CHRIST, THE KING: NOV. 24, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
To whom will we give our lives to? That is the question on the Festival of Christ the King. Will it be the kings, presidents, rulers, and powers of this world? Wall Street or Madison Avenue? Or will we serve the only one “who was, who is, and the one coming?” as the Book of Revelation names him? Will we trust the powers and people who will pass away or the one who is eternal?
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BIRTH PANGS: NOV. 17, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Whenever the Bible speaks of suffering, war, or cataclysm of any kind we tend to assume it is speaking of God’s punishment. Jesus does not do that. Referring to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, “war and rumors of war,” he calls them “birth pangs.” This does not minimize the suffering and pain. It reminds us, however, that the birth pangs are not the baby. In these days of uncertainty and chaos, it is easy to fear the world is ending. It is in way. But these are the birth pangs, not the reign of God that will make all things new.
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MORE THAN JUST TWO COINS: NOV. 10, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
What does it mean to give everything when you don’t have enough to begin with? A widow’s offering of two small coins challenges everything we know about generosity, trust, and faith. In a world that devours us, how can we respond with faith that holds nothing back? What does it truly mean to offer our all?
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“ALREADY” PEOPLE IN A “NOT YET” WORLD: NOV 3, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
If you don’t know where you are headed, you’re probably lost. This world seems lost, unsure of where we are going or who will lead us. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know where the world is headed and what the end looks like. It is what he revealed in his life, death, and resurrection. The reign of God is not yet here, but it is already dawning, all around us. On All Saints Day we remember all the saints who have lived into God’s future by being “already” people in a “not yet” world.
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EXPERIENCE GRACE: OCT. 27, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
You are a beloved child of God. Know that you are accepted; you are loved by the one who made the universe.
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WHY DOESN’T GOD DO SOMETHING?
Holy Trinity Ankeny
It is common to look at the trouble of the world and ask why God does not do something about it all. But what if God has done something, and that something is you? Luke, the masterful storyteller, and evangelist offers some of the most beloved and memorable teachings of Jesus we know. In many of them, Jesus is not the miracle worker. Instead, after an encounter with the overwhelming love of God in Christ, miraculous things are done by people like you and me.
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SELL EVERYTHING: OCT. 13, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
For people who live in a culture so grounded in material possessions and having “stuff,” Jesus’ instruction to “sell everything and give to the poor. And then follow me…” (Mark 10), is challenging to say the least. Is Jesus serious? When what we possess gets in the way of our relationship with what truly matters, when we see faith as yet another possession, maybe this command is what saves us.
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HOPE BEYOND THE STORM: OCT. 6, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Amid destruction and despair, Isaiah's words remind us that God's promise is both present and future—a hope that invites all to the table, where death is defeated and new life begins. Isaiah 25:6-9 | 1 Corinthians 11:20-26 | Luke 24:22-33
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ENTER LIFE: SEPT. 29, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of plucking out eyes and cutting off hands—but what if we’ve misunderstood? What if true wholeness comes from letting go? Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 | James 5:13-20 | Mark 9:38-50
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K IS FOR CONFUSION: SEPT. 22, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Ever felt lost in confusion, even when you're right in the middle of faith? You're not alone. Sometimes the greatest lessons come when we’re the most uncertain. In our confusion, Jesus reassures us that he will always be with us. Jeremiah 11:18-20 | James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a | Mark 9:30-37
info_outlineI 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