4th Sunday after Epiphany, February 2, 2020- Matthew 5:1-12, 1st Corinthians 1:18-31- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - When the Apostle Paul said, “The message of the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing,” (1st Corinthians 1:18) he was referring to us and people like us, whose financial situation buffers us from the… Continue reading Peacemakers or Peacekeepers
Sermons Archive
Jesus Began in Galilee
3rd Sunday after Epiphany, January 26, 2020- Matthew 4:12-23- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - I’ve mentioned before that certain cities and areas of our country and world have, at one time or another, been regarded as places most people would want to avoid. I’ve also said that such places tend to be locations… Continue reading Jesus Began in Galilee
Lamb of God Who Takes Away Our Sins
2nd Sunday after Epiphany, January 19, 2020- John 1:29-42- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The concept of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes way the sins of the world arises from the sacrificial or pascal lamb of the first Jewish Passover Feast, where the blood of an unblemished lamb was placed… Continue reading Lamb of God Who Takes Away Our Sins
The Beloved Child of God
1st Sunday after Epiphany, January 12, 2020- Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Those who attended my son, Devon’s, ordination service in December 2018, may recall that I pointed to him as I referenced the words from Matthew’s gospel: “This is my beloved son, with whom I am… Continue reading The Beloved Child of God
Making Sense of God through Law and Grace
2nd Sunday of Christmas, January 5, 2020- John 1:1-18, Jeremiah 31:7-14- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - There’s a tendency on the part of Christians to view the New Testament as the better portion of the biblical narrative over the Old Testament. Even the reference to one section of the Bible as Old and… Continue reading Making Sense of God through Law and Grace
When God Becomes Like One of Us
1st Sunday of Christmas, December 29, 2019- Matthew 2:13-23, Hebrews 2:10-18- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - In the heightened commercialism of Christmas these days, there are few occasions we experience that celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. The emphasis seems to be on what we might give those who already have more than… Continue reading When God Becomes Like One of Us
Immanuel, God Is with Us
4th Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2019- Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - When the prophet Isaiah, speaking in God’s behalf, urged Ahaz, king of Judah to: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God,” the king said, “I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.” Now at… Continue reading Immanuel, God Is with Us
Are You the One?
3rd Sunday of Advent, December 15, 2019- Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - When Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been imprisoned, he left his hometown of Nazareth and made his new home in another Galilean town called Capernaum in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali which, like other… Continue reading Are You the One?
Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?
2nd Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2019- John 1:43-46, Isaiah 11:1-10- 20th Anniversary Celebration of Janet McKenzie’s “Jesus of the People”- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Jesus of the People - by Janet McKenzie Heads up (bounce balls)! By bouncing these balls, I wish to prove an age-old law of gravity: what goes… Continue reading Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth?
The Coming Realm of God Is Here
1st Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2019 - Matthew 24:36-44, Isaiah 2:1-5 - The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - A couple of years ago, I mentioned that Advent offers occasions for me to hum tunes appropriate for the season, one of my favorites being an Alfred Burt carol: Come, dear children, don't be dallying,All… Continue reading The Coming Realm of God Is Here
