God’s economy of abundance

By: Rev. Nate Hosler John 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Our Gospel passage is from the book of John. The passage is from the beginning of the secondchapter. It is very early in the book. If you recall, we just finished up Christmas. While it mightfeel quite long ago already, it was only a few weeks…

Abide

Pastor Nate Hosler, Phd Acts 8:26-40 John 15:1-8,1 John 4:7-21 (scripture texts at the bottom) A surprise meeting on a desert road. When I think of a wilderness road, I think of the road from Yola to Mubi. Going from central Adamawa state to the northern part of the state is a four-hour drive through…

Jonah and the….Mercy of God

Preacher: Pastor Nathan Hosler, PhD Date: January 21, 2024 Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, Jonah 3:10, Mark 1:14-20 The fish was huge! It was, at least, big enough for us to keep and eat—(I didn’t really like it as a child). If I say, “Jonah and the….” How do you fill in? Jonah and the big fish or…

Voices that We Do Not Expect

Preacher: Pastor Jennifer Hosler, PhD Date: December 10, 2023 Scripture: Mark 1:1-8, Luke 1:39-55   I learned a new word recently: muzak. I was reading a Bethany Theological Seminary update email with a reflection by President Jeff Carter that included this word, discussing the saturation of stores with Christmas background music during this season. Momentarily puzzled, I…

Even the Prophet Doubted

Preacher: Jennifer Hosler Scripture: Isaiah 35: 1-10; Luke 1:46b-55; Matthew 11:2-11 Doubt, loss, pain, darkness… sounds like Christmas-time? Unlike our cultural displays of perpetual holiday cheer, our four weeks of Advent scriptures allow for a fuller gamut of Christmas-time emotions: pain, doubt, and loss come alongside themes of peace, hope, love, and joy. This 3rd…

COME TO THE LIGHT

Numbers 21:4-9   Ephesians 2:1-10   John 3:14-21 Jeff Davidson The comedian Norm MacDonald has a shaggy dog story that he sometimes tells. I’m going to do a very, very shortened version of it here. A moth visits a podiatrist’s office. The podiatrist says, “What can I do for you today?” The moth says, “Doc, my life…

NO CROSS, NO CROWN

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25,  Mark 8:31-38 Micah Bales When I first read through the scripture readings for this Sunday, it wasn’t immediately clear to me how our gospel reading relates to the passage from Genesis. The story of Abraham and Sarah seems to be all about God bestowing unconditional blessing and abundance on two…

UP AND DOWN

Mark 9:2-9 Jeff Davidson What was the best day of your life? Was it the day you got that puppy or kitten for Christmas? Was it the day you graduated from high school, or from college? Was it the day you got married? The day your first child was born? The day you got the…