Sermons by Rev. Joel Lynn

             Our scripture reading for today from James 1:27 talks about the meaning of religion. But before we discuss how James utilizes this term, I think we should first look at how the term is utilized in our culture today. So, what do you think about when you hear the term religion? Unfortunately, from my perspective, it seems that that term often has quite the negative connotation nowadays, among both Christians and non-Christians. Among non-Christians, there is a large segment of people who do not identify with any world religion who nevertheless do not identify as atheists. This group often calls themselves “spiritual but not religious”. So there is a sense in which people are far more willing to call themselves spiritual than religious. But even within Christianity, you’ll often hear people denigrate religion. One person really capitalized on this sentiment. Jefferson Bethke garnered 35 million views from a YouTube video published i...

            In Luke 9:57-62 we see Jesus breaking every rule of the church growth movement. Jesus has three potential people who are ready to follow him, and yet after a brief conversation with each it seems like Jesus has quickly lost all 3 potential disciples. I can imagine that many church leaders would have some harsh words for Jesus in this situation if Jesus were their pastor. They’d say something like, “Jesus, we need to be streamlining points of entry into our church. We need to be making it as easy for people to come as possible. When they express any interest in coming, we need to stress all the benefits of doing so: making friends, finding purpose, good music, captivating sermons, and so forth. What are you doing immediately focusing on things they’d have to sacrifice if they were to become a Christian? That’s not going to win as many converts. Jesus, at least wait a year before you start bringing that stuff up. And even then, make the level...

                      As we continue in our series on the book of James, we come today to verse 19 where it says be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. To some, being a good listener might sound like a simple skill that we all should have mastered sometime in elementary school. But most adults know that being a good listener is often more difficult than it seems. Take for example, when you’re meeting someone for the first time. How often does someone say their name to you and 30 seconds later you’ve already forgotten it? Or, how often when you’re in a conversation with someone have you found that you are no longer really listening, you’re just formulating in your head what you want to say next? To be a good listener you have to be intentional about it. It is not merely not interrupting or not multitasking, it’s not merely being still with your ears open, good listening is active. It requires you showing with...

                  The thing that really stood out to me about viewing the solar eclipse in my area of the country was just how bright out it still was, even with well over 90% of the sun blocked by the moon. Scientists were quite right that there is a big difference between 99% coverage and full totality.                 It got me thinking about how the sun, or similar images of light or fire, is often used as a metaphor for God in the Bible. In Daniel 7, a stream of fire flowed out from God’s presence. On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus’ face shone like the sun. Jesus calls himself the light of the world. And in Revelation 21, in an image of the heavenly end times, it is said that there will be no sun, because the glory of the Lord will be the light of the city of God.          ...

               Bezalel and Oholiab.  These are two Bible names you've probably never heard of, but they are men who I think should be talked about a lot more often, and they should still inspire us today.  You can read about them in Exodus 35:30-35, among other places. These men were the leaders in the construction of the Tabernacle, the tent where God's presence would dwell with the Israelites. They were gifted by the Spirit to devise artistic designs, with knowledge in every kind of craft. They worked with gold, silver, and bronze, and with blue, purple, and crimson yarns, with fine linen, and with animal skins.  They carved wood and embroidered and weaved. They used their artistic and architectural talents to help draw people into the worship of God by making a tabernacle of extraordinary beauty that helped signal to the even greater beauty of God. Why do they matter? Because if you look back at church history, churches an...

        Isaiah 9:1-7: " But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied exultation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian . For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, ...

            Our guiding assumption in this age where people increasingly choose online church is that all that really matters is hearing the content of a sermon. But if all that mattered in good pastoring was sharing content, well, we could downsize the process significantly. Instead of paying thousands and thousands of pastors in America each year, we could instead downsize to the ten or twenty best and brightest, and everyone could pick which one to tune in and listen to on the radio or podcasts or YouTube or Facebook. Why don’t we do this? Because Jesus modeled a different way of teaching. Jesus called his twelve disciples and said, “Follow me.” In so doing, he did not just invite them to come and listen to a lecture for an hour or two each day and then go on home. No, they were called to live life with their teacher, for years. A discipleship model of learning recognizes that instruction, at its best, is more than just expository teaching; instru...