The Word at Shalom

December 24, 2023, Advent 4: ”Impossible!”

In Mary's time, things were difficult for the denizens of Palestine. The Romans had brought order and a modicum of peace, but it was enforced at the point of a sword. And the Romans were only the latest in a long line of empires. From the time of the Assyrians in the late 8th century, the inhabitants of Israel and Judah had suffered under foreign subjugation. God's ancient promise to King David of an eternal kingdom may have rung empty. However, God showed God's faithfulness in a surprising way, not just to the long-dead David, but to God's people of every time and place. How does God keep promises of life and shalom, even in our contemporary world that sees so little of either? On December 24, Pastor David preaches two sermons. The first for the fourth Sunday of Advent (9:30 a.m.) is "Impossible!" based on 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 and Luke 1:26-38.

December 10, 2023, Advent 2B: ”No More Fake News!”

Mark begins his Gospel with a stunning proclamation. The good news of forgiveness and salvation is found in a Galilean Jewish craftsman named Jesus. Yet, in our age of fake news, we can easily dismiss such a proclamation as mere propaganda. What makes Mark's claim about Jesus different from the claims of every other would-be messiah throughout history? What can the claim of "good news" even mean in a fake news era? Pastor David preaches "No More Fake News!" based on Mark 1:1-8.

December 3, 2023, Advent 1B: ”A New Hope and Expectation”

It seems clear that the early church expected Jesus to return in their lifetime. After all, Jesus says in our reading from Mark, “Truly, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” However, Jesus’s return did not happen as they had expected. Yet, this disappointment didn’t lead to the death of the church, but rather to its thriving. How might we understand Jesus’s words some 2,000 years later? And how can we respond well when our hopes and expectations are unfulfilled? For the First Sunday of Advent, Pastor David preaches “A New Hope and Expectation” based on Mark 12:26-34.

November 26, 2023, Christ the King: ”Warrior Christ?”

It is ironic that Revelation heralds the return of the Prince of Peace with such violent language. Christ returns on a white horse, to “judge and wage war”. We may be turned off by such language, seeing it as polar opposite to the Christ revealed on the cross. However, John, Revelation’s visionary, may be subtly undercutting such martial imagery while still using its comforting aspects for a people who needed a warrior Messiah. How might John be doing this? What hope did the first hearers receive from these visions? How can we, some 1,900 years removed, also find strength here? For Christ the King Sunday, Pastor David preaches, “Warrior Christ?” based on Revelation 19:11-16; 22:1-5. This will conclude our sermon series on Revelation.

November 19, 2023, Pentecost 25: ”Party’s Over?”

For the first-century church, there were pressures on every side. There was opposition from local authorities and other religious groups. There was internal turmoil. And there was the constant temptation to forsake the values of God's kingdom for the more tangible, immediate rewards of the Roman Empire. So how does John, the author, encourage these churches to remain faithful? How can the 21st century church remain faithful to Christ, even though all of us are enmeshed with the ways of domination and injustice? What is God's invitation to us, and how does it differ from that of "empire"? Pastor David preaches "Party's Over?" based on Revelation 18:1-5, 9-13; 19:6-10.

Sunday, November 12, Pentecost 24: ”A Different Kind of Fight”

The 12th chapter of Revelation, with its visions of a woman, child, dragon, and heavenly warfare, can be confusing, if not offensive. We might wonder what any of this has to do with us, or less charitably, we might wonder if John was on something! However, this chapter has much more to do with the church in its everyday struggles than we might think. How does John offer comfort and strength to the church of his day? How can we likewise find strength for whatever evil we may face? Pastor David preaches “A Different Kind of Fight” based on Revelation 12:1-17. This is the fourth of a six-part series on the book of Revelation.

November 5, 2023, All Saints Sunday: ”Lamb Hope”

With the world the way it is, it can be easy to lose hope in God's goodness. We can be tempted to believe that life is nothing more than a historical accident with only the grave awaiting us. However, in the middle of Revelation, we receive a grand vision of the church triumphant. So, what is this vision? How might it have given hope to suffering Christians under Rome's power in the first century? And how might it give hope to Christians today? For All Saints Sunday, Pastor David preaches "Lamb Hope" based on Revelation 7:9-17.

October 29, 2023, Reformation Sunday: ”Anyone Up for a New Song?”

There's something special about an old, familiar song. Memories emerge. The heart is stirred. There may be pangs of sadness or fondness. This is especially true for old hymns, since many of us first heard them as children. However, the heavenly throne room in Revelation is filled not with old familiar tunes, but with the strains of a new song, sung in celebration of God's fulfilled promise of redemption. So, how does God bring this promise to fulfillment? Pastor David preaches "Anyone Up for a New Song?" based on Revelation 5:1-14.

October 8, 2023, Pentecost 19: ”Simple Gifts”

As a newly born community, the church at Corinth struggled with what it meant to follow Christ. Some apparently thought that with displays of spiritual power, as Paul had initially done on their first meeting, the church would accumulate prestige and people. However, Paul cautions against relying on prominent gifts alone. What does Paul tell the church at Corinth about spiritual gifts? And what can the church today learn from Paul? What kind of gifts truly build up the church? Pastor David preaches "Simple Gifts" based on 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 and Mark 12:28-34.

October 1, 2023, Pentecost 18, Generosity 2: ”The Divine Economy”

For a good Roman, religion was a practical matter. Sacrifices would be offered to the gods in exchange for health, wealth, long life, protection, or victory in battle. The system was so pragmatic that sacrifices would sometimes be withheld if it appeared that the gods weren't holding up their end of the bargain. However, from very early in Genesis, that narrative is turned upside down. We don't give so that God may give. We can give because God has given. What would it look like to see giving as a joyful privilege rather than an economic exchange? How can we put our "shoulds" aside when it comes to financial giving? And how can our financial giving, among other forms of giving, help us live fuller lives? Pastor David preaches "The Divine Economy" based on Genesis 14:17-20 and Luke 7:36-8:3. This is the second of a four sermon series on generosity.