Sermon podcast from the Father's Day, 6-16-24 worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. Mark 4:26-34
Showing posts with label Mark 4:26-34. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark 4:26-34. Show all posts
6/17/2024
6/13/2021
Flourishing - Mark 4:26-34 - Pentecost 4 - 6-13-21
Sermon podcast from the Sunday, 6-13-21 online worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Mark 4:26-34
6/18/2018
Seeds
Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downer Grove, IL. Mark 4:26-34. The parable of the mustard seed. God's neighborhood is like a weed you just can't get rid of.
Sermon preview video
"Seeds" podcast
Sermon preview video
"Seeds" podcast
6/14/2015
Flourishing
This morning's sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove is all about seeds. And sort of about hot dogs, too.
"Flourishing" podcast
"Flourishing" podcast
6/15/2012
What?
This week's Bible reflection (Riddle me this) provides a portion of the beginning of the Sunday sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"What?" text
"What?" podcast
"What?" text
"What?" podcast
6/11/2012
Riddle me this
In this week's Bible reading from Mark 4:26-34, Jesus tells a couple of parables. They’re about farming and about how plants grow. He talks about the tiny mustard seed and the large plant that comes from it. You may have heard the phrase, "The faith of a mustard seed" referring to how small things begin and how amazingly large they can become through faith in God.
And right at the end of the reading, there’s something I think gets lost. It says that Jesus always talked to the people in riddle-talk-- parables. But he would do further explanation to the disciples in private.
There is more to learn! There is more to understand! There is more to seek! Jesus talked about these things with his disciples. He got into smaller groups and really hashed out the stories. Jesus and the disciples were involved in what I think we would describe as "midrash" -- where rabbis and students discuss and argue scripture and the possible meanings. They tend to look at things from several angles and try to really chew on things as they seek deeper and deeper meaning.
I think Jesus example of digging deeper into the stories with the disciples further supports the idea that the stories weren't meant to turn people away or to confuse them to the point of giving up. They were an invitation to learn more.
And right at the end of the reading, there’s something I think gets lost. It says that Jesus always talked to the people in riddle-talk-- parables. But he would do further explanation to the disciples in private.
There is more to learn! There is more to understand! There is more to seek! Jesus talked about these things with his disciples. He got into smaller groups and really hashed out the stories. Jesus and the disciples were involved in what I think we would describe as "midrash" -- where rabbis and students discuss and argue scripture and the possible meanings. They tend to look at things from several angles and try to really chew on things as they seek deeper and deeper meaning.
I think Jesus example of digging deeper into the stories with the disciples further supports the idea that the stories weren't meant to turn people away or to confuse them to the point of giving up. They were an invitation to learn more.
6/13/2009
God's Realm
The i.ucc Bible study blog entry from Monday (Seeds) provides the initial thoughts for tomorrow's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL
6/08/2009
Seeds
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
I’m a pastor at a small town church surrounded by acres and acres of farmland. I watch the fields as they are planted, as small plants begin to grow, as they grow so large that road visibility around corners is impaired, as the crops are harvested, as the fields lie dormant, and again as the fields are planted and small plants begin to grow.This week’s Bible reading from Mark 4:26-34 – the one that includes two parables that compare God’s realm to seeds and growth, is an easy one to understand when I look at the fields around me. Seeds are planted. They grow. The plants grow large. The plants are harvested, providing nourishment and resources. The seeds that come from the plants are planted – and more growth begins.
I think that’s how Jesus is comparing God’s realm. Seeds planted, growth, LOTS of growth, harvest, and continued seed planting.
All of it is for the benefit of those whose lives are enhanced by what grows. But all if it also requires a reseeding on our part so that the growth doesn’t stop.
How have you experienced God’s realm? How are you reseeding what you’ve experienced?
6/18/2006
Some More Explaining to Do
6/12/2006
Some Explaining to Do
In a followup blog post to last week's entry at i.ucc.org, I've written a new Bible reflection about Mark 4:26-34. It's called 'Some explaining to do." (Though I thought of calling it "More riddle-talk.")
More seeing but not perceiving, hearing but not understanding. But now there's some explaining happening.
In the blog article relating to Isaiah 6:1-8 (and 9-10) I posed the possibility that the "Seeing but not perceiving, hearing but not understanding" lines from both Isaiah and Jesus quoting Isaiah were an invitation to dig deeper rather than a command or "reality statement" that some people were never going to understand the words or their meaning.
In one of this week's Bible readings, Mark 4:26-34, Jesus tells more parables. This time they are about farming and about how plants grow. He talks about the tiny mustard seed and the large plant that comes from it. You may have heard the phrase, "The faith of a mustard seed" referring to how small things begin and how amazingly large they can become through faith in God.
And again I find interest in a verse right at the end of the reading. In verses 33 and 34 the explanation that Jesus always talked to the people in riddle-talk -- parables. But Jesus would do further explanation to the disciples in private.
There is more to learn! There is more to understand! There is more to seek! Jesus talked about these things with his disciples. He got into smaller groups and really hashed out the stories. Jesus and the disciples were involved in what I think we would describe as "midrash" -- where rabbis and students discuss scripture and the possible meanings. They tend to look at things from several angles and try to really chew on things as they seek deeper and deeper meaning.
I think Jesus example of digging deeper into the stories with the disciples further supports the idea that the stories weren't meant to turn people away or to confuse them to the point of giving up. They were an invitation to learn more.
Our discussions here are also an invitation. Let's engage each other and engage the Bible. Let's continue to seek deeper meaning in what the still-speaking God reveals.
More seeing but not perceiving, hearing but not understanding. But now there's some explaining happening.
In the blog article relating to Isaiah 6:1-8 (and 9-10) I posed the possibility that the "Seeing but not perceiving, hearing but not understanding" lines from both Isaiah and Jesus quoting Isaiah were an invitation to dig deeper rather than a command or "reality statement" that some people were never going to understand the words or their meaning.
In one of this week's Bible readings, Mark 4:26-34, Jesus tells more parables. This time they are about farming and about how plants grow. He talks about the tiny mustard seed and the large plant that comes from it. You may have heard the phrase, "The faith of a mustard seed" referring to how small things begin and how amazingly large they can become through faith in God.
And again I find interest in a verse right at the end of the reading. In verses 33 and 34 the explanation that Jesus always talked to the people in riddle-talk -- parables. But Jesus would do further explanation to the disciples in private.
There is more to learn! There is more to understand! There is more to seek! Jesus talked about these things with his disciples. He got into smaller groups and really hashed out the stories. Jesus and the disciples were involved in what I think we would describe as "midrash" -- where rabbis and students discuss scripture and the possible meanings. They tend to look at things from several angles and try to really chew on things as they seek deeper and deeper meaning.
I think Jesus example of digging deeper into the stories with the disciples further supports the idea that the stories weren't meant to turn people away or to confuse them to the point of giving up. They were an invitation to learn more.
Our discussions here are also an invitation. Let's engage each other and engage the Bible. Let's continue to seek deeper meaning in what the still-speaking God reveals.
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