Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith

"Love is the name of the game" is a phrase you hear frequently around here, and it's true. But when love becomes a commandment, there is a temptation to turn love into duty, in which obedience to duty takes on a life of its own. In this episode we examine the story of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha obeys convention to love Jesus properly. Mary flagrantly violates every social norm to love Jesus passionately. Which one do you think Jesus affirms most? And what does it teach us about the life of faith? The text for this episode is Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV) Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is often taught as a morality tale about the importance of compassion (with overtones implying that such acts of generosity are means by which one secures a place in the heavenly afterlife). But Jesus's intent goes far deeper! In this episode we examine central command to love and the human temptation to draw boundaries that divide the lovable from the not-so-much. And we discover that God's embrace knows no bounds. The text for this episode is Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The 70 disciples who were sent to bear witness to the gospel and embody the ministry of Jesus now return with an astonishing report: it worked! To their amazement, God has given them the power and resources they were promised, such that "even the demons submit to us." It is a lesson every disciple must learn time and again. And as we do, we discover that the gap between heaven and earth is far narrower than we expect! God is not afar off, nor is "heaven" at a distance. Rather, in Jesus, heaven and earth overlap, and those who follow him have signs of the kingdom everywhere around them. In this episode we examine the depth of God's faithfulness to his people and just how close heaven is to earth. The text for this episode is Luke 10:17-24 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As Canvas celebrates our 5th anniversary, we return to our very first sermon - an articulation of the mission, vision and core values we felt called to embody. It's an inside look at the first days of a new church plant, and why we have shaped our community in the manner we have. Whether you are thinking of starting something new, considering making adjustments to an ongoing ministry or simply want to know why Canvas has such unique personality, here's why we do what we do. The text for this sermon is Matthew 5:1-16 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Finally, we come to the joy of Christmas! For weeks we have been examining Israel's fall from her priestly office, and with it the fear that God's project of salvation might be forever lost. But the God of love will not be thwarted, and last we learn how God will fulfill the covenant of with Abraham - God will become human, to carry out Israel's obedience himself! In this episode we look at the Jesus's birth as told in the Gospel of Matthew, and how all the pieces of Israel's story come together in him. The text for this Christmas Eve sermon is Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Israel's (and thus humanity's) situation has gone from bad to worse. The "trial" we witnessed in part 2 has become a verdict and sentence: exile (a symbol God may be abandoning the promise of salvation!). After all "What more was there to do [for Israel]" that had not already been done? What advantage had not been given? What blessing withheld? And still she could not fulfill her pledge of priestly service. In this episode we examine the depth of Israel's fall and the fear that salvation may never come. The text for this sermon is: Isaiah 5:1-17 (NRSV) Want to support the podcast??? You can give a tax-deductible donation to Canvas as a one-time gift or pledge to the Canvas budget. Your gift in any amount is a huge help to us! Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Is God really a harsh judge, hovering in the heavens ready at any moment to accuse and punish? In this episode, we find ourselves jurors as God indeed places Israel on trial. And yet, even as God makes his case (airtight we might add), we hear not the rage of a king before a traitor, but the pain of a father who wants nothing but that his foolish children would recognize that they are chasing after the things that will profit them nothing. It's a painful look at human folly and the constancy of God's love. The sermon text is Jeremiah 2:4-13, 26-28 (NRSV) Want to support the podcast??? You can give a tax-deductible donation to Canvas as a one-time gift or pledge to the 2018 budget. Your gift in any amount is a huge help to us! Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Few words terrify the typical Christian like "evangelism." It instantly conjures images of hellfire preachers on corners or, worse yet, the awkwardly forced conversation about Jesus with a "non-believing" friend (ugh!). It's worth noting that Jesus did neither of these, nor asked it of his disciples. Jesus did, however, send. He sent ill-equipped, nervous followers to carry the good news of the presence of kingdom of God, and to bless whatever instances of grace they might find already at work. In this episode we look at this call to go and to bless; and hopefully discover it is quite a gift to be sent. The passage for this week is Luke 10:1-16 (NRSV). Here is a link to the map I mention early in the sermon.

Interrupting your regularly scheduled sermon from Luke with a sermon for Advent... Advent is the season of preparation for Jesus's coming, a time to remember his birth in Bethlehem, yes, but primarily a time to remember that Jesus is coming again. In short, it is a time to get in touch with our need for a savior. In this episode we join the story of Israel in the days after the settling in Canaan, and the slow turn away from YHWH to the Canaanite gods of Baal and Astarte. It's a painful reminder of our human impulse to worship our prosperity. The sermon text is Judges 2:6-23 (NRSV) Here are links to the images I mention in the sermon: Idol of Baal (Louvre) Idol of Astarte (Louvre) Example of Canaanite idols found in ancient Judah Other Canaanite idols found in ancient Jewish homes (Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition). Want to support the podcast??? You can give a tax-deductible donation to Canvas as a one-time gift or pledge to the 2018 budget. Your gift in any amount is a huge help to us! Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As Jesus "sets his face toward Jerusalem" (i.e., resolves to force a confrontation with the religious authorities), the conflict that will lead to his crucifixion begins to take shape. It starts with a rejection of Jesus as he seeks to enter Samaria (located between the regions Galilee and Judea) and continues with Jesus's rejection of some would-be followers. In this episode regular J@2AM preacher, Rev. Mike Regele examines this very complex sequence (Luke 9:51-62), and put on a master class in exegesis (the scholarly work of interpreting a passage) and why such work is essential to our proper understanding of the biblical story!