Grace Church NOLA

A message based on Matthew 21:1-17:  As they approached Jerusalem, entering Beth-Phage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent off two disciples with the instructions, “Go into the village straight ahead of you, and immediately you will find a tethered donkey with her colt standing beside her.  Untie them and lead them back to me.  If anyone questions you, say, ‘The Rabbi needs them.’  Then they will let them go at once.”  This came about to fulfill what was said through the prophet: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Your Sovereign comes to you without display, riding on a donkey, on a colt— the foal of a beast of burden.’”  So the disciples went off and did what Jesus had ordered.  They brought the donkey and her colt, and after they laid their cloaks on the animals, Jesus mounted and rode toward the city.  Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while some began to cut branches from the trees and lay them along the path.  The crowds—those who went in front of Jesus and those who followed—were all shouting, “Hosanna to the Heir to the House of David!  Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Most High!  Hosanna in the highest!”  As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred to its depths, demanding, “Who is this?”  And the crowd kept answering, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee!”  When Jesus entered the Temple, he drove out all those who were selling and buying there.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.  He said to them, “Scripture says, ‘My house is called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of thieves!”  Those who were blind or couldn’t walk came to Jesus in the Temple, and he healed them.  When the chief priests and teachers of the Law saw the wonderful things Jesus did, and heard the children shouting “Hosanna to the Heir to the House of David!” throughout the Temple area, they became indignant.  “Do you hear what the children are shouting?” they asked Jesus. “Yes,” Jesus replied.  “Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of children and nursing babies, you have brought forth praise’?”  After leaving them, Jesus went out to Bethany to spend the night.

A message based on Mark 12:13-17:  Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent after Jesus to catch him in his speech.  The two groups approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and unconcerned about the opinion of others.  It is evident you aren’t swayed by another’s rank, but teach God’s way of life sincerely.  So:  is it lawful to pay tax to the emperor or not?  Are we to pay or not to pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus said to them, “Why are you trying to trick me?  Let me see a coin.”  When they handed Jesus one, he said to them, “Whose image and inscription do you see here?”  “Caesar’s,” they answered.  Then Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”  This reply took them completely by surprise.  

A message based on John 10:1-18: Jesus said, “The truth of the matter is, whoever doesn’t enter the sheepfold through the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.  The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep, the one for whom the keeper opens the gate.  The sheep know the shepherd’s voice; the shepherd calls them by name and leads them out.  Having led them all out of the fold, the shepherd walks in front of them and they follow because they recognize the shepherd’s voice.  They simply won’t follow strangers— they’ll flee from them because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.”  Even though Jesus used this metaphor with the Pharisees, they didn’t grasp what he was trying to tell them.  Jesus therefore said to them again: “The truth of the matter is, I am the sheep gate.  All who came before me were thieves and marauders whom the sheep didn’t heed.  I am the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be safe— you’ll go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy.  I came that you might have life and have it to the full.  I am the good shepherd.  A good shepherd would die for the sheep.  The hired hand, who is neither shepherd nor owner of the sheep, catches sight of the wolf coming and runs away, leaving the sheep to be scattered or snatched by the wolf.  That’s because the hired hand works only for pay and has no concern for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me, in the same way Abba God knows me and I know God— and for these sheep I will lay down my life.  I have other sheep that don’t belong to this fold— I must lead them too, and they will hear my voice.  And then there will be one flock, one shepherd.  This is why Abba God loves me— because I lay down my life, only to take it up again.  No one takes my life from me; I lay it down freely.  I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again. This command I received from my Abba.”

A message based on Luke 6:17-36:  Coming down the mountain with the apostles, Jesus stopped in a level area where there were a great number of disciples.  A large crowd of people was with them from Jerusalem and all over Judea, to as far north as the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon—people who had come to hear Jesus and be healed of their diseases, and even to be freed from unclean spirits.  Indeed, the whole crowd was trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming out of him and healing them all.  Looking at the disciples, Jesus said: “You who are poor are blessed, for the reign of God is yours. You who hunger now are blessed, for you’ll be filled. You who weep now are blessed, for you’ll laugh. You are blessed when people hate you, when they scorn and insult you and spurn your name as evil because of the Chosen One.  On the day they do so, rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in heaven, for their ancestors treated the prophets the same way. But woe to you rich, for you are now receiving your comfort in full.Woe to you who are full, for you’ll go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you’ll weep in your grief.Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in the same way.“To you who hear me, I say: love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.  When they slap you on one cheek, turn and give them the other; when they take your coat, let them have your shirt as well.  Give to all who beg from you.  When someone takes what is yours, don’t demand it back.  “Do to others what you would have them do to you.  If you love those who love you, what credit does that do you?  Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.  If you do good only to those who do good to you, what credit does that do you?  Even ‘sinners’ do as much.  If you lend to those you expect to repay you, what credit does that do you?  Even ‘sinners’ lend to other ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.  Love your enemies and do good to them.  Lend without expecting repayment, and your reward will be great.  You’ll rightly be called children of the Most High, since God is good even to the ungrateful and the wicked.  “Be compassionate, as your loving God is compassionate.

A message based on Matthew 4:1-11: Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit, to be tempted by the Devil.  After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry.  Then the tempter approached and said, “If you are the Only Begotten, command these stones to turn into bread.”Jesus replied, “Scripture has it, ‘We live not on bread alone but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God.’”Next the Devil took Jesus to the Holy City, set him on the parapet of the Temple and said, “If you are the Only Begotten, throw yourself down.  Scripture has it, ‘God will tell the angels to take care of you; with their hands they will support you that you may never stumble on a stone.’” Jesus answered, “Scripture also says, ‘Do not put God to the test.’”The Devil then took Jesus up a very high mountain and displayed all the dominions of the world in their magnificence, promising, “All these I will give you if you fall down and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to the Devil, “Away with you, Satan!  Scripture says, ‘You will worship the Most High God; God alone will you adore.’” At that the Devil left, and angels came and attended Jesus.

A message based on Matthew 17:1-9: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.  And Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light.  Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.  Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”  When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.”  And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”  

A message based on Matthew 5:13-20: Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

A message based on Matthew 5:1-12: When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

A message based on Matthew 4:12-23:  Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.  As Jesus went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.  Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

A message based on Matthew 3:13-17:  Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented Jesus, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  But Jesus answered John, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then John consented.  And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and Jesus saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”  

A message based on Matthew 2:1-15: After Jesus’ birth—which happened in Bethlehem of Judea, during the reign of Herod—astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the newborn ruler of the Jews?  We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay homage.”  At this news Herod became greatly disturbed, as did all of Jerusalem.  Summoning all the chief priests and religious scholars of the people, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they informed him.  “Here is what the prophet has written: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,  are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,  since from you will come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”Herod called the astrologers aside and found out from them the exact time of the star’s appearance.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, after having instructed them, “Go and get detailed information about the child.  When you have found him, report back to me—so that I may go and offer homage, too.”After their audience with the ruler, they set out.  The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a standstill over the place where the child lay.  They were overjoyed at seeing the star and, upon entering the house, found the child with Mary, his mother.  They prostrated themselves and paid homage.  Then they opened their coffers and presented the child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were warned in a dream, not to return to Herod, so they went back to their own country by another route. After the astrologers had left, the angel of God suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph with the command, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you otherwise.  Herod is searching for the child to destroy him.”  Joseph got up, awakened Jesus and Mary, and they left that night for Egypt.  They stayed there until the death of Herod, to fulfill what God had said through the prophet:  “Out of Egypt I have called my Own.” 

A message based on Luke 2:21-40: When the eighth day arrived for the child’s circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.When the day came for them to be purified, as laid down by the Law of Moses, the couple took Jesus up to Jerusalem and presented him to God. For it is written in the Law of our God, “Every firstborn heir is to be consecrated to God.” They likewise came to offer in sacrifice “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accord with the dictate of the Law of our God.Now there lived in Jerusalem a man named Simeon. He was devout and just, anticipating the consolation of Israel, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. She had revealed to Simeon that he wouldn’t see death until he had seen the Messiah of God. Prompted by her, Simeon came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to perform the customary rituals of the Law, he took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Now, O God, you can dismiss your servant in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the peoples to see— a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”As the child’s mother and father stood there marveling at the things that were being said, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, the mother, “This child is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is rejected, so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare. And a sword will pierce your heart as well.”There was a woman named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was a prophet. She had lived a long life, seven years with her husband, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple, worshipping day and night, fasting and praying. Coming up at that moment, she gave thanks to God and talked about the child, Jesus, to all who anticipated the deliverance of Jerusalem.When the couple had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the Law of God, they returned to Galilee and their own town of Nazareth. The child grew in size and strength. Jesus was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was with him.

A message based on Luke 1:57-80:  When the time came for Elizabeth to deliver, she gave birth to a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard that God had been merciful to her, they shared her joy.  When all had assembled for the circumcision on the eighth day, they intended to name the baby after his father Zechariah.  But Elizabeth spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”They pointed out to her, “But no one in your family has this name.”  Then they made signs to the father to find out what he wanted the child to be named.  Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.”  They were all astonished.  Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.  Their neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea, people were talking about these events.  All who heard the news stored it in their hearts and said, “What will this child turn out to be?”  For God’s hand is with him.  Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Blessed are you, the Most High God of Israel— for you have visited and redeemed your people.   You have raised up a mighty savior for us of the house of David, as you promised through the mouths of your holy ones,  the prophets of ancient times: salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all our foes.   You have shown mercy to our ancestors by remembering the holy Covenant you made with them,  the oath you swore to Sarah and Abraham,  granting that we,  delivered from the hands of our enemies,  might serve you without fear,  in holiness and justice,  in your presence all our days.   And you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,  for you’ll go before our God to prepare the way for the Promised One,  giving the people the knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins.   Such is the tender mercy of our God,  who from on high will bring the Rising Sun to visit us,  to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”In the meantime, the child, John, grew up and became strong in spirit.  He lived out in the desert until the day he appeared openly in Israel.  

A message based on Luke 1:39-55:  Within a few days Mary set out and hurried to the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of the Messiah should come to me.  The moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who believed that what our God said to her would be accomplished!”Mary said: “My soul proclaims your greatness, O God,  and my spirit rejoices in you, my Savior.    For you have looked with favor  upon your lowly servant,  and from this day forward  all generations will call me blessed.    For you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,   and holy is your Name.    Your mercy reaches from age to age  for those who fear you.    You have shown strength with your arm;  you have scattered the proud in their conceit;  you have deposed the mighty from their thrones  and raised the lowly to high places.    You have filled the hungry with good things,   while you have sent the rich away empty.    You have come to the aid of Israel your servant,   mindful of your mercy—  the promise you made to our ancestors—  to Sarah and Abraham  and their descendants forever.” 

A message based on Matthew 3:1-12:  At this time John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea, proclaiming, “Change your hearts and minds, for the reign of heaven is about to break upon you!” It was John that the prophet Isaiah described when he said, “A herald’s voice cries in the desert:  Prepare the way of our God, make straight the paths of God!’”John was clothed in a garment of camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist.  Grasshoppers and wild honey were his food.  At that time, Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him.  John baptized them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. When John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You pack of snakes!  Who told you to flee from the coming wrath?  Give some evidence that you mean to reform!  And don’t pride yourselves on the claim, ‘Sarah and Abraham are our parents.’  I tell you, God can raise children for Sarah and Abraham from these very stones!Even now the ax is laid to the root of the tree.  Every tree that is not fruitful will be cut down and thrown into the fire.  I will baptize you in water for repentance, but the One who will follow me is more powerful than I.  I’m not fit even to untie the sandals of the Coming One!  The One who is Coming will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, his winnowing-fan will clear the threshing floor.  The grain will be gathered into the barn, but the chaff will be burned in unquenchable fire.” 

A message based on Mark 13:24-37: Jesus said, “But in those days, after that time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Promised One coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then the angels will be sent to gather the elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”"Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Promised One is near, right at the door. The truth is, before this generation has passed away, all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it—neither the angels of heaven, nor the Only Begotten—no one but Abba God. Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake! You do not know when the appointed time will come. "It is like people traveling abroad. They leave their home and put the workers in charge, each with a certain task, and those who watch at the front gate are ordered to stay on the alert. So stay alert! You do not know when the owner of the house is coming, whether at dusk, at midnight, when the cock crows or at early dawn. Do not let the owner come suddenly and catch you asleep. What I say to you, I say to all: stay alert!”

A message based on Luke 21:5-19: When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then Jesus said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

A message based on Luke 6:20-31:  Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.  Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.“Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.“Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.“But I say to you who are listening:  Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.  If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.” 

A message based on John 8:31-36:  Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone.  What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.  So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

A message based on Luke 18:1-8 (NRSVue):  Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.  He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.  In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’  For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God grant justice to God’s chosen ones who cry out day and night?  Will God delay long in helping them?  I tell you, God will quickly grant justice to them.  And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”