Jun 19, 2016
Demons
By: John Hirling
Series: The Gospel of Luke

Demon_Legions

Gospel: Luke 8:26-39
Jesus’ mission includes foreigners, and his authority extends to the casting out of demons. Some who witness Jesus’ work are seized with confusion and fear, but the man who was healed is commissioned to give testimony of God’s mercy and power. 26Then [Jesus and his disciples] arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”—29for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
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  • Jun 19, 2016Demons
    Jun 19, 2016
    Demons
    By: John Hirling
    Series: The Gospel of Luke

    Demon_Legions

    Gospel: Luke 8:26-39
    Jesus’ mission includes foreigners, and his authority extends to the casting out of demons. Some who witness Jesus’ work are seized with confusion and fear, but the man who was healed is commissioned to give testimony of God’s mercy and power. 26Then [Jesus and his disciples] arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”—29for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39
    “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
  • May 29, 2016Meet Jesus Again
    May 29, 2016
    Meet Jesus Again
    By: John Hirling
    Series: The Gospel of Luke

    Gospel: Luke 7:1-10

    A Roman centurion stands to lose a highly valued slave. Jewish leaders in Capernaum consider the centurion worthy, but the Gentile declares himself unworthy. In the midst of this tangle of attitudes, the centurion shows his understanding of authority and his testimony that Jesus has it, even authority over illness and death. 1After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” 6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” 9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10
    When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
  • May 8, 2016Delight
    May 8, 2016
    Delight
    By: John Hirling
    Series: (All)
    Delight
    Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. - Matthew 18:5
    Father, open my eyes and heart to encounter each day like a child with playful acceptance and delight. I ask your Holy Spirit to help me delight in each person who crosses my path this week.

    Gospel: John 17:20-26

    Jesus prays that the life of his followers will be characterized by an intimate unity of identity with God. To be so identified with God means also to share in God’s mission: to proclaim the word that will bring others into this same unity.
    [Jesus prayed:]
    20“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26
    I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
  • Apr 24, 2016Acceptance
    Apr 24, 2016
    Acceptance
    By: John Hirling
    Series: Easter
    Acceptance You must treat foreigners with the same loving care – remember, you were once foreigners in Egypt.
    Deuteronomy 10:19, The Message
    Dear God, open my heart so that I can see people as Jesus knows them and see Jesus in the people you bring to me. Make me attentive to those who are taking tentative steps towards you.
     
    Focusing on what makes us the same keeps the channels open for connection. Say a prayer of acceptance: “He/she wants to be heard just like me. Just like me, he/she is worthy of love”. Seek someone who may have a different faith or perspective than you. Engage in a conversation just to understand their view and not voice yours.

    Gospel: John 13:31-35

    After washing the disciples’ feet, predicting his betrayal, and then revealing his betrayer, Jesus speaks of his glorification on the cross. This deep complicated love of Jesus, even to death on the cross, will be the distinctive mark of Jesus’ community. 31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35
    By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
  • Apr 10, 2016Greeting
    Apr 10, 2016
    Greeting
    By: John Hirling
    Series: Easter
    Greet Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me…Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me”.
    Matthew 25:35, 40 NIV
    Gracious God, give me a heart that remembers the “strangers” who are on my path today. May I treat them as I would treat you if you came to me today.
    God gave you the gift of a smile that radiates encouragement! Don’t fence it in! As you go about your day, embrace others with a smile, greeting, and/or the offer of a helpful hand. Pay attention to how they change; pay attention to how you change. Silently say a prayer for them.
    Is there someone in service that you have never seen before? Introduce yourself. If they are new or visiting, invite them over to the Fellowship Hall, Sunday School class or ask them what they are interested in.
    Mt 25-35
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