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These are the sermons from Grace Anglican Church in Gastonia, NC.
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All Things First United Methodist Church of Gastonia. -Info Sessions -Bible Studies -Sermons -First Look - Drops the First Monday of Every Month!
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After the angel appeared to Mary, she went immediately to visit her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s greeting and Mary’s response tell us a great deal about the reality of the babies in their wombs. We also learn a great deal about the God of promise that is bringing about his promises through them. Image: La Visitation, miniature des Heures Huth, M…
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In our Gospel lesson from Luke 3, we hear of John the Baptist’s preaching to the crowds and his calling them to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. How does this preaching of repentance bring to the joy of the Lord? Is joy something we create in ourselves or is it something that God brings to us? Image: Christ with the Winnowin…
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Advent is a season of repentant waiting for our Lord to come. The process of repentance is one that leads to us knowing the peace and refining work of God through Jesus for us. Image: Molten Metal, picture by Pixabay, CC0. Image location: https://www.stockvault.net/photo/202116/utils/lib/utils/strings#…
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As we consider ‘hope’ in Advent, Father Jeremiah points out how it looks to the future while being rooted in the past that we might be sustained in the present. Advent helps us continue forward in this world knowing that God the Father will fulfill his promises. Image: Second Coming icon, public domain, location: https://garystockbridge617.getarchi…
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When Jesus stood before Pilate, he confessed that his kingdom, and thus his kingship, was not from this world. What did he mean by this? Is his kingdom and kingship utterly separate from this world? Or do they overlap and interlock together, such that this world will be changed when Jesus returns? Image: Boston at English Wikipedia & John Stephen D…
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When Jesus speaks during the Olivet Discourse about the destruction of the Temple, he was showing mercy with regard to the coming judgment of Jerusalem. He warns his disciples and those who follow them to flee when the time comes. How are we to understand this prophecy today? Is it about the future, or is it here to help us understand God’s desire …
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Father John Riebe reminds us that as Christians we are called to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This life is revealed fully through the act of the widow whose gift isn’t measured physically, but spiritually before the Lord. Image: Le denier de la veuve (The Widow’s Mite), James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikim…
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As we reflect upon the meaning of All Saints’ Day, we remember that the saints are the holy ones of God. The holiness they have though is not a holiness they create, but one that is given to them by the work of Christ. Image: Johann König, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. File Location":https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johann_Koenig_-_A…
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When Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus, we get to see something new about discipleship, but also a juxtaposition between this blind man and James and John in the previous passage. Jesus asks both, “What do you want me to do for you?” How we each answer that question gives shape to our walk with Jesus. Image: Christ Healing a Blind Man, by Eustache Le Su…
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When James and John ask Jesus to sit at his right and left hand, he confronts them with the reality of suffering that must come before glory. What does that mean for us today? Does suffering come before glroy? Father Jeremiah considers Jesus’ words in response to James and John and the other apostles. Image: Fra Angelico, frescoes, San Marco, pictu…
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The Reverend Harold Vandeveer filled in this Sunday for Fr Jeremiah. What good are the things of the world, when we have eternal salvation offered to us through Jesus? How are we going to respond to this reality? Image: Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by Heinrich Hofmann, public domain. Image Location: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/common…
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When Jesus speaks of marriage and children, he sets out to correct his time’s misuse and misunderstanding of these things. Likewise today, we must hear his words and take them to heart as we approach these most holy of subjects. Image: Portrait of a Married Couple with a Child, by Peter Paul Rubens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons…
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We don’t often talk about angels, but they are important creatures in creation. Sunday was the Feast of Holy Michael and All Angels. Father Jeremiah reminded us about their importance and role in our lives and that they are but a pray to God the Father away from for our defense. Image: St. Michael Triumph, by Johann M. Rottmayr. Public Domain. Imag…
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Jesus’ teaching about his own pending death to the disciples connected with his teaching on who is the greatest, reminds us that only by dying to self can we discover the greatness that God the Father intends for us. Image: John Hazeland on His Deathbed, by Edvard Munch, uploaded by villarreal9, license CC BY-SA 4.0 (No changes made). Image locatio…
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When Jesus comes down from the mountain after his transfiguration, he and the three disciples are confronted with a scene of chaos. The other disciples are arguing with the scribes about casting out a demon and healing a boy. The father of boy explains to Jesus what is happening and confesses his own unbelief mixed into his faith. What are we to ma…
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When the Pharisees and Scribes confront Jesus about his disciples not ritually washing hands before eating, Jesus confronts them with their ability to sacrifice the rules of God with man-made traditions in order to justify themselves. In what ways do we do this today? How are we to overcome this desire? Image: The Field of Derout-Lollichon, by Paul…
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After Jesus finished his teaching on feeding on him, many of his followers began leaving him. Jesus even question his own immediate twelve disciples about what they were going to do. How does this come to us today? Why would Jesus challenge even the Twelve on following him? Are we challenged in our following of Jesus? Image: Lord, To Whom Shall We …
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As Jesus continues teaching about his being the bread of life that is necessary to salvation, he goes so far as to say that his flesh is true food and his blood is true drink! What does this mean? How does it relate to communion? Where can we find Jesus that we might feed on him always? Image: Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Jesus continues teaching the crowds after feeding them with bread and fish. He gives attention to the reality that coming and believing Jesus are connected to being given and drawn to Jesus by the Father and that he will receive all who come because he is the bread of life that gives his flesh to the world. Image: The Lord’s Supper, taken by Lawren…
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Jesus confronts the crowds after feeding them with the reality that they are seeking him, not for the life that he can bring, but simply because he gave them an abundance of bread. How often do we do the same? How should we respond to this one who can give to us the bread of life through himself? Image: unknown artist. no known copyright…
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When Jesus sends the disciples out to cross the Sea of Galilee, they find themselves struggling against a strong headwind. Why does Jesus come to them walking upon the sea? How does this reveal who Jesus is? How do we respond to Jesus in the middle of our own crises? Image: Jesus Walks on the Sea, Gustave Doré, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.…
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Christ’s feeding of the five thousand reveals to us the mercy of God toward us in our deepest needs. God has promised throughout Scripture that he will show forth his mercy and he does so such that it is right to say that his almighty power is chiefly declared through his mercy. Image: Christ Feeding the Five Thousand, Public Domain. Image locaiton…
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In Psalm 85, we hear of the the graciousness of God toward Israel, and then a confession for a continual need for that grace and kindness from God. How does this reveal our need for Christ and his work? Where does salvations start? Does it start with me or does it start with the foundation laid by Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection? Image:…
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When Jesus returns to his hometown, he finds a not very friendly welcome. What does this tell us about our response to rejection. What does it tell us about our own rejections of Jesus in our daily lives? Image: Christ Healing a Leper, by Rembrandt van Rijn. Public Domain. Image location: https://picryl.com/media/christ-healing-a-leper-fdbefe…
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When Jesus encounters the results of chaos from the inside of us, what does he do? Does he scoff or ignore it? Or does he act against it in order to bring to us inward and outward healing? Father Jeremiah looks at Mark 5 and a story with two healings dealing with chaos from the inside. Image: The Raising of the Daughter of Jairus, Eduard Bendemann,…
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Jesus calms the storm and casts out a legion of demons in our Gospel lesson today. How do these reveal the power of Jesus over creation and his power over the chaos that has invaded creation? Father Jeremiah shows us that there is more that a mere calming of the storm and casting out of demons in his sermon from Sunday. Image: Christus bedaart de s…
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Jesus told many parables to the people. In these two parables he speaks of seeds growing and birds finding homes amongst the mustard plant. What does this mean about the kingdom? How do we participate in this if God is the one who causes the growth? Father Jeremiah helps us to see the glory of God’s work and us being part of the work. Image: Image …
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How is Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath? What does this mean for our pursuit of sabbath? Fr. John takes us through the Mark 2:23-28 and connects to our other readings from the day. Image: La Sieste, Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsDoor Fr. John Riebe
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On Trinity Sunday, Jonathan Wells, a member of Grace Anglican, gave us a teaching on the Trinity as revealed throughout Scripture and the importance of how God has revealed himself to our salvation. Image: Holy Trinity, picture by Lawrence OP. License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED Image Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/3600731119…
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The Spirit’s coming was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promises to his disciples and a fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy. His work sets believers in Jesus apart from the world and changes them from the inside out. He unites us to one another and to Jesus himself that we might know the redemption that has been accomplished for us. Image: Descent of t…
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Jesus spent time in deep prayer for his disciples and all those who will come to believe in Christ through their word. What does this prayer reveal to us about he work of Jesus after his ascension? We see through his words that he knew he would ascend and that he would continue to present us to the Father that we might be washed and sanctified in t…
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As Jesus continued to teach the disciples on the night he was betrayed, he told them to abide in his love that he had from them that flowed out of the love of the Father for himself. When we do this, we will discover that we want to keep his commandments and when we keep his commandments, we discover that we are more deeply abiding in his love. Ima…
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Jesus tells us that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. What are we to make of this statement of his? Does it mean that our salvation is because of our good deeds? Or are these words his way of showing us how to realign and calibrate our lives to the salvation we have received by faith? Father Jeremiah helps us understand Jesus’ calling …
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Jesus calls himself the good shepherd. What kind of claim is this? How does he reflect an earthly shepherd and how does he surpass that to be something greater by the same name? Image: The Parable of the Good Shepherd, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Public Domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Parable_of_the_Good_Shepherd_…
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Jesus’ body was transformed through His resurrection and he appeared to his disciples in that glorified physical body. We too will be transformed in the final resurrection because Jesus has gone ahead of us. In the here and now, though, we have new life in us that also comes through Jesus’ resurrection to us that we might be made ready for the fina…
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Jesus appeared to his disciples multiple times after his resurrection. In the first appearance, they were not sure what to think save for the peace given to them by him and revelation of the scars upon body. After this he gives to them the Holy Spirit that they might be sent out in faith to make forgiveness known through Jesus. Image: St Thomas tou…
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Jesus’ death and resurrection is God’s way of swallowing up death and removing the veil of it from over the people. His resurrection is the acceptance of his sacrifice that brings forgiveness and rejoicing to all people. Find out more from Father Jeremiah now.Door Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
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The Death of Jesus was a fulfilling of God the Father’s covenant faithfulness. He had promised Abraham that all the people’s of the earth would be blessed through him and it is through Jesus’ death that that blessing comes. God completes his promise and we are given the gift of life as God’s people. Image: The Crucifixion by Pietro Lorenzetti. Publ…
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Image: The Last Supper of Jesus Christ, by Roman Zacharij, licensed under CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Last_Supper.JPGDoor Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
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When Jesus entered Jerusalem upon the back of a donkey, the people cried out “Hosanna!” What was the meaning of this cry and what do we realize about it today? Father Jeremiah brings forward the impact of this entrance with palms and how it reveals the reality of the work of Jesus for us. Image: Palm Sunday Icon, Picture taken by Ted. Licensed unde…
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Jesus spoke of a grain of wheat that must die to bring forth a harvest. Jesus himself is that grain of wheat, and yet, we too are grains of wheat that have come from Jesus falling into the earth and dying. We too must continually die to ourselves in order to bring forth the harvest that God the Father desires. Image: The Veteran in a New Field, by …
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The destruction of the Temple by Babylon and the exile of God’s people was a devastating moment. Yet, God remained faithful to bring them back and re-establish them. After this return, God continued to fulfill his promises by sending the Messiah to make his people his new Temple that we might carry God with us throughout to the ends of the earth. I…
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When Jesus cleansed the Temple, he was pointing toward himself as the true and pure Temple. We, as his people through faith and baptism, are also the Temple which needs continual cleansing because of our sinfulness. Father Jeremiah explains this and how it affects out lives day in and day out. Image: Theodoor Rombouts, Public domain, via Wikimedia …
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As Jesus begins teaching his disciples directly about his crucifixion, St. Peter rebukes Jesus for thinking that the Messiah must suffer. However, Jesus turns the tables on St. Peter and points out to him and all that we all must suffer and die in light of his own death and resurrection. Through this, we come to know more deeply the love of Christ …
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When Jesus receive the Holy Spirit in his baptism, that very Spirit drove him into the wilderness. There Jesus resists Satan for his people and brings to us who trust in him, deliverance from temptation and, ultimately, sin itself through his death and resurrection. Image: The Temptation by the Devil by Gustave Dore, engraving, 1865. Public Domain.…
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The sin and death that is within us is something that must be dealt with on Earth. It is the problem of Earth and not that of Heaven. Thus, Jesus comes to deal with it here on Earth that we might be saved from sin and death by his death and resurrection. On Ash Wednesday, we embrace that reality and enter the season of Lent recognizing that we can’…
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What does Elijah meeting the Lord at Mt. Sinai and Jesus’ transfiguration have in common? Why is it important that the Lord isn’t in the wind, the earthquake, the fire? Why is it a low whisper? Father Jeremiah reflects on these questions Photo by form PxHere. Public Domain.Door Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
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On World Mission Sunday in the Anglican Church in North America, we step back to understand the grand calling upon the church to make disciples of all nations. What does this mean for us? How is it to be accomplished? How do we walk in this reality? Father Jeremiah teaches through the last few verses of Matthew 28 and shows how Jesus is the corners…
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