People with narrow minds usually have broad tongues.
‹anonymous›
Atlantis: the domain of the Stingray
24May
2015
Sun
15:05
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Whitsunday

Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; John14:23-31

Whitsunday 2015r Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It was several generations after the flood that the people, who all spoke with one voice, decided to make a name for themselves. On the plains of Shinar, the began to build a great city—a tower reaching into the heavens at it center. Concerned at what was happening, YHWH came down to see what the children of man were building.

Now, it has to be an eerily ominous thing when God descends to see what is going on. In the Garden, God was taking His walk in the cool of the day, and asks where Adam was. As if He didn’t know, He asks as if to give the man a chance to reveal and explain himself. Things take a turn for the worse from there. Adam blames the woman; the woman blames the serpent—all three received a curse; to mankind, it is the promised curse of death, which, having now fallen into sin, is something of a blessing: man does not have to live forever under the sting of sin. (cf. Genesis 3:8-19)

In today’s Old Testament reading, God did not have to come down to see what the children of man had built. But His condescending that day resulted in punishment for sin. The people on the plains of Shinar thought too highly of themselves. It’s the same sin of Adam and the woman, who thought that they could be like God—maybe better than God—simply by eating the fruit that He had commanded them not to eat. These people thought themselves God’s equal or superior by the might of their hands and handiwork. “[N]othing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.”

Once again, God’s condescending results in the condemnation and punishment of sin. The people were scattered from Shinar. Their language was confused. One day, neighbors could speak to each other; the next, there was confusion, and neighbors were separated, perhaps they even became enemies. From there, God dispersed the people over the face of the earth.

17May
2015
Sun
15:35
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Exaudi

John 15:26—16:4

Exaudi 2015 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, ‘Seek ye my face;’ my heart said unto thee, ‘Thy face, LORD, will I seek.’ Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.” (Psalm 27:7-9, KJV)

10May
2015
Sun
15:32
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Rogate

John 16:23-33

Rogate 2015 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For the past two week and today, we have jumped around St. John’s 16th chapter. We even had a little look into the 15th chapter. In these chapters, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure.

Now, it would seem that the departure He’s preparing them for His crucifixion and death. It’s the day of Jesus’ betrayal, after all. He had just washed their feet after supper, knowing that “His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father.” (cf. John 13:1) Up to this time, Jesus had spent about three years with them, catechizing them, giving them their seminary education, so to speak, even though their minds would not be open to His instruction until after His resurrection. On at least three occasions, Jesus had told them that He would be betrayed and delivered to death, and on all three times He was not understood. (cf. Matthew 17:22; 20:18; 26:24)

On the night of today’s text, however, there is something else going on. Jesus’ tenor is different than in His Passion predictions.