Previous Sermons

Check out older sermons here.  Fr Jon’s sermons and other thoughts can be found at mountaingracepodcast.org

Sunday October 28

Jesus’ willingness and ability to work through us for the building of the kingdom of God is limited only by the boundary of our faith. READINGS:Jeremiah 31:7-9  Psalm 126  Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 10:46-52

---

Sunday September 2

We are freed through Christ’s life death and resurrection; but freedom comes with responsibilities and obligations. READINGS: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9  Psalm 15  James 1:17-27  Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

---

Sunday August 26 Jesus is the way, the truth and the life READINGS: Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18  Psalm 34:15-22  Ephesians 6:10-20  John 6:56-69

---

Sunday August 19 Jesus’ path leads to the possibility of amazing things! READINGS: Proverbs 9:1-6  Psalm 34:9-14  Ephesians 5:15-20  John 6:51-58

---

Sunday August 12 Christ offers us the choice of life or death; to immerse ourselves in Christ and to follow is example is to choose life READINGS: 1 Kings 19:4-8  Psalm 34:1-8  Ephesians 4:25-5:2  John 6:35, 41-51

---

Sunday August 5 Sure, Christ is our sustenance, but how do we actually go about eating this “bread?” READINGS: Exodus 16:2-4,9-15  Psalm 78:23-29  Ephesians 4:1-16  John 6:24-35

---

Sunday July 29

When people see you, do they see Christ in your words, actions and choices? Readings:2 Kings 4:42-44  Psalm 145:10-19   Ephesians 3:14-21  John 6:1-21

---

Sunday July 15

Choices must be made; do we choose life or death? Readings: Amos 7:7-15  Psalm 85:8-13  Ephesians 1:3-14  Mark 6:14-29

---

Sunday July 8

Following Jesus can be hard, but it isn’t complicated Readings:  Ezekiel 2:1-5  Psalm 123  2 Corinthians 12:2-10  Mark 6:1-13

---

Sunday July 1

Jesus offers us the life-giving Way in the midst of death Readings: Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2:23-24  Psalm 30  2 Corinthians 8:7-15  Mark 5:21-43

 

---

Sunday June 24

When we can’t muster enough faith to overcome our own fears, we can trust in Jesus to carry us through Readings: Job 38:1-11  Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32  2 Corinthians 6:1-13  Mark 4:35-41

---

Sunday June 17

In the life of faith, everyone has a part, and only by joining together do we make the beautiful song of God’s love. Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24 Psalm 92:1-4,11-14  2 Corinthians 5:6-17  Mark 4:26-34  

---

Sunday June 10

Who we expect Jesus to be shapes our reality and our response as His followers.  Is our hope big enough for His vision for us? Readings: 1 Samuel 8:4-20  Psalm 138  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1  Mark 3:20-35

---

Sunday May 27 – Trinity Sunday

Allow yourself to be swept up in Christ’s love to be an agent of grace in the world READINGS: Isaiah 6:1-8  Romans 8:12-17  John 3:1-17  Psalm 29

---

Sunday May 20 – Pentecost

Pentecost isn’t just something that happened to a faraway people a long time ago, it is an unfolding event that is happening to us all the time. READINGS: Acts 2:1-21  Romans 8:22-27  John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15  Psalm 104:25-35, 37

---

Sunday May 13

Christ’s ascension means that God trusts us to do what is right and to be agents of the coming reign of Christ READINGS: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26  1 John 5:9-13  John 17:6-19  Psalm 1  

---

Sunday May 6

What does Jesus mean by “love” and how are supposed to “abide in it?” Readings: Acts 10:44-48  1 John 5:1-6  John 15:9-17  Psalm 98

---

Sunday April 15

What we are going to be has not been revealed to us; but Jesus invites forward into deeper relationship always.  We are always becoming christ’s new creation. Readings: Acts 3:12-19  1 John 3:1-7  Luke 24:36b-48  Psalm 4

---

Easter Day April 1st

When Jesus’ women followers went, in grief, to his tomb they encountered an angel who told them; “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, `He has been raised from the dead.  What a cruel joke that must have seemed to them.  Everyone knows the dead and buried don’t get up again. Readings: Romans 6:3-11  Matthew 28:1-10  Psalm 114 

---

Palm Sunday March 25th

Hope is the most scandalous promise of Jesus. Readings: Mark 11:1-1  Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 14:1-15:47

---

Sunday March 18th

Jesus’ suffering and death was his own choice, but even he hoped not to make it.  What could possibly compel such a choice? Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34  Hebrews 5:5-10  John 12:20-33  Psalm 51:1-13

---

Sunday March 11th

You were there when they crucified the Lord Readings: Numbers 21:4-9  Ephesians 2:1-10  John 3:14-21  Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

---

Sunday Feb 25th

Love that serves our own interests first isn’t really love, and sometimes that “love” is just another’s temptation. Readings: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16  Romans 4:13-25  Mark 8:31-38  Psalm 22:22-30

---

Sunday Feb 18th

Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, and yet did not sin; the temptations in the wilderness are archetypes of the ones we face right here, right now.  Justice and peace are not possible for us so long as we continue to give into them. Links: In the Name of Jesus by Henry Nouwen Readings: Genesis 9:8-17  1 Peter 3:18-22  Mark 1:9-15  Psalm 25:1-9

---

Sunday Feb 11th

Jesus invites us into abundant life; how do we get there? Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 Psalm 50:1-6

---

Sunday Feb 4th

What does it mean exactly that we are “saved?”  Are we saved ‘from’ something or ‘for’ something? Readings: Isaiah 40:21-31  1 Corinthians 9:16-23  Mark 1:29-39  Psalm 147:1-12, 21c

---

Sunday Jan 21st

Jonah is the most peevish and half-hearted of prophets, yet God does amazing things with his meager effort Readings: Jonah 3:1-5, 10  1 Corinthians 7:29-31  Mark 1:14-20  Psalm 62:6-14

---

Sunday Jan 14th

We don’t read the Bible because it’s some kind of owner’s manual for humans but because in seeing how God (who is constant and consistent) has responded to human troubles in the past helps us to see God’s work in our midst today. Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20)  1 Corinthians 6:12-20  John 1:43-51  Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17

---

Sunday Jan 7th

In Christ, God emerges into the world in a way that leads us to understand the full measure of God’s love Readings: Genesis 1:1-5 – Acts 19:1-7 – Mark 1:4-11 –  Psalm 29  

---

Sunday Dec 10th

St Peter reminds us that the wait for Christ isn’t meant to be passively endured.  The choice for Christ calls forth an effort on our part to live in the coming age here and now, manifesting the reign of God in our lives. Readings:  Isaiah 40:1-11  2 Peter 3:8-15a  Mark 1:1-8  Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

---

Sunday Nov 19th

The Holy Spirit continues to invite the church into deeper relationship with God, nto deeper knowledge of God’s race, and into an ever-widening crcle of relationship with all the beloved children of God. Readings: Judges 4:1-7  Psalm 123   1 Thessalonians 5:1-11  Matthew 25:14-30

---

Sunday Nov 12th

Giving to pay the church’s electric bill isn’t sexy, but your gifts, ultimately, don’t pay the bills – they enable the ministry, the presence and grace of Christ to enter the world. Readings: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25  Psalm 78:1-7   1 Thessalonians 4:13-18   Matthew 25:1-13

---

Sunday Nov 5th

It’s All Saints where we take time to remember that unbroken chain of loving relationships that connects us back to Jesus. Readings: Revelation 7:9-17    Psalm 34:1-10, 22   1 John 3:1-3  Matthew 5:1-12

---

Sunday Oct 29th

God’s grace is unearned and freely given; at the same time accepting Christ’s invitation (or not) matters.

---

Sunday, Oct 22nd

In reminding the Pharisees to give to God what is God’s, Jesus puts us on notice that ignorance and denial do not eliminate our complicity in the evil done on our behalf

---

Sunday Oct 15th

It’s the feast of St Luke and we’re reminded that Jesus asks us to be commit ourselves, soul and body, to God’s mission of redemption and healing

---

Sunday, Oct 8th

In which I recount how I almost drowned myself and discover that fear of God is like the fear of water in that not respecting its power can lead to peril while also seeing that life is not possible without it. Readings: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20  Psalm 19  Philippians 3:4b-14  Matthew 21:33-46

---

Sunday, Oct 1st

Jesus beckons us onto a journey potentially fraught with peril and whose ultimate destination is unknown, but with the promise that He will always walk with us and that he will lead us to a promised land READINGS: Exodus 17:1-7  Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16  Philippians 2:1-13  Matthew 21:23-32

---

Sunday Sept 24th

To be fully realized, our Gospel mission must be rooted in the community of faith; no one walks the way of Christ alone. Readings:Exodus 16:2-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16

---

 Sunday  September 17th

We often shun forgiveness because we see it as something that, somehow, lessens us.  In truth, it is our greatest strength in the struggle against the darkness and evil of this world. Readings: Exodus 14:19-31  Psalm 114   Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35

---

 Sunday September 10th

The mark of the sacrifice at the Passover is a symbol of God’s promise to his people.  In the same way, God’s promise is pledged to us in baptism through Christ’s sacrifice. Readings: Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 149 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20

---

 Sunday September 3rd

God calls Moses from out of the burning bush and though we may not encounter such a blazing sign, God calls each and every one of us as well.  We all have a role in the building of the kingdom of God and no role is unimportant. Today’s Readings:Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28

---

Sunday August 27th

Do we really want to know Jesus or would we prefer to bend his identity to our purposes? This Week’s Readings:Exodus 1:8-2:10 Psalm 124 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20

---

 Sunday August 20th

Today’s Readings (Proper 15) Genesis 45:1-15  Psalm 133  Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32  Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 Is Jesus being hard-hearted when he tells the Canaanite woman looking for his healing power that she is a “dog?”  Or, is he up to something else?

---

 Sunday July 30th

Today’s Readings: Genesis 29:15-28 Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 God’s love for us is unbound and unshakeable – but how do we maintain our own loving perspective in the face of evil?

---

Sunday July 23rd

Today’s Readings: Genesis 28:10-19a Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 We often encounter the divine the “thin places” where heaven and earth seem to connect; but we’re called to live out our faith in the weeds of everyday life

---

Sunday July 16th

Today’s Readings: Genesis 25:19-34   Romans 8:1-11  Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 In this parable of the seed spreader, it’s easy to wonder what kind of soil we might be, but Jesus is leading us to think and act like the sower

---

Sunday July 9th

Today’s Readings: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67   Romans 7:15-25a   Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Jesus invites us to take on his yoke and carry his burden. Jesus is trying to tell us that the opposite choice isn’t to be unyoked or unburdened; it’s to be weighed down by our own self-centeredness

---

Sunday July 2nd 2017

Today’s Readings: Genesis 22:1-14  Romans 6:12-23  Matthew 10:40-42 We look in horror as Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son asking what kind of God would ask such a thing.  What kind of God indeed?

---

Sunday June 25th 2017

Today’s Readings: Genesis 21:8-21 – Romans 6:1b-11 – Matthew 10:24-39 In the story from Genesis, the Patriarch Abraham sends his concubine and their son into the wilderness to die at the demand of his wife Sarah. How do we respond us humans with the knowledge that we too often fall short? How does God respond and what does God offer us in the face of our complicity with evil?

---

Sunday June 18th 2017

Readings: Genesis 18:1-15    –   Romans 5:1-8  –  Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23) Jesus sent the Disciples out like sheep among wolves, but the Holy spirit accomplishes the purposes for which it was sent.  Through the sacraments and through mission we encounter the Spirit and also manifest it for others.

---

Sunday July 23rd

Today’s Readings: Genesis 28:10-19a Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 We often encounter the divine the “thin places” where heaven and earth seem to connect; but we’re called to live out our faith in the weeds of everyday life

---

Sunday July 16th

Today’s Readings: Genesis 25:19-34   Romans 8:1-11  Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 In this parable of the seed spreader, it’s easy to wonder what kind of soil we might be, but Jesus is leading us to think and act like the sower

---

Sunday July 9th

Today’s Readings: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67   Romans 7:15-25a   Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Jesus invites us to take on his yoke and carry his burden. Jesus is trying to tell us that the opposite choice isn’t to be unyoked or unburdened; it’s to be weighed down by our own self-centeredness

---

Sunday July 2nd 2017

Today’s Readings: Genesis 22:1-14  Romans 6:12-23  Matthew 10:40-42 We look in horror as Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son asking what kind of God would ask such a thing.  What kind of God indeed?

---

Sunday June 25th 2017

Today’s Readings: Genesis 21:8-21 – Romans 6:1b-11 – Matthew 10:24-39 In the story from Genesis, the Patriarch Abraham sends his concubine and their son into the wilderness to die at the demand of his wife Sarah. How do we respond us humans with the knowledge that we too often fall short? How does God respond and what does God offer us in the face of our complicity with evil?

---

Sunday June 18th 2017

Readings: Genesis 18:1-15    –   Romans 5:1-8  –  Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23) Jesus sent the Disciples out like sheep among wolves, but the Holy spirit accomplishes the purposes for which it was sent.  Through the sacraments and through mission we encounter the Spirit and also manifest it for others.