Tag: First Congregational Church

How Inclusive is God?

Acts 10-11 When God gives a vision, everyone gets uncomfortable.This Sunday’s text is the account of the conversion of Cornelius.  It is such a significant event that it takes up a large portion of the book.  The central person is Peter and how he has to come to terms with God’s vision. Peter has been taught …

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The Never Ending Story

Matthew 28:16-20 When we come to the end of most stories we hear a “The End.” Matthew makes sure you realize that this is not the end. It is the last few verses of his Gospel, but the story, the work of Christ, and Christ’s interaction with people does not end with the Gospel. Matthew makes sure we …

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Is the Tomb that important?

  Matthew 28:1-10 As I look at Matthew’s recounting of the story of Resurrection morning, I am interested in the references to place.  The women—the two Mary’s—came to the tomb where they had laid Jesus. As they approached, there was an earthquake seemingly caused by an angel that also rolled back the stone that covered …

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Why was Jesus mad in the Temple?

Matthew 21:1-17 This week is Palm Sunday.  Often we are caught up in the children waving palm fronds, the singing and praises that welcome Jesus into Jerusalem on the first day of Holy Week.  He goes into the Temple to cleanse it.  Though many Christians are confused about that, we kind-of agree that what the …

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