Posts by Rev. Steve Holm (Page 219)

John 1:37-42 “He said to them, ’Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.” vs. 39 According to John’s gospel, when the two disciples, Andrew and his unnamed buddy, asked where Jesus was staying, he invited them to come with him and “hang out” for the day. And so they did…and came away impressed! Whatever Jesus did or said was enough to…

John 1:29-36 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” vs. 29 In our scriptures there are many descriptive names that are attached to Jesus, but none has had more impact or power than the simple phrase, “Lamb of God.” It’s a part of the liturgy of Holy Communion, right after the words of institution. Week after week we sing it as we…

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him,” vss. 4-5a Though Paul saw himself as an apostle, he sounds much like a pastor as he writes his letter to the Corinthians. For though we later find that he has heard some disturbing things about this congregation, he begins with words of affirmation…

Psalm 40:7-11 “I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.” vs. 10 When the psalmist had a good day, everyone knew about it. He was not about to cover up the joy, thanksgiving, and gratitude that had filled his heart, and that he was convinced had come from God. Amazingly, there’s a certain wariness about…

Psalm 40:1-6 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” vss. 1-2 Many of us have times of trial, moments that seem to drag on for days and weeks, even months, so long that it’s hard to remain patient. We may even wonder if there’s any point to prayer, and…

Isaiah 49:5-7 “…he says, ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’’ vs. 6 In these verses, the prophet is speaking of Israel in very personal terms, as the servant of God, and indicates that her mission has been expanded. The…

Isaiah 49:1-4 “But I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.’” vs. 4 The prophets of old had courage, conviction, and a strong sense that they had a word from the Lord that the people desperately needed to hear. They poured out their hearts in mission, frequently facing rejection and sometimes experiencing suffering and death. The words of…

Matthew 3:13-17 “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’” vs. 17 The gospels, in their varying accounts of Jesus, present many different perspectives on his life and ministry, but they all agree that his baptismal experience was particularly important. There are some differences in the details of the gospel record but each implies that this was the moment of his call, or to put it another way, the birth…

Acts 10:39-43 “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” vs. 43 Following the death and resurrection of Jesus his followers were inspired to continue his mission by spreading out through the Mediterranean world proclaiming the good news and inviting others to become believers. They had a lot to sort out as they searched through their scriptures looking for affirmation of what they had experienced. But as they remembered…

Acts 10:34-38 “Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.’” vss. 34-35 Today marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Epiphany, that time of the church year when we remember the ways in which God has been revealed through Jesus. Epiphany can also refer to a sudden realization that marks the end…

Psalm 29:5-10 “The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’” vss. 8-9 The psalmist had no trouble attributing massive earthquakes and violent windstorms to the voice of the Lord. Floods, lightning, thunder…all those things we term “acts of God,” were evidence of God’s dynamic energy and creative power. And for centuries…

Psalm 29:1-4 “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” vss. 3-4 We hear so many voices these days, loud voices all clamoring for our attention, all claiming to have an important word for us! They come at us from every direction…from tweets and youtube, television and radio. Often they are the pompous…