Monthly Archives: May 2021

Led by the Spirit to mortify the deeds of the flesh

31 Monday May 2021

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Sermon 31 May 2021 (Trinity Sunday)

Led by the Spirit to mortify the deeds of the flesh by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  King Uzziah was faithful for many decades, but in the end he was overcome by pride. Isaiah, also used mightily by God, understood the awe and majesty of God and lived accordingly. We must follow Isaiah’s example if we are to teach our children, not just through our words, but by our example. If our deeds send a different message than our words, our children – both physical and spiritual children – will follow our deeds and forget our words. We must allow the Holy Spirit to change us.

Lectionary:  Isaiah 6:1-5; Psalm 78:1-8; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:7-16

Referenced Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 26; Matthew 23:15; Matthew 15:14

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqXCVeU0DrcFNpLOJ?e=NSLuJh

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqW_V2HA2fFdmpn3w?e=bBiYZl

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Gather vessels, and not just a few

24 Monday May 2021

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Sermon 23 May 2021 (Pentecost)

Gather vessels, and not just a few by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Today we celebrate Pentecost, and God longs to fill us – to continue filling us. The amount we receive is, to a great extent, dependent on us: how much room are we willing to make for His presence? God’s glory is an attribute of who He is and what He does, and He calls us to participate by doing His work. If we fill our lives with our own desires and leave little room for Him, we dishonor His glory. Worse yet, He will raise up others to take our place in His service.

Lectionary:  Acts 2:1-7, 12-21; Psalm 104:24-35; 1 Corinthians 12:3-13; John 16:1-15

Referenced Scriptures: 2 Kings 4:3; John 14:15-16; Matthew 7:21-23; Malachi 3:10; Revelation 12:10-11; Psalm 4:2; Luke 19:40; Matthew 25:28; Luke 10:29-37; Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 2:4-5; Luke 10:38-42; John 11:20-28; John 15:4; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Ephesians 4:11-16; Matthew 12:18-21; Isaiah 42:1-4

Recording – Sermon:  

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqW72avJOKJQ3zJyH?e=qqAKsh (recorder battery died; the missing final few minutes are given in the notes)

Notes – Sermon:  

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqWzIgNEvYsh9IQ1N?e=0diN1E

Recording – Testimony (dream of Matea Gossage):  

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqW1Bzf4_othZ-TQu?e=gdj5VV

Jesus, the High Priest of the New Covenant

17 Monday May 2021

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Sermon 16 May 2021 (Ascension Sunday transferred)

Jesus, the High Priest of the New Covenant by Bp. Elmer Belmonte, Diocese of Europe

Simple Summary:  Jesus is both our High Priest and the sacrificial Lamb who was slain.

Lectionary:  Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:11-19

Ascension: Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

Video:  https://1drv.ms/v/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqWtcD_SCUodI357m?e=XwGImM

True faith is obedience in love

10 Monday May 2021

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Sermon 09 May 2021 (Easter 6)

True faith is obedience in love by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  In our day God is “rebuilding the ancient ruins” within His Church. It is a Church for all races, nationalities, cultures, languages, and skin colors. It is a Church with a magnificent inheritance, for which we wait patiently and labor diligently. It is a Church that loves God and our neighbors with abandon – not as a duty, but because our hearts overflow with Christ’s love for us.

Lectionary:  Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 33; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17

Referenced Scriptures: Galatians 1:8; Isaiah 61:4; Jeremiah 6:16; Luke 21:19; Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 7:23; Matthew 24:46; Mark 10:28; John 6:44; 1 Corinthians 13

Recording – Sermon:  

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqWmJWumb8UiJdHBV?e=IaLp7r

Notes – Sermon:  

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqWfSigH05CtPtBZr?e=TxBntJ

Recording – Testimony:  

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqWjWKiboWGf2Hl1m?e=EwokW4

See the bigger picture

06 Thursday May 2021

Posted by in Followers of Jesus, Scripture

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Thoughts to ponder from today’s daily lectionary reading from the New Testament, Luke 8:26-39:

Why did Jesus grant the demons’ request to be sent into the swine? He could have sent them straight into hell, as they feared.

Had Jesus sent the demons straight to hell, the man’s problem would have been solved and no one else would have been impacted. But Jesus saw the bigger picture. He knew who owned the swine, and whether it would cause great injury or small. More importantly, He knew the hearts of the people in the region. Though their spiritual captivity was not as obvious as the demoniac’s, it was just as real. After the man was healed they did not see Jesus, the presence of the Kingdom of God drawn near*, as an opportunity for themselves and their loved ones to be healed and restored, but rather as a threat to their worldly possessions and their pursuit of prosperity.

Why did Jesus deny the healed man’s request to accompany Jesus? He could have become a faithful disciple with a tremendous testimony.

Again, Jesus knew the hearts of the people in the region. He knew that if this man lived the remainder of his life in the region, he would be a permanent reminder to the people of the opportunity that they had missed to draw near to God. Some – perhaps many – of those people would later repent of their selfish desires and turn to the Lord because of the man’s continued witness.

May we, too, see the bigger picture that the Holy Spirit is trying to show us, that we might make the best decision rather than the easiest or most expedient one.

* “heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10:9)

Love is sacrifice

02 Sunday May 2021

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Sermon 02 May 2021 (Easter 5)

Love is sacrifice by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  What is love? God is love: unconditional, sacrificial love. It is not the love of fellowship, or of food, or riches, or holidays, or happy times. God defines love as sacrificing for others, and He was the first to do this through His Son Jesus Christ. When you love as Christ did, you become a target of Satan as Christ did. We cannot love without abiding in Him. Love is sacrifice, and it is the heart of a normal Christian life.

Lectionary:  Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-16; John 15:1-8

Referenced Scriptures: Hebrews 4:12-13; Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:1

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqWFadD2qA94FEUEM?e=4lUnz3

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqWJg8aXQEBDCtn4B?e=zc6oLN