
Hosted by Larry Mudd · EN

In Christianity, the Feast of Pentecost is shifted from the Hebrew themes of wheat harvest and the giving of Torah to the arrival of the Creator Himself in the form of His Holy Spirit descending in power. This follows 10 days after King Jesus ascended to His throne at the right hand of the Father, having been handed even more authority than He had before. The Spirit's work in and through us defies description but we take a crack at it in today's lesson on Acts 2. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

The Apostle Paul quotes an ancient Christian hymn that encapsulates Jesus' mission in a few lines of poetry in his letter to the Philippians. Philippians 2:5-11 marks Jesus' descent from glory to mortality in order to begin and fulfill His rescue mission. Luke ends his gospel with the ascension and begins the Book of the Acts of the Apostles with it. In this sermon we mark the completion of that mission, with the Father taking Jesus to sit at His right hand in glory. The King has died, the King has risen, the King has ascended. Long live the King!To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

We hear from "Mrs. Noah" and Sarai as they tell their stories of patient faith on Mother's Day at The Barn.To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

A great number of God's promises made since the beginning of time are fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are many other promises that are still in force in our lives here and now. Since we know He kept earlier promises, we know He will keep these, even (and especially) when that truth feels far away. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

We will be resurrected to a new body that synthesizes spiritual and physical just like Jesus’. This captures Paul’s (and our) imagination and gives us certain hope. Jesus’ return coincides with the coming of the similarly synthesized “new heaven and new earth” and “new Jerusalem” that straddle physical and spiritual reality. We are linked to Jesus’ resurrection from the beginning of our walk with Jesus through our baptism. The power that raised Jesus repeatedly raises us from the dead in everyday struggles in our everyday lives. Grounded and powered in our resurrection identity, we replace our old self with an ever-growing new. Romans 6To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

We are still celebrating resurrection in this Season of Easter. Paul refers to the Resurrected Christ as the "firstfruits" of a massive resurrection harvest. Firstfruits are the first, best portion of the annual harvest that signal a bounteous crop to follow. We will be resurrected in the bounteous kingdom that comes finally and fully at the Second Coming. Until that happens, Paul describes what will happen as a way of encouraging us to remain faithful, because it is all going to be worth the wait and effort!To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Luke 24:30-49 The resurrection of Jesus has far-reaching implications in our lives. Understatement!To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

The resurrection of Jesus is the lens through which everything else in scripture is to be seen and understood. His victory over sin and death changes the universe, including our small portion of it. Luke 24.To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Larry looks at John's account of Jesus' last night with His disciples, beginning the evening by washing their feet, ending it by praying for their unity. And ours. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.

Luke 19:28-44 is Dr. Luke's account of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, launching what we call Holy Week. The good doctor is spare in his details so that we can focus on one thing. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.