Brian's Sermons

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 As we have been discussing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, something should be clear – we can’t do things the way culture dictates we do them. It’s back to the broad road and the narrow road – the broad one leads to death, and many are on it, while the narrow one leads to life, and few find it. It should also be clear that becoming the ones who Jesus pronounces “blessed” is not something that just happens by accident or by osmosis. It doesn’t happen because your parents were in church or even just because you come to services every Sunday! It all starts with being poor in spirit – realizing that we are absolutely powerless to save ourselves, that what we bring to the table is worthless for salvation. And so we empty ourselves for God to fill us. We mourn our sinfulness and through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God gives us comfort. We hold our power under control and are given ...

Hunger and Thirst We are four weeks deep into Jesus’ sermon on the Mount, where Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven – how to get in and what the kingdom looks like. He begins by pronouncing blessings, which the church has traditionally called “the beatitudes” – blessings based on a new order of things. He blesses those who are poor of spirit and empty, because when we are empty, then he can fill us. He blesses the mourners with the comfort of the Holy Spirit. He blesses the meek, those who hold great power under control by giving them an inheritance of everything that can’t be bought. And today he tells us to come hungry. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled . I don’t know if you have ever had these restaurants around here, but one of my old favorite restaurants was called Bonanza. It was pretty much the same as a Ponderosa, a lower-scale steak joint with an all-you-can-stuff-down-your-throat salad bar. My brother and some friend...

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 What do you think of when you hear the word "meek?" One picture generally comes to my mind and that is a mouse or a mousy person. Meek doesn’t seem like a positive word – people generally don’t want to be described as meek. It carries the connotation of being weak or being a push-over. You can probably think of someone who you might describe as “meek” – and it’s probably not a good thing. Meekness seems to present a contrast with strength. The Greek word that has been translated "meek" or "humble" or "gentle" is πραος pra-os . Praos can also be used three interesting ways: it describes a soothing medicine; it is used by sailors to describe a gentle breeze; and is used by farmers to describe a broken colt. If you think about it this way, medicine can be soothing, but too large of a dose can be devastating. Sailors love a gentle breeze, but a gentle breeze can turn into a...

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 “You know what I love about funerals? It’s great having all those sad, grieving people all in one room. I love all the tears. I love the misery. Most of all, I love the clichés and the platitudes…” said no one ever. One of the universal experiences of life is the experience of sorrow; ever since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden and death entered the world, we all experience grief. There are times when grief is so strong that you feel like you can touch it. When you’re grieving, nothing else makes sense. The strangest experience is leaving a graveside to see people going about their everyday business. Going to lunch. Taking walks. Going to work. Meanwhile your soul is screaming. Everything around you is darkness. Jesus speaks into the darkness with the second Beatitude: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 There is an old saying: Time heals all wounds...