The Word at Shalom

November 3, 2024, All Saints: "When God Is Delayed"

When Jesus learns of his friend Lazarus’s illness, he waits two more days before going. We live in a similar in-between time as we wait for the final resurrection and for God’s peace to reign on earth. How do we sustain hope when God seems absent? What does it mean to live faithfully and well in such a time? Pastor David preaches “When God Is Delayed” based on John 11:32-44. 

October 20, 2024, Pentecost 22B, Shalom in Service: "Be Careful What You Wish For"

As Jesus continued to Jerusalem, anxiety among his disciples continued to mount. Jesus kept talking about betrayal and death, which the disciples didn’t want to hear about. So, James and John decide to refocus Jesus back on glory, asking for the prime positions in his new administration. The problem is that they don’t know what they’re asking for. So, who has those places and what do they mean? What kind of strange glory is the goal of the Christian life, and how does that differ from the glory and power of the world? Pastor David preaches “Be Careful What You Wish For” based on Mark 10:35-45. 

October 13, 2024, Pentecost 21B, Shalom in Finances: "A Healthy Unfaith"

When we hear Jesus tell the rich young man to sell everything he owns, give the money to the poor, and follow him, we may feel deeply uncomfortable. After all, how many things do we own? But for Jesus, things are more than things; they can be objects of faith and trust. How does Jesus break our faith in things? And how does he redirect our faith? Pastor David preaches “A Healthy Unfaith” based on Mark 10:17-31When we hear Jesus tell the rich young man to sell everything he owns, give the money to the poor, and follow him, we may feel deeply uncomfortable. After all, how many things do we own? But for Jesus, things are more than things; they can be objects of faith and trust. How does Jesus break our faith in things? And how does he redirect our faith? Pastor David preaches “A Healthy Unfaith” based on Mark 10:17-31

October 6, 2024, Pentecost 20B, Shalom in Relationships: "Breaking the Stone"

It can be difficult to love a fellow human being. With the decline of “middle-rung” relationships that are found in friendships, churches, and social clubs, people are lonelier than ever, turning to ersatz forms of relationship in A.I., 24-hour news, and social media. But the difficulty in relationship is not a new thing. How does Jesus model wholeness in relationships? What do his words about divorce mean in a world where so many of us have experienced broken relationships or abuse? And how can we live into the kind of relationships he desires for us? For Shalom in Relationships Sunday, Pastor David preaches “Breaking the Stone” based on Mark 10:2-16

September 29, 2024, Pentecost 19B: "Well-Equipped"

Sometimes we can feel underequipped for our lives, longing for a golden age when things seemed easier. However, such nostalgia can be poisonous. What did Moses do when the Israelites began to be nostalgic for Egypt? How does God equip us for the future? And how can we see God's blessings in front of us? Pastor David preaches "Well-Equipped" based on Numbers 11 and Mark 9:38-50.

September 22, 2024, Pentecost 18B: "What Are Children For?"

Since time immemorial, the church has been anxious about its children. When we see a lot of children and youth in worship, we assume that not only are those families strong, but the church is strong, too. However, by embracing a child, Jesus has something else in mind than the anxieties and ambitions of us contemporary Christians. How do we embrace children, youth, and the most vulnerable as Jesus did without making it about us? Pastor David preaches “What Are Children For?” based on Mark 9:30-37 and James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a. 

September 15, 2024, Pentecost 17B: "Free Speech"

In the United States, we prize our right to speak freely. However, just because we can say what we want doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for our speech. And no one knows that better than James. What does James warn us about careless speech? And how does Jesus show us a better way? Pastor David preaches “Free Speech” based on James 3:1-12 and Mark 8:27-38. 

September 8, 2024, Pentecost 16B: "Judge of the World"

It is very, very easy to judge others. In casting judgment, we can feel safe. We can keep the spotlight off ourselves and our shortcomings. However, being a judge often leaves us feeling empty and disconnected. How does Jesus overcome the prejudices of his time? How does Jesus’s brother, James, encourage the Christian community to let go of their false judgments? And how can we find genuine shalom in doing so? Pastor David preaches “Judge of the World” based on James 2:1-17 and Mark 7:24-37. 

September 1, 2024, Pentecost 15, Daniel 5: "A Lasting Hope"

Few things are more devastating than the death of hope. We can find ourselves lost when a marriage dies, a loved one succumbs to addiction, or when our preferred candidate for public office loses. Yet, God’s people have suffered through hopeless times before, including Daniel. What new thing is revealed to Daniel that gives us lasting hope? How can we see false hopes for what they are without succumbing to despair? Pastor David preaches “A Lasting Hope” based on Daniel 12:1-13.

August 25, 2024, Pentecost 14: "Fear Not"

Fear is a fascinating emotion. It kept our ancestors alive back in the days of saber-toothed tigers. And we teach our children to have a healthy fear of things like electricity and fire. However, our culture seems trapped in cycles of fear, from the upcoming election to the threat of violence at home. What have God’s people done in the past when they’ve been afraid? And how do God’s promises drive out fear? Pastor David preaches “Fear Not” based on Daniel 7:1-18.