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
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WHY, LORD? - JUNE 23, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
In this world full of suffering and pain, we often ask God, “Why?” Some even assert that if there is suffering in the world it is proof that God does not exist unless a compelling answer can be given. What if “Why” is the wrong question? The message of the Book of Job offers no answer to Job’s asking God why. Instead, God is present to Job. When we suffer, the question to ask is, “Who?” and “Where?” Jesus is the embodiment of God’s answer. God is present in our suffering.
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NEW CREATION: JUNE 16, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
When confronted with the troubles of the world or the decline of our personal life we can long for something new, something that fixes things, solves our problems. We tend to look for the quick fix, the silver bullet, the latest and greatest advice. Scripture tells us that the reign of God doesn’t work that way. Mustard seeds, growing seed, sprigs of a cedar tree are signs that God is at work. The new creation dawns slowly, patiently and often, as something we can only observe as God works.
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THE THIEF - JUNE 9, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
I grew up in a church that had an enormous sanctuary. It was filled with stained-glass windows. There was plenty of real estate for depictions of stories from the Bible. Not one inch was dedicated to depicting Jesus as a thief. In the Gospel today, Jesus tells a story about binding a strong man and plundering the house. Is Jesus the strongman or the thief? Genesis 3:8-15 | 2 Corinthians 4:13 - 5:1 | Mark 3:20-35
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GIVE IT A REST: JUNE 2, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Keeping Sabbath is more than an outdated day off exemplified by the blue laws of a bygone age. The purpose of Sabbath is to rejoice and honor God’s creation and every creature. It is to proclaim freedom and assert that we are more than what we do, more than our accomplishments, more than economic cogs in the machinery. We are children of God! Jesus is himself the Sabbath bringing joy and peace to our lives.
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IN THE SHADOWS: MAY 26, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the middle of the night when the shadows are long and the places to hide are easy to find. Nicodemus is a Pharisee and coming to ask Jesus questions can be problematic for him. That fateful night Nicodemus brings all of his questions and seeks confirmation for what he already knows. If his story ended that night, he would be just a nice little footnote. But his story doesn’t end there. Isaiah 6:1-8 | Romans 8:12-17 | John 3:1-17
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DRY BONES: MAY 19, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Ezekiel sees a valley full of bones that represent the people of God. Peter and the disciples see a world where God’s people are scattered, divided, and grieving the death of their Lord. Today, God’s people are a shrinking bunch, unsure of how to proceed in a world that thinks they are irrelevant. When we can’t imagine a way forward, the Spirit comes with power to create and a vision beyond our expectations.
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ETERNAL LIFE: MAY 12, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Eternal life is not the same thing as the resurrection of the dead, nor is it simply this life extended past death. Eternal life is not something we earn or build from our efforts to get rich, successful, or busy. Eternal life always was, will always be, and is present right now. You just have to look at Jesus to see what is and trust that he has given it to you.
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WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT: MAY 5, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
We can spend a lot of time waiting for God to do something about the brokenness of our world and the challenges of life. The Book of Acts, however, says that it is not our impatient waiting on the Spirit to act that is the problem. The Spirit has preceded us and plowed the ground already. The Spirit impatiently anoints even as we argue about who is worthy to be in the church. When we wonder what God wants us to do, is it possible we already know the answer? Has the Spirit already spoken and our preconceptions and biases, our resentments and self-justification, are just in the way of God’s...
info_outlineKeeping Sabbath is more than an outdated day off exemplified by the blue laws of a bygone age. The purpose of Sabbath is to rejoice and honor God’s creation and every creature. It is to proclaim freedom and assert that we are more than what we do, more than our accomplishments, more than economic cogs in the machinery. We are children of God! Jesus is himself the Sabbath bringing joy and peace to our lives.