Matthew 25: 31-46

If we're all kin, and Jesus is the king of the kin-dom of God, and Jesus rewards sheep, what are we supposed to do?

If the sheep are to visit those in prison, whom have you visited?
If the sheep are to care for the sick, whose health care have to advocated to keep?
If the sheep are to feed the hungry, how much money could you share with a Food Pantry?
If the sheep are to give the thirsty a drink, what clean water projects have you funded?  

Are you taking the Bible seriously?  Are you part of the Kin-dom of God where you understand yourself in Kinship with all of humanity?  Where can taking your faith seriously take you? 

The cross is hard.  Sometimes I don't want to take it up and follow Jesus.  Sometimes I don't want to lose my life and gain it.  Often, I don't even know what that means.  Listen for stories of people who did just that throughout history.  Sermon based on Matthew 16: 21-28.  Comment below with your thoughts.  Are you able to be a disciple of Jesus and take up a cross?  What will be hard about that, and how can work through those hard parts?  Let me know!  

On Sunday, we had our big installation party!  It is not too late to leave us a blessing or donation by looking at this blog post.  Bishop Wayne Miller preached the sermon, and this is the message I gave at the end of the service.  More videos plus audio of Bishop's message will be published later this week.  The texts of the day were: Exodus 18:13-22, Ephesians 4:11-16, and Matthew 28: 16-20.

In John 14: 1-14, Jesus prepares a dwelling place for us.  How do you prepare for others?  What does it mean for Jesus to prepare for us?  Who do we have room for in our churches?  

Also includes Mother's Day shout outs to those who have a hard time in church on Mother's Day for various reasons.  

​Sermon preached at St. Pauls, Waukegeen, IL on Mother's Day, 05.14.2017.