The name “Ordinary Time” comes from the word “ordinal” as in ordinal numbers (e.g. “first, second, etc.”) because each Sunday is counted after Pentecost. Ordinary time is not “mundane” time, though it can feel that way because it is the season of routine. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit and released into the world, to live to the Lord. Ordinary Time, then, is about learning to see how the resurrection infuses every day, transforming ordinary time into peculiar time.

August 9 | Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost: The Way of Jesus is Faithful

After feeding 5,000 people, Jesus goes off on his own and then is seen by his disciples walking across the waters of the Sea of Galilee, and Peter asks to come out on the water with Jesus before he gets frightened and falls into the water. Many read this story as a warning against false-faith, or bravado, but what if the point of this story was actually to be exactly like Peter: trusting in God, and crying out to him when we stumble?

August 2 | Tenth Sunday After Pentecost: Do You Still Not Understand?

When Jesus is asked about how he wants to feed 5,000 people, he tells the disciples to figure it out, hoping they will understand the power he has given to them.

Do you understand?

July 26 | Ninth Sunday After Pentecost: The Way of Jesus is like Yeast

Jesus tells a series of parables about the hidden, yet profound nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. One of those parables says the Kingdom is like yeast which is hidden in flour until the whole lot is leavened. From this we can see that the Kingdom, though sometimes imperceptible, is bubbling up, making changes, and transforming from the inside out.

July 19 | Eighth Sunday After Pentecost: The Way of Jesus is Patient

Jesus tells a parable about weeds that have been sown into a field of wheat. Rather than digging up the weeds immediately, the landowner tells them to wait until the harvest, at which point the weeds will be separated and dealt with.

In this parable we are invited to think upon the infinite patience of God and participate in the freedom that comes from letting God decide in God’s own time what to do with weeds.

July 12 | Seventh Sunday After Pentecost: The Way of Jesus is Open to All Who Listen

Jesus tells a parable about a man who sows seed into a variety of soils that each have different responses. From this parable, Jesus celebrates the ones who hear and understand and put into practice the word of God.

July 5 | Sixth Sunday After Pentecost: Christians Only

Romans 13 is often used as a conversation ending citation when discussing how a Christian can or should relate to their government or country. In light of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, we look at this difficult passage to see what it holds for us today.

June 28 | Fifth Sunday After Pentecost: Jesus is Experienced in Us

Jesus’ final words before sending his disciples on their first ministry journey were the encouragement that “whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.” In this short sentence is a powerful word: disciples are emissaries of Christ. We represent Christ to the world. In this sermon, Adam explores 2 themes: what does it mean to be sent, and what does it mean to welcome?

June 21 | Fourth Sunday After Pentecost: Jesus is Fearlessly Out in the Open

In Matthew’s day, persecution was an every-day fear for Christians. Perhaps that is one reason that Matthew made sure to tell his readers about Jesus’ encouragement to not be afraid in the face of persecution.

June 14 | Third Sunday After Pentecost: Jesus is Authoritatively Open Handed

In Matthew 10, Jesus calls his twelve disciples to himself before giving them authority over unclean spirits and sickness. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth and yet he does not hold on to that authority. Kara Powell, of the Fuller Youth Institute, calls this “Keychain Leadership.” Keychain leaders are aware of the keys on their key ring, but they look for opportunities to give those keys away to the next generation.

June 7 | Second Sunday After Pentecost: Jesus Eats with Sinners

Jesus made his contemporaries uncomfortable with his choices of table fellowship. In Matthew 9, the Pharisees can’t believe that Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners. But Matthew, the recently called tax collector, knows that this is the greatest news of all: Jesus is here to eat with the sick and sinners, because we are all sick and need a doctor.

May 31 | First Sunday after Pentecost: Make Disciples, Not Converts

In Matthew 28, Jesus commissions his disciples to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching them. Far too often, the great commission is understood to be an evangelism text, with the understanding to “go make converts” when Jesus is tasking his disciples with something far greater: to help people learn how to live as Jesus did.