Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42, Psalm 95 Emmy Goering I’ve just returned to D.C. after spending the last week in the Chicago area at the Brethren Volunteer Service retreat. There, I was able to get some much needed rest and was able to connect with the friends who I’d bonded with at our orientation. While we…
Author: washingtoncitycob
What is the Spirit of Life?
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 Micah Bales Throughout his ministry, Jesus speaks of a mystery that can only be described in parables and metaphor. We heard a lot of these last month as we went through the Sermon on the Mount together. Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth. We’re the…
Fancy Food
Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 2:15-17, Nate Hosler [Think of the style of the “Tall Man” and the “Middle Man” children’s books] There is a man named Bill Cox. Bill Cox—in addition to being well versed in the Brethren and assorted Anabaptist genealogies of Lancaster Pennsylvania and in addition to being quite conversant in the various styles…
ASTOUNDED
Matthew 7:13-29 Jeff Davidson This has been a tough sermon for me to write. That’s not unusual; sometimes sermons come easily but most of the time they are a struggle, to one degree or another. There are a few challenges with this sermon in particular though, a couple that were probably common to all of…
Logs, Pigs, and Doors
Logs, Pigs, and Doors (Matthew 7:1-12) Jennifer Hosler Today, we continue our fifth week studying the Sermon on the Mount together. Our passage in Matthew 7 starts with teachings about judgment. Jesus uses an object lesson—eyes, specs and logs—to talk about hypocrisy and judging others. We then move to a curious part that talks about…
What if Everything I Think I Know is Wrong?
Psalm 36, Matthew 6:19-34 Micah Bales I’m going to start with the heresy and work back to the gospel this morning. Because reading on the sermon on the mount reminds me of what a tough time I have with the Bible. The Bible, for me, is pretty uneven in terms of how it impacts me….
DO NOT BE DISMAL (PIETY POINTS)
Matthew 6:1-18 Nate Hosler “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them;” A dialogue last week: Nate—I should buy a stole (clergy sash). Jenn—Why? Nate—For when I pray in front of people (at a vigil or protest). A standard approach to scripture is that Jesus said ____ but what…
WAIT! WHAT?!
Matthew 5:21-48 Jeff Davidson Last week Jenn introduced our six week series on the Sermon on the Mount. I thought it was an excellent sermon, and if you weren’t here I encourage you to go to the church website and give it a read. Jenn talked about the Beatitudes as nine values that define us…
What Defines Us?
Matt 5:1-20; Psalm 1; 1 Cor 1:18-31 Jennifer Hosler On Friday (1/20), we had about 100 people in our fellowship hall as I co-led a training on being an active bystander. You may have heard that incidents of harassment have increased over the past two months: more people are being targeted because of their…
WE’RE ALL IN THE WILDERNESS NOW. WHAT COMES NEXT?
Psalm 40:1-12 & John 1:29-42 Micah Bales The wilderness beyond the Jordan river is where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. It’s where the Hebrew people wandered for forty years after their escape from Egypt. In this same wilderness, Elijah heard the still, small voice of God. The wilderness is a place…
Washington City Church of the Brethren 