Sermons from Sweet Home

"Oh my, Jesus touched a Leper"

Jesus never touched a demon-possessed person, he just spoke to them. But whenever someone was physically ill, Jesus would want to touch them, even though it wasn't necessary. On this particular day Jesus was faced with a different challenge, he came face to face with a leper. A leper was considered cursed by God, a sinner and highly contagious. Lepers were unclean outcasts from society, and from the Temple worship. If Jesus touches him, he could become unclean,  he could contract the disease and he could be shunned by society. Did he end up touching him? 

Gone Fishing with Jesus

After a long night of grueling fishing Jesus challenges Peter to fish again, to let down his nets again. And Peter submits. He has learnt to do whatever Jesus says even if it contradicts his own reasoning. And you know the rest of the story. Jesus can command demons, but here it seems like he can even command fish. 

Jesus Goes Missing (Mothers Day Lesson)

In this beautiful story we see Jesus heal the mother-in-law of his friend, his disciple. Jesus is staying at Peter's house, he seems to be a couch surfer. After a long day of preaching and doing miracles Jesus is still not consumed with himself, but rather with others. So he heals this lady, probably from Malaria. Then he goes to bed, but gets up early the next morning while everyone is still sleeping. Why did he so often disappear on his own into secluded places? 

A Demon in Church

It sounds like a scene out of a movie. While Jesus is preaching in a synagogue a demon-possessed man suddenly addresses him. Talk about a sermon interruption. The demon launches a host of questions at Jesus. But Jesus doesn't answer him. He just tells him to "shut up and leave". And the demon obeys. Isn't it interesting how easily evil spirits obey Jesus, yet we don't? What do they know about Jesus that we don't get? 

Acts 27:13-26 "We finally gave up all hope"

A mighty God-ordained storm moves across the Levant and hits this ship in a hard way. For days and nights there was no hope to be saved and everyone pretty much thought they were going to die. Everyone except one person: Paul. During the night Jesus appeared to him and gave him courage and told him that there would be a shipwreck but they would all be saved. 

Acts 26:1-32 "Your great learning is driving you insane"

In this great chapter we see the Apostle Paul preach a great sermon again that includes his testimony. He talks about visions and resurrections. To the mind of a Roman pagan like Festus this must have sounded ridiculous. But Paul was not a fool and didn't speak like an educated man. And the only way Festus could make sense of this man is to say he is losing his mind due to his great learning. But Paul is sharp, and even uses the opportunity to preach the Gospel to Herod and perhaps convert him. 

Acts 25:13-27 "I don't know what to write"

Festus, the poor new guy on the block finds himself ion a pickle. The case of Paul is so complicated. The Jews hate him, and his predecessor put him in prison in Herod's palace. And now Paul is appealing to Caesar. And when a Roman appeals to Caesar it cannot be denied. So Festus finds himself in a difficult position. He needs to find a legitimate charge against Paul, otherwise he will be sending Paul to Rome without any charge sheet. Well, let's see how he handles this situation. 

Acts 25:1-12 "I do not refuse to die"

Paul stands stands trial before the new governor. In this text we see Paul face his accusers again, after two years. And they are still mad. Festus finds himself in the middle. Paul is bold, he cannot plead guilty. Not because he fears death, but because his conscience doesn't allow it. Paul is not scared of dying and he makes that clear. 

Even Royalty Need Jesus

There are three types of people who experienced Jesus and His miracles: (1) Those who saw and believed. (2) Those who saw and didn't believe. (3) Those who didn't see but believed. This latter group of people really intrigue me. These are people who didn't see any miracle, who didn't see a resurrection, but they believe simply because they have heard Jesus. 
This royal official hiked over 20 miles on an uphill road of 1700 feet in elevation in order to ask Jesus to heal his son who was sick at home with a fever. He wanted Jesus to go with him, and perhaps touch his son. But for Jesus this was not necessary. He could speak or think things into existence. And the royal official believed. He trusted the words of Jesus even though he did not see his son healed yet. Now that is faith. And that is faith that impresses Jesus. 

The "Wine Jesus" or the "Whip Jesus"?

The first miracle of Jesus took place at a wedding, a feast. The second time Jesus performs miracles according to John is in Jerusalem at the Passover. But before Jesus performed these miracles and many believed he first entered the Temple area, made a whip and beat the animals and people out of the place. Jesus can be festive, but he can also be angry. Which Jesus do you prefer, and do we have a choice? 
We see in this story how eager the Jewish people were to see a miracle before they would listen to Jesus. The Jews were the same in the time of Paul too. The Greeks were different, they wanted wisdom first before they would trust the message of Jesus. But Paul says, "we preach Christ and Him crucified". Today many people also fall into one of these three categories. Go to church for a nice crisp life-wisdom sermon. Or go to church to pray for a miracle and blessings. How many people go to church, do Christianity, simply because of Jesus and Him crucified?