Rev.. Doug Floyd Pentecost +17Rev. Doug FloydMatthew 20:1-16 Jesus says, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” [1] He proceeds to tell a story about a landowner who hires workers for his vineyard at four different times during the day. At the end of…
Pentecost +16Rev. Doug FloydMatthew 18:21-35 Matthew asks the question that God’s disciples sometimes ask in their hearts, “How many times must I forgive my brother?” Seven times? Jesus answers with the almost incalculable number seventy times seven. This number points to some complete or comprehensive forgiveness that knows no limits. Jesus tells the now familiar story of the king who forgives his…
Rev. Dr. Les Martin Pentecost +15Rev. Dr. Les MartinEzekiel 33:1-11, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 18:15-20 In the name of the living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen. Well, at one level we have quite a potpourri of readings today. It’s kind of hard to see how they tie together. We have this terrifying reading from Ezekiel, at least terrifying for Father Doug…
Pentecost +14Rev. Doug FloydRomans 12:1-8 Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. What does that look like? Every Easter, we hear stories of some people who take this literally and are crucified. In college, I thought I was called to be a martyr, but I was called to die daily. Our second lesson offers some clarification on that…
Pentecost +13Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 51:1-8 In our Psalm today, the psalmist exclaims the faithfulness of God. He writes, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” [1] He declares God’s faithfulness and then prays on the basis of that faithfulness. We like the psalmist trust that God…
Pentecost +11Rev. Doug FloydMatthew 14:22-33 When Jesus hears that Herod has killed John the Baptist, he goes to a desolate place to pray. Soon the crowds learn where he is and they gather around. Jesus has great compassion on them and heals the sick and cares for the needy. Throughout the day, more and more people gather until there are thousands of…
Rev. Dr. Les Martin Transfiguration 2023Rev. Dr. Les MartinLuke 9:28–36 I have resolved to know nothing among you except Christ Jesus and him crucified in the name of the living God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. I’ll try and remember this. In Nigeria, I had to preach with a microphone all the time and I couldn’t stand it…
Pentecost +9 – Musted Seed KingdomRev. Doug Floyd1 Kings 3:3-14, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-50 I was sitting in a church service during the offering daydreaming. Walking across a desert, I felt overcome with heat and was so thirsty! I told the Lord I needed something to drink and a canteen came down from the sky. I’m really thirsty Lord. Please help. Then suddenly…
Pentecost +8 – United with ChristRev. Doug FloydRomans 8 In the summer before my Junior year in High School, I got a job working in construction for a friend of the family. He required a physical for the job, so I went to my doctor. My blood pressure was so high that they admitted me to the hospital that day. For the…
Pentecost +7Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 55 Our house is being rebuilt after the fire last year. The cement block is complete, and they’ve put the plumbing in the basement. We are anxiously waiting and watching for each step. We printed out Scriptures that friends and family sent us and prayed them over the build, and then dropped the into the cement block. As…