DIRT, BLOOD, AND ANGUISH: SEPT. 1, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Jesus and the Pharisees clash again—this time over handwashing traditions. Ever wonder if the rituals you follow are drawing you closer to God—or pulling you away? Sometimes, it’s time to uncover the dirt in our spiritual lives. Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 | James 1:17-27 | Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
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LORD BE WITH YOU: AUGUST 25, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
There are words and phrases that everyone needs to hear in their life. Sometimes it is simply “I love you” or “I am proud of you.” Other times, when life is really hard and we cry out “God where are you,” someone in our life brings us the good news that God is with us and God is with you. It is the good news of Advent, the good news of Easter, and the good news of Pentecost. The Lord be with you. Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 | Ephesians 6:10-20 | John 6:56-69
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INCARNATION AND INTIMACY: AUGUST 18, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Imagine standing in a crowd of thousands, hungry for more than just bread. What if the bread you sought wasn’t just food, but a radical invitation? Proverbs 9:1-6 | Ephesians 5:15-20 | John 6:51-58
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MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS: AUGUST 11, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Have you ever felt like life is more valley than mountaintop? Elijah did too. He stood against kings, called down fire from heaven, and yet, he found himself alone, exhausted, and ready to give up. But it was in that dark valley, not on the mountaintop, where God met him with the most tender, sustaining grace. 1 Kings 19:4-8 | Ephesians 4:25—5:2 | John 6:35, 41-51
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WHEN DID YOU GET HERE? AUGUST 4, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Have you ever felt the anxiety of not knowing where someone important is, especially after midnight? The crowd in John’s Gospel experienced a similar fear when they couldn’t find Jesus. But it just wasn’t that they couldn't find Jesus, it was that they had expectations that were not being met. Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 | Ephesians 4:1-16 | John 6:24-35
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LEFTOVERS: JULY 28, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
We all have that bucket of leftover parts sitting on a workbench. They are those extra bolts and screws that we just can't bring ourselves to toss in the garbage. In our Gospel lesson for today, Jesus tells the disciples to gather up the leftovers from the feeding of the multitude. There is good news for those of us who are left out and leftover. 2 Kings 4:42-44 | Ephesians 3:14-21 | John 6:1-21
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WHERE IS JESUS? JULY 21, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Have you ever been so consumed by anger that it becomes a part of you, unnoticed by yourself but evident to everyone else? It is easy to get that way in our world today. We can be angry about pretty much anything. Staying angry is a lot of work. Being angry is exhausting. Jesus tells the disciples today to come away with him and rest -- something we all need to hear. Jeremiah 23:1-6 | Ephesians 2:11-22 | Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
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THE PLUMB LINE: JULY 14, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
A plumb line measures whether things are vertical, straight, or up to snuff. Amos sees a plumb line measuring the nation of Israel and Israel is not plumb. They have tilted away from the ways of God, justice, and care for those in need. God will not let this stand forever. Either what is out of plumb must be straightened or it will fall. Christ is our plumb line revealing when we are out of sync with God’s reign. By grace, he can bring us back in line with the ways of God.
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GRACE IS SUFFCIENT: July 7, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
In a world where we ridicule “losers,” demean failure, and look for the strong and successful, it is hard to remember that God specializes in weakness. Paul prays that a “thorn in his flesh” be taken from him because it makes him weak. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you. Power is made perfect in weakness.” God makes strong when we are weak. Look to the one who died on the cross for this truth.
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REACH OUT: JUNE 30, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Mark’s Gospel moves swiftly, yet pauses with purpose to show us profound moments of healing and faith. Today we encounter a desperate father pleading for his dying daughter, and a woman, shunned by society for twelve long years, reaching out for a miracle. Lamentations 3:22-33 | 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 | Mark 5:21-43
info_outlineFaith and politics, it has been said by some, should never go together. The truth is that being faithful will lead us into political waters. Jesus says: “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) - a very political statement. Paul calls on the name of the “Lord Jesus Christ” in direct opposition to the claim that “Caesar is Lord” in I Thessalonians 1:1 - Another political statement. How do we allow Jesus Christ to be Lord of even our politics?