Worship Notes for September 2024
September 1 15th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Sermon Title: “Heart Matters: True Worship and Authentic Faith”
Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.
September 8 16th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 7:24-37
Sermon Title: “Breaking Barriers: The Expansive Love of Christ”
James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no
partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.
September 15 17th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 8:27-38
Sermon Title: “The Cost of Discipleship: Bearing the Cross of Faith”
Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’
invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.
September 22 18th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 9:30-37
Sermon Title: “The Path to Greatness: Servanthood and Humility in the Kingdom of God”
Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the
assembly.
September 29 19th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 9:38-50
Sermon Title: “Living the Radical Call of Christ: Unity, Purity, and Perseverance in Faith”
Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.
September 1 15th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Sermon Title: “Heart Matters: True Worship and Authentic Faith”
Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.
September 8 16th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 7:24-37
Sermon Title: “Breaking Barriers: The Expansive Love of Christ”
James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no
partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.
September 15 17th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 8:27-38
Sermon Title: “The Cost of Discipleship: Bearing the Cross of Faith”
Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’
invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.
September 22 18th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 9:30-37
Sermon Title: “The Path to Greatness: Servanthood and Humility in the Kingdom of God”
Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the
assembly.
September 29 19th Sunday after Pentecost ~ Mark 9:38-50
Sermon Title: “Living the Radical Call of Christ: Unity, Purity, and Perseverance in Faith”
Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.