Sermon Highlights
Church Events and Info
Church Events and Info
Sunday, September 20, 2020
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Pastor Wally’s Sunday Sermon:
“Forgiveness and Power”
Psalm 103:1-4, 8-12; Matthew 18:21-35; and Genesis 50:15-21
Our impulsive, all-too-human, favorite disciple, Peter, asks a question people of every church ask: how many times do I have to forgive my fellow church member who sins against me? Seven times? But Jesus’ answer is not just a nod and a smile of appreciation: He shocks us. He expands the notion of forgiveness in shocking ways. He says seventy-seven times, which still makes it hard to keep a count. Is this excessive? How can we be expected to forgive that much? Well, when you are in a relationship with someone – whether it’s your spouse, or a friend, or your fellow church members – forgiveness is an ongoing process and is often required many, many times. The followers of Jesus certainly have the best intentions for a life together as a community of Christ. But Jesus, and Matthew who included this story, also recognize that we are sinful humans. We are sometimes selfish, petty, annoying, greedy, and self-serving. We hurt each other “in thought, word, and deed, by why we have done and by what we have left undone,” as we say in a familiar prayer of confession. So Jesus explains to his disciples (and thus to the Church) how to stay in relationship after there has been hurt and damage. And he does this by telling a parable about a king and one of his servants. In settling accounts, the king finds out that this servant owes him an enormous debt – ten thousand talents. That’s huge, like the debt of a small country. Jesus’ hearers would have known that no one person could have accrued that level of debt, and that Jesus is employing hyperbole again. It’s a ridiculously huge amount. His listeners would recognize that.
But they would have been more shocked by the unbelievable mercy of the king who forgives the whole debt! The point of this parable is to show that divine forgiveness upends our expectations. Now, it would have been fine if the parable ended with the debt forgiven and they all live happily ever after. But Jesus adds his usual disturbing twist. Come to our virtual worship service this Sunday and enjoy a new twist on an old story.
Grace and Peace to All,
Pastor Wally
Tune in this week and be blessed with a beautiful song played on the violin compliments of Pastor Wally.
A Reminder from Pastor Wally:
Come join us for a Virtual Coffee Hour on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. that I am currently hosting. I am moderating the Zoom meeting and will do my best to make sure everybody gets some time to share.
For Links to chats and coffee hour, see eCall or contact Pastor Wally.
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Pastor Wally’s Sunday Sermon:
“Forgiveness and Power”
Psalm 103:1-4, 8-12; Matthew 18:21-35; and Genesis 50:15-21
Our impulsive, all-too-human, favorite disciple, Peter, asks a question people of every church ask: how many times do I have to forgive my fellow church member who sins against me? Seven times? But Jesus’ answer is not just a nod and a smile of appreciation: He shocks us. He expands the notion of forgiveness in shocking ways. He says seventy-seven times, which still makes it hard to keep a count. Is this excessive? How can we be expected to forgive that much? Well, when you are in a relationship with someone – whether it’s your spouse, or a friend, or your fellow church members – forgiveness is an ongoing process and is often required many, many times. The followers of Jesus certainly have the best intentions for a life together as a community of Christ. But Jesus, and Matthew who included this story, also recognize that we are sinful humans. We are sometimes selfish, petty, annoying, greedy, and self-serving. We hurt each other “in thought, word, and deed, by why we have done and by what we have left undone,” as we say in a familiar prayer of confession. So Jesus explains to his disciples (and thus to the Church) how to stay in relationship after there has been hurt and damage. And he does this by telling a parable about a king and one of his servants. In settling accounts, the king finds out that this servant owes him an enormous debt – ten thousand talents. That’s huge, like the debt of a small country. Jesus’ hearers would have known that no one person could have accrued that level of debt, and that Jesus is employing hyperbole again. It’s a ridiculously huge amount. His listeners would recognize that.
But they would have been more shocked by the unbelievable mercy of the king who forgives the whole debt! The point of this parable is to show that divine forgiveness upends our expectations. Now, it would have been fine if the parable ended with the debt forgiven and they all live happily ever after. But Jesus adds his usual disturbing twist. Come to our virtual worship service this Sunday and enjoy a new twist on an old story.
Grace and Peace to All,
Pastor Wally
Tune in this week and be blessed with a beautiful song played on the violin compliments of Pastor Wally.
A Reminder from Pastor Wally:
Come join us for a Virtual Coffee Hour on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. that I am currently hosting. I am moderating the Zoom meeting and will do my best to make sure everybody gets some time to share.
For Links to chats and coffee hour, see eCall or contact Pastor Wally.
