Sermons & Worship by Rev. Dr. Louise Barger

Scripture: Leviticus 23:15-21; Psalm 81:1-5; Acts 2:1-8, 22-24, 38-41 So that we can more clearly appreciate the Christian celebration of Pentecost, we must also understand the setting in which it happened. This is an eventful time in the city of Jerusalem. It is the annual Harvest Festival celebration at the Temple. Two great events, both ordained by God, will happen in the city of Jerusalem this week. This Sunday we celebrate one of those great events, the celebration of Pentecost,…

Scripture: Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 121; Matthew 28:16-20 On the 40th day after the resurrection the physical presence of the Lord upon the earth is completed. It is time for Him to return to his rightful place in glory. It is time for Him to go home. Those who gathered with Jesus on the Mount of Olives that day were there by the special invitation of Jesus himself. This was a very personal time for them. This was a day long…

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3; Psalm 92: 1-4; John 21:1-13 Jesus was coming to the end of his ministry on earth. He was about to demonstrate to the disciples on that morning by the seashore that He possesses the same powers and more than He had possessed before the crucifixion. Peter was always a man of action, but he, along with the other disciples must now feel like a group without purpose or direction. Waiting is hard work. The disciples were no…

Scripture: Isaiah 55:12-013; Psalm 18:1-3; John 20:19-31 HOPE is the title of a painting by G.F. Watts in which a woman is portrayed sitting with a covering over her eyes, sitting bowed in what looks like an empty universe, trying to make music on one string of a broken lyre. Hope is a common thread that has been woven into all of humanity throughout the ages. We talk about having hope when we are walking through the most difficult of…

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 16:7-11; Luke 24:13-35 The news continues about the resurrection of Jesus. It was just after dawn on Sunday morning that the women had gone to the tomb to add more spices to the body of Jesus. Let’s go with them on their journey. Sundown and the beginning of the Sabbath had required that they cease their care of his body after He was removed from the cross. John had remained with the women at the foot…

Scripture: Isaiah 55:12; Psalm 118:14-17; Matthew 28 1-10 There’s one last, loving act that the women will do before everything about Jesus’ burial is finished. The Sabbath came before they could anoint Him properly for burial. This they will do on this Sunday morning as soon as the darkness lifts enough so that they can make their way to the tomb. As they approach the tomb, they are shocked to find the heavy stone rolled back from the entrance and…

Scripture: Leviticus 23:4-8; Zachariah 9:9; Psalm 118:24-29; John 12:12-19 It was not an uncommon sight for these residents of Jerusalem to witness grand entrances of their Roman rulers into the city. They often entered riding on a grand stallion accompanied by chariots and the Roman guard around them. This day would be different. It is almost Passover. Just a few days now and the city’s population will swell to almost two million people according to Josephus, a Jewish historian of…

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm 27;1-6; John 11:54-12:11 The raising of Lazarus from the dead had set in motion the events of the final days of the life of Jesus on earth. There existed within the Temple the Sanhedrin, the religious system’s high court, whose leader was the high priest Caiaphas. Also serving with him were the scribes, most of whom were Pharisees. These people served at the pleasure of the Roman government. They were expected to keep peace in the…

Scripture: Exodus 31:1-11; Psalm 139:1-12; Romans 12:1-13 It has now been about six months since Moses was able to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. He has received the Commandments at Mount Sinai. Now God comes to speak with him for the sixth time, telling Moses to build for God a tent of meeting, a tabernacle, where God can meet the people in worship. Moses was learned in the learning of the Egyptians, and he was well acquainted with the…