“This Law is Irrelevant” on Ruth 4 by Joe Ellis — May 29, 2022
The best type of laws we have reflect the conditions in which we live. For example, before the invention of cars, it would’ve been silly to have speed limits and traffic lights. Can you imagine riding your horse and seeing speed limit signs saying the maximum speed limit was 100 km/h? Can you imagine yourself in a left hand turn lane with your horse and carriage, waiting for the light to change? The conditions in which we live impact the types of laws that we will have. M
“Ruth & Boaz” - on Ruth 3 by Joe and Michelle Ellis - May 22, 2022
I’d like to begin with noting that Joe and I have team written this sermon — this passage invites us to reflect somewhat deeply on how men and women relate to each other — it’s probably a good thing to wonder which parts of this sermon were written by a man and which parts written by a woman. Now, to the passage. If there is ever a young woman in the church who is interested in a guy, this wouldn’t be my go-to passage for advice. I could basically adapt Naomi’s line to Ruth
“Listening to the Story” – on Ruth 2 by Joe Ellis — May 15, 2022
I think the person who wrote the story of Ruth is having a lot of fun with us. I imagine that whoever wrote this story of Ruth, did so with a twinkle in their eye. Sometimes the story teller gives us a little nod and a wink to help us along. At times, the story teller gives us a hint about the characters, letting us in on the secret, but the characters are left to figure what God’s up to on their own. Then abruptly, the story teller stops holding us by the hand, and gives
“Mother’s Day in the Church” - on Ruth 1 – by Joe Ellis — May 8, 2022
The Bible is unapologetic about the fact that we live in a broken world. The fact that we live in a broken world seems to touch every aspect of our theology and is reflected on nearly every page of Scripture. For this I am so thankful. If it were not so, having Mother’s Day and Father’s Day land on Sunday’s year after year would be quite hard for many of us. If we had to pretend somehow that we all had ideal, perfect families because that’s what we saw in Scripture, few o
“Skeptical Thomas” on John 20:24-31 - by Michelle Ellis - May 1, 2022
I want to begin by orienting ourselves a bit more in this story.As you may know, previous to the event we read about today, Jesus was arrested and then died on the cross. A couple of days later, when Jesus’ friend, Mary, and others go to his grave, they find that his body is not there. Then Jesus speaks to Mary. After that, when most of the disciples are meeting together in a locked room, suddenly Jesus is physically with them. Thomas wasn’t there, a the other disciples te
