Baptized - Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 - Baptism of Christ - 1-9-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Baptism of Christ Sunday, 1-9-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Video sermon preview 

"Baptized" podcast

The whole worship service

Baptized

Sermon podcast from this past Sunday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 3:15-17, 21-22. Jesus was  and is with, for, in support of,  and in solidarity with . . . all the people.

Video sermon preview
"Baptized" podcast

Baptized

This morning's sermon from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Star Wars: The Force Awakens, starts things off, of course.
"Baptized" podcast

Pleased

This week's Hollywood Bible reflection (Action Films) starts to make more sense as it is connected to the Sunday sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Pleased" text
"Pleased" podcast 

Action Films

I love action films.  I like the movies that have a quick-moving story, believable characters, seamless acting, and great special effects – the kind that either don’t look like special effects at all or look so cool you know they have to be special effects

Some of my recent favorites?

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
• Skyfall
• The Dark Knight Rises
• The Amazing Spiderman
• Men In Black 3
• The Hunger Games
• And I must admit, any film with Jason Statham in it is one I’m likely to see.

I like the excitement, the tension, the anticipation of what comes next and the spectacle present in these films.  I also like that they make me think. Each of these films, in addition to the action that keeps me glued to my seat, has a story that keeps my mind spinning and churning and wondering about unanswered questions. (For those of you thinking, “The Hobbit was so slow in the beginning – does that part count as an action film?: The answer is: Yes.  There was much story development at the beginning and it wasn’t ‘glue your to your seat’ action during that part, but it was worth the wait.)

This week’s Bible reading recounts an event in Jesus’ life that has all the makings of a great action film scene:  Jesus’ baptism.  It was an event. It was the event that inaugurated his ministry as an adult. It’s recorded in all four gospels – and you can’t say that about too many other events relating to Jesus.

That said, the description of Jesus baptism in this week’s Bible reading from Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 is a little heavier on the “story development” side.  And the “missing” verses in the reading (verses 18-20) go deeper into the back story of John – showing you that he was a rabble rouser.

Take a look at the descriptions of Jesus’ baptism from the other Gospels. (Matthew 3:16b-17, Mark 1:10b-11, and John 1:32)
What description do you think gives the best flavor?  And which one has the best action? And why is any of that important?

Heaven was Opened

This week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc (Bias) is still pretty evident in Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk. It focuses on Jesus' baptism.
"Heaven was Opened" text
"Heaven was Opened" podcast

Bias

Here's this week's Bible study blog post for i.ucc:

Jesus’ baptism was an event. It was the event that inaugurated his ministry as an adult. It’s recorded in all four gospels, for (insert your chosen word here) sake!

But the description of Jesus baptism in this week’s Bible reading is a little bit . . . boring.

the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.

It’s so . . . romantic. It feels so poetic.

Is it that way in all the gospels?

(Matthew 3:16b-17 NRSV) suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

That’s a little less airy. It still has some poetic feeling, (alighting? Come on!) but in this description everything happens suddenly. It’s a bit more action-packed. I wonder what it is like in John?

(John 1:32 NRSV) And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

A flashback, eh? That’s very mysterious or science-fictiony. The poetic-romantic stuff is still there, but it seems a bit clouded. I think that makes it more interesting.

But then there’s Mark. Now there’s a powerful description:

(Mark 1:10b-11 NRSV) he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

The heavens were torn apart! That image is astounding and memorable. It makes the voice coming from heaven seem to be louder and stronger. It makes the dove descending even less soft.

I’m biased. I like the earthy description of Jesus’ baptism more than any other. But I also recognize that the descriptions from the other gospels bring the scene to life for other readers.

Which of the four affects you the most? How? Why?