describes two very familiar miracles of Jesus from the Gospels: The Feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water. I couldnt help but notice the similarity of these events with some Old Testament passages. It is as if the writer or John was making sure the people understood that these miracles Jesus had done were signs that showed he really was the one. Jesus was the one theyd thought about, learned about from their parents and grandparents and heard of the miracles that were so similar to back in the day.
Jesus was with a large crowd of people in a nice grassy area. He wanted to feed them. All that was available was Five loaves of bread and two fish. So he gave thanks and gave the food to his disciples (that sounds like the words that preachers say at communion time!) who then gave it to the people. They ate their fill and there was a whole lot of food left over. I think that event would have reminded people of some back in the day miracles like when God fed the people manna when they were hungry (Exodus 16) and when the prophet Elisha fed a large group of people with only a little bread. (2 Kings 4:42-44)Jesus needed to retreat from the people when they wanted to make him king. He went up to the mountain to pray. (That sounds like Moses in the wilderness!)Then Jesus went and walked on water staying dry while everything around the disciples boat was swirling and blowing. I think that event would have reminded people of a back in the day event where Moses led the people on dry land while the Egyptian horses and riders were swallowed up by the rushing water.
So why remind people of back in the day events as they relate to Jesus? I think it is to show that God is still active with miracles even though many would scoff. I also think it is to show that this time the miracles were from the real, ultimate and complete savior chosen one anointed one messiah that the people had been expecting.
Maybe it can remind us that God is by no means done being active in the world. Jesus is by no means done providing for us and loving us so completely and unconditionally that we probably dont have the means to fully understand it.
Maybe it can remind us, simply, that just like back in the day; God is still speaking,
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