Month: July 2011
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Hope – A Topical Summer Sermon Podcast
Hope 2011-07-31.m4a Listen on Posterous Today, July 31st 2011, the people of Provo Community United Church of Christ had to say farewell to Felipe Dominguez as our music director. We used this occasion to reflect on the topic of "hope". From the Red Sea, over Mary's conception to Augustine's sermons and Bach's chorales – the…
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Necessary Sacrifice
In the letter to the Hebrews, Jesus is seen as the great high priest, whose presence in suffering and death abolished the need for such sacrifices. Even President Obama thinks the debt crisis can be resolved with sacrifices:
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Slave turned brother
Paul wants Philemon to treat his returning slave with kindness and love. Roman law allowed slaveowners to punish escaped slaves harshly. Onesimus may have run away because of a disagreement with Philemon. In this kind of situation, a slave might ask a trusted third party (like Paul) to intervene. What does this letter say about…
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Equal pay for equal work?
Equal pay for equal work? Not with God! Instead Jesus insists on Freedom of contract. When the workers who were hired first thought they would receive more than the others, and they complained when all were paid the same, Jesus shrugged: ‘I have not cheated you. After all, you agreed to do a day’s work…
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Forgive seventy times seven
Have you ever had to forgive someone for something? Did your willingness to forgive improve your relationship with that person? What would the world be like without forgiveness? Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?”…