Ada Presbyterian Church Pulpit Podcast

Wednesday - The King Is Not Impressed - Mark 12

In the middle of Holy Week, Jesus holds up two models of discipleship: one is rooted in showmanship and status updates.  Jesus is not impressed with this group.  The other is embodied in the widow, who brought her two small coins.  She comes and lays down her life; she is the model disciple.  Join us for our Lenten series as we explore this important contrast.

Tuesday - The King Meets a Rebellion

As Jesus enters the dog days of Holy Week, he is met with resistance.  In response, he tells the parable of the vineyard to show how shocking and offensive it is to resist the son of God.  We often speak of the benefits of receiving Jesus, and to be sure, there are many.  But we also need to realize that when we reject him, we are not taking a neutral stance, we are opposing the thrust of God's activity in the world.

Monday - The King Cleans House

The stage is set for Holy Week.  Jesus entered Jerusalem as its king.  He is about to overthrow the tables of the moneychangers in the temple.  But on the way, he stops to curse a fig tree.  Some complain that Jesus was being petty.  Like so many things in the Bible, there's more going on beneath the surface.  Join us this week for our Lenten Series on the days of Holy Week.

Sunday--The King Comes Home - Mark 11:1-11

Our Lenten Series kicks off today with a deep dive into the days of Holy Week.  As we get close to Easter, we start to see articles and news pieces exploring the identity of Jesus -- who is this guy who changed the world?  Today, as the crowds line the road to Jerusalem, and see Jesus ride in on a donkey, we learn he is the King Coming Home.

Deut 30 - A God Within Reach

When you're on the run, you can sometimes feel like you've run right off the edge of the earth.  Nobody sees you; nobody knows you, or cares.  But when we run from God, we find that he is never so far away that we can't come back.  In fact he invites and empowers us to come back to him.  Join us today as we wrap up our series on Deuteronomy.

Deut 28 - Blessings and Curses

Some people describe themselves as cursed.  They have wandered very far from God, and they feel as if they're in spiritual exile with no way back.  It is true that when we follow God's law we are more likely to find blessing than not.  But it'a also true that God has provided a way out of our sin-cursed lives through the gracious work of Jesus. 

Deut 24 - See The Poor

The 8th commandment tells us not to steal.  Many of us think we're pretty good at keeping that one, but when we look at Moses' expanded version of this command, we find that it also touches on issues of economic justice.  Do we promote the welfare of the poor?  Do we see them as people?  Do we care about those trafficked?  Once again, Deuteronomy strengthens the law and surprises us with its modern relevance.

Deut 22 - 7th Commandment Extended Edition

Is the Bible for women, or against women?  The modern narrative tends towards the latter answer, namely that the Bible is oppressive.  At first glance it might appear that today's passage confirms those suspicions, but when we dig a little deeper, we find that the Bible is again ahead of its time in its support of women. It does more to protect them than our current cultural "rules" surrounding sex and commitment.  Join us for our continued exploration of God's laws in Deuteronomy.

Deut 21 - Do Right By

When we "do right by" someone, we treat them fairly, as they ought to be treated.  Today we see how the seemingly disconnected commands in Deuteronomy 21 are actually linked together by the idea of doing right by someone.  Do right by your neighbor; do right by yourself; and do right by the creation.

Deut 20 - Rules of Engagement

It seems surprising that the Bible has an entire chapter devoted to the practice of war.  But war is a human reality, and the Bible deals with the world, not as we wish it to be, but as it actually exists.  Join us today as we see God's law mitigating the worst excesses and human cruelties of war.