Sermon 15 Mar 2020  (3rd Sunday of Lent)

Embrace your trials by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Life is hard … really hard.  We face trials, and Jesus allows us to go through them to train us and prepare us for life and for ministry.  He does not want us to go into battle unprepared.  We can actively participate in this preparation by separating from the world and pursuing Him above all else.

Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95:1-11; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-14

Referenced Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Luke 22:31-34; Genesis 22:2; Psalm 119:65-67; Exodus 15:1-18; Luke 14:28-30; Zechariah 4:6; Luke 24:46b-49; Acts 2:1-4; Psalm 37:5

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo3vmxPy0C47aq_OG?e=RCpfQB

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo3pYOjlbvokTlWqA?e=L0PfKQ

Sermon 08 Mar 2020  (2nd Sunday of Lent)

Choose between the Lord and the world by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  God led Abram out of his familiar home into a far land and promised it to his offspring.  God then made covenant with him and changed his name to Abraham.  If He had just prospered Abraham from then on, the Jews could have had their homeland without any fuss or bother … but He didn’t.  He asked Abraham to make a choice, and that choice made in faith began a long, lengthy, complex journey to the fulfillment of God’s plan.

Lectionary: Genesis 12:1-8; Psalm 33:1-22; Romans 4:1-5; John 3:1-17

Referenced Scriptures: Genesis 22:1-2; Matthew 6:33

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo3mZrW21p2gYKghc?e=2ZIWFf

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo3eXfMU9HyiBLmMW?e=l5E3nd

Map of Bethel and Ai: 

A root-bound plant:  

Diagram of your plan vs God’s plan:

Recording – Testimony:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo3gC_UUqDUS5F8yF?e=ncCcfV

Sermon 01 Mar 2020  (1st Sunday of Lent)

A recipe for disaster by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Prayer is the cardiovascular (heart+blood vessels+blood) system of our life: in prayer we receive pure nourishing blood (Holy Spirit guidance & revelation) from Jesus (the heart) and return impure, depleted blood (our prayer requests) to Him.  The more we participate in this life-giving exchange, the more we are conformed to the image of Christ and the fewer impurities our prayers to Him contain.  This is why we are instructed to “pray without ceasing” and “abide in the vine”: never break the flow.

The problem: we are more addicted to the world’s junk food than we are to Jesus’ life-giving blood, but we still want to minister in Jesus’ Name.  This is a recipe for disaster.

Lectionary: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11  (sermon not from lectionary)

Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 19:16-22; John 6:48-66; Luke 22:31-34; Acts 19:13-16; Isaiah 59:15; Isaiah 61:1-4

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo27nil_FNrHorbDl?e=xPmEV7

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo21Ph-Y5tRMgWjrn?e=6UKa6a

Diagram of cardiovascular system: 

Sermon 26 Feb 2020  (Ash Wednesday)

Only what’s done for Christ will last by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Nothing in this life is permanent.  Only our work for Christ, rebuilding His Church and expanding His Kingdom, will last.  Your free will is the greatest gift you have to offer, and it is given to that which you love most.

Lectionary: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-19; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-8, 16-21

Referenced Scriptures:  Matthew 6:25-34

Recording – Sermon and call to a holy Lent:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2zK2VqsBNoZ9hGF?e=woalkX

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2vaqewAFBlD24dD?e=OGrdvj

Sermon 23 Feb 2020  (Last Sunday after Epiphany)

God works His way by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  God called Moses and 73 other leaders apart, then Moses and Joshua up higher, and finally Moses alone to the mountain top.  God was delivering a vision, but His actions were not what the people expected … so they went their own way.

Lectionary:  Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

Referenced Scriptures:  Exodus 24:1-2,9-11; Exodus 32:1,5-6,9-10,15-16,19; Numbers 12:1-16

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2q7Rn1KMUa5SPG0?e=n8vebr

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2lXebjEPpsyrvYo?e=71Dzd7

Sermon 16 Feb 2020  (6^th Sunday after Epiphany)

Choices have consequences by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Every day we make choices.  All choices have consequences.  Being a disciple of Jesus is all about choices and their consequences.  What is the difference between adults and infants, between “people who live by the Spirit” and “people who are still worldly”, in terms of the choices they make?

Lectionary: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-18; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-26

Referenced Scriptures:  Genesis 4:3-7; 1 John 4:20-21

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2d6L-m1kanjVjY8?e=1IHmJS

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2iCGVDxUMvTxJKk?e=eW0Enf

Recording – Testimony:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2Z3ajrEAsg6sul1?e=8QO3C8

Sermon 09 Feb 2020  (5^th Sunday after Epiphany)

Let the Light out of the box! by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  “My people seem eager” even to the point of fasting … but the purpose of fasting is to achieve His desires, not ours.  We are the salt of the earth; but if we look and taste and act just like the world we are no longer salt, only dust.  We are the light of the world because we carry the Light of Christ; but light is worthless if it is sealed inside a box.  Carry His Light outside the Sunday Mass box!

Lectionary: Isaiah 58:1-9; Psalm 112; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20

Referenced Scriptures:  James 4:8; Matthew 27:46; 2 Chronicles 7:14

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2Tg3RFD2Y2VYBvn?e=6473Ji

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2PlZhwZ0nvJwkJY?e=Ji9a9N

Sermon 02 Feb 2020  (4^th Sunday after Epiphany)

Here’s what God has done; what will you do? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  The Lord has a case against His people.  He has done great and marvelous things for us, yet we consider His requirements burdensome to us.  But what does He require?  Are His rewards not enough for us?

Lectionary: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15:1-5; 1 Corinthians 1:2-9; Matthew 5:1-12

Referenced Scriptures:  Numbers 22-25; John 6:63; Joshua 3:1-4:20; Deuteronomy 31-33; Gen. 22:1-19; Galatians 3:24; John 21:15-19; John 15:12-14; 1 John 3:16-18

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2C46guXm9_9t2ak?e=NpJpeN

Text – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2FN7IN5sxnjhXFY?e=ELl2zd

Recording – Testimony:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo2KwT8J9ZalwZF5c?e=XkhtVc

Sermon 26 Jan 2020  (3^rd Sunday after Epiphany)

Do the works of Him who sends you by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus came into a simpler time and called simple fishermen to lay down their nets and become fishers of men.  He called them to display the power and glory and mercy of God.  He chose the lowly to nullify – to expose as worth nothing – the wisdom and power and exalted things of this world.  He has called you to do the same.  It requires sacrifice, and it requires work: the sweat of your brow.

Lectionary: Isaiah 8:20-9:2; Psalm 27:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 4:12-23

Referenced Scriptures:  Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:2-4; Matthew 9:6; Matthew 9:21; Matthew 12:13; Matthew 15:26; Matthew 17:27; Mark 10:49; Luke 5:4; Luke 13:12; Luke 17:14; John 2:7; John 4:50; John 5:8; John 9:7; John 11:38; John 21:6; John 5:30a; John 6:26-27; John 9:4-5

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo1_oRMdD-iqlrbiD?e=MV3kob

Sermon 19 Jan 2020  (Our Lord the Giver of Life)

For what do you lay down your life? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Abortion is a problem of epidemic proportions, but it is only a symptom.  Everyone, every day, lays down (sacrifices) lesser things for the sake of greater things; this is a basic principle of life.  The central issue is what you use as the basis on which you determine what is greater and what is lesser.  You can lay down important things to make your life more comfortable and enjoyable … or you can lay down your life for the most important thing – Jesus.  Abortion happens when one lays down another person’s life for the sake of their own.

Lectionary: Jeremiah 31:10-17; Psalm 10; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Matthew 18:1-5

Referenced Scriptures:  2 Corinthians 3:18; John 6:63; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 127:3-5a; John 10:14-18; John 13:37-38; John 21:15-19; John 15:12-14; 1 John 3:16-18

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo15F_nzddrFOLST0?e=FpiQRc

Recording – Testimony:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRo13CxghDOxVrqzb0?e=FpSbwT