Sermon Schedule for October


sunday, october 6

little things

Matthew 13:31-33


Jesus compares the coming of God’s reign not in terms of huge, impressive, sensational actions, but as rather small by any real measure. What does that mean for us?

sunday, october 13

Scribes for the kingdom

Matthew 13:34-52


Jesus tells three short parables about the kingdom/reign of God, speaking both about the wonder of finding the kingdom, and the coming judgment the kingdom brings. He finishes then with a statement about the task of the “scribe” for the kingdom, “who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” What is the task of the “scribe” of the kingdom? What does it mean for the Church today?

sunday, october 20

is jesus necessary

Matthew 13:53-58


Jesus preaches in his hometown, only to prove the saying true, “familiarity breeds contempt.” But seriously, how “necessary” is Jesus to our religion? How central to our concept of “God” is Jesus Christ?


sunday, october 27

reformation sunday

the blood of the martyrs

Matthew 14:1-12


The death of John the Baptist stands out as something of a foreshadowing of the death of Jesus and of the deaths of the martyrs who, like John, would give their witness to Christ unto death. Martyrdom is not something simply of ancient history, but goes on today in our world as well.