January 2012

“Now faith is … the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Monday, January 30, 2012
Our God, these days we are taught that seeing is believing. But you have always had your doubts about that. Your scriptures teach us that we don’t actually believe what we see. Rather, we see what we believe. So if I truly believe that you are present in this conflicted world that has fallen so far from the paradise you created for us, then I should be able to see you here in the mess with us. …

“Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty.” (John 4:14)

Thursday, January 19, 2012
You said this to a Samaritan woman who had burned through five husbands and was now living with someone else. She may have just been bad at marriage. But since the Samaritans practiced Levirate marriage, she may have been passed from one deceased kinsman to another – and the last guy may have refused to marry her for fear of his life. It doesn’t really matter. This was clearly not the life this woman dreamed about when she was a little girl. Her soul had been parched for a very long time. …

“They have no wine.” (John 2:3)

Friday, January 13, 2012
You, holy Savior, were once at a wedding in Cana. After the wine ran out at the reception, your mother came to you with the stark words: “They have no wine.” I don’t know what she expected you to do. Was she just asking you to run to the liquor store? Was she saying that it’s time to go home now since the wine has run out? Or was she looking for a miracle? …

“I am the bread of life.” (John 6:48)

Saturday, January 7, 2012
Your son, our Savior, said this after he had been talking about the manna you gave to the Hebrews as they journeyed through the desert. The manna was a curious way to sustain life on a long wilderness journey. It wasn’t much – just enough to keep them alive. Everyone had to get their own manna, and they had to gather it every day. All of these conditions provide helpful insights into how you care for each of us on the journey through the hard places of life. …

Sermons

Sermons speak the Word of God in response to the dialogue of our daily lives. Join the sacred conversation in our online worship archive, where you can listen to worship audio files and read sermon texts.

Listen