Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. March 24, 2019 Text: Luke 13:2, O.T.: Isaiah 55:1-9, N.T.: Luke 13:1-9 Sin. The little three letter word that is dividing the Church. Some Christians complain it’s negative to talk about sin. Confessions of sin are downers. They don’t focus on the positive. Worship is better without the mention of sin. Let’s stay focused on the positive. People are basically good. Others Christians say we’re avoiding the truth…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. March 17, 2019 Text: Luke 13:35c, O.T.: Genesis 1-12, 17-18, N.T.: Luke 13:31-35 Washington, D.C. is the national center of power for our country. Congress, the President and the Supreme Court lead our nation from its white marble colonnades. Over 350 million Americans expect from these people the greatest economic and military leadership for the peace and tranquility of not only America, but the human race. Leaders of…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. February 24, 2019 Text: Lk. 6:37, Old Testament: Gen. 45:3-11, 15, New Testament: Lk. 6:27-38 Relationships are difficult. People bring different expectations into their relationships. These expectations begin in their first intimate relationships inside their families. Children learn from parents and siblings what to expect in their relationships with other people. How consistent parents are, how justly they respond to an infant’s needs, a child’s needs, a teenager’s needs,…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. February 17, 2019 Text: Luke 6:21, Old Testament: Jeremiah 17:5-10, New Testament: Luke 6:17-26 There is a tension in Bible translation between people who believe God is concerned about our material needs and those who believe God is concerned about satisfying our spiritual needs. Where are you in this conversation? When you read Luke 6: 21, is Jesus talking about people’s physical hunger or is He talking about…
Rev. Dr. John J. Lolla, Jr. February 10, 2019 Text: Luke 5:4, Old Testament: Isaiah 6:1-8, New Testament: Luke 5:1-11 If you fish off a pier with a line, or off a boat with bait, you’re not even close to what the disciples were doing on the Sea of Galilee. Using a fishing line isn’t the same as casting nets. Casting nets is tiring work that requires great strength and endurance. Without patience it…