Why follow Jesus?

 Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16  • Psalm 22:23-31  • Romans 4:13-25  • Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9 

In this Sunday's gospel, which follows the Transfiguration and Peter's answer to Jesus' question of "Who do you say I am?" Peter is rebuked when Jesus tells him that Jesus must be crucified on a cruel Roman cross.  How can this be? Peter had just recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, moments before. And then those ominous word, that whoever would follow him must deny themselves and take up their own cross. And whoever would lose their life would gain it, and whoever would gain their life would lose it. How so, and why?

Read Katerina Katsarka Whitley's "The Most Difficult PathtoFollow," and Debie Thomas' "Gains and Losses."

Journeying Through the Wilderness

 Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17  • Psalm 25:1-10  • 1 Peter 3:18-22  • Mark 1:9-15

Every Lent we begin with Jesus' baptism, going into the wilderness and being tempted. What can we learn this Lent as we journey with Jesus into the wilderness, and from temptations?

Read Debie Thomas's "Beasts and Angels."

Through it all, The Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay reminds us of God's Covenant: Signs of Promise, referring to the story of Noah, and the heavenly bow.

Crossing Thresholds, When Everything Changes

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12  • Psalm 50:1-6  • 2 Corinthians 4:3-6  • Mark 9:2-9

This is the last Sunday of Epiphany before the season of Lent, and before Ash Wednesday.

Our Scripture gives us accounts of the passing of the mantle from the prophet Elijah to Elisha as Elijah is caught up in the whirlwind in a chariot of fire, and three disciples experience the transfiguration of Jesus on a mountain before they accompany him on his journey off the mountain to the cross.  Both awesome and terrifying.

But the real significance of these events is not in the whirlwind, or fire, or the heavenly glow.  It is the thresholds Elisha,  the disciples, and you and I are called to cross  when everything changes. From comfort, security and certainty, to vulnerability, questions and uncertainty, in the hills and valleys, and sometimes wildernesses, of our lives. How will we respond? Read Debie Thomas' "When Everything Changes." 

Miracles, or More? Healing in Everyday Life

 Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31  • Psalm 147:1-11, 20c  • 1 Corinthians 9:16-23  • Mark 1:29-39

In this week's gospel, Jesus, without a word, takes her hand, and "lifts up" Dorcas, Peter's mother-in-law, who has been ill. Immediately she gets up, and without a demand or request, begins serving others. She understands Jesus, his mission, and call to discipleship when the crowds, his disciples, and yes, us, misunderstand what Jesus is about.

What is Jesus all about? What are we called to do, as a church, and as individuals, all beloved of God? What about our seemingly mundane lives. See Debie Thomas' "A Day in the Life."

Is healing miraculous, to be expected as popular prosperity preachers profess? Is it, and Jesus' healing presence, something more? What if the miracles we pray for do not happen? See The Rev. Debie Thomas' "Mystery, Not Magic." Where is Jesus in all of this? What should we pray for? What are we, as Christians, called to do, to be?

Can we be healed without being cured? See The Rev. Danàe Ashley's sermon.