2023 September

The Last Priest in The Last Kingdom

The Last Priest in The Last Kingdom

This is our last post on “The Church in The Last Kingdom” and so, at last (because you had to know this was coming) are five of my favorite quotes from this series that will last for years in my memory. Uhtred on loyalty: “The truth of a man lies not in the land of his birth, but in his heart.” Uhtred and Alfred on luck: Uhtred: “As a warrior, I have not been tested, lord, and I’ve been lucky.” King Alfred: “I haven’t quite worked out a theology of luck. Can there be such a thing as luck if God is sovereign?” Uhtred: “If God is with you, you’re a lucky man.” Brida on how to reject unwanted romantic advances: “I prefer the company of the gods to stupid men.” Father Beocca on trouble: “You cannot invite a serpent into the garden and be surprised when it slithers on

The Curious Case of the Clashing Commands

The Curious Case of the Clashing Commands

This sermon is based on Genesis 17:9-14. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Question: “What has four wheels and flies?” Now, that’s a question, but how would you feel if I never shared the punch line. Would you be frustrated? I would! I hate starting a story, but never getting a chance to finish it. Last spring, we started a Sunday school class called, “Focus on the Bible.” It was designed to look at how we are to interpret, understand and apply the commands of the Bible to our lives today. Unfortunately, the class ended before I could share the “punchline”! The whole reason for the class was to build a foundation so we could intelligently interact with several critical biblical passages that speak to our identity as a church (and without all of that, it will be very hard for

A Priest Who Makes a Difference

A Priest Who Makes a Difference

Today, we want to look at a sidekick. Now, let’s be honest, there are sidekicks and there are sidekicks, and we have no time for anyone in that first category. We want to talk about someone who would be right at home with the great sidekicks of all time. And how do you know if a sidekick is worthy of such honor? Easy! You don’t even have to mention their name. All you need is a list of the heroes, and their name is right there. For instance, who is the sidekick for each of these ten heroes (hint: two of the sidekicks in this list are women!)? We have (1) Han Solo, (2) Sherlock Holmes, (3) Johnny Carson, (4) Fred Flintstone and (5) Harry Potter. That ends round one. Take a breath. Okay, here’s round two. We have (6) Wallace, (7) Don Quixote, (8) The Green Hornet, (9) Peter

The Curious Case of Archaic Commands

The Curious Case of Archaic Commands

This sermon is based on Leviticus: 19:1-3, 13-14, 18-19, 26-28. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Question: “What has four wheels and flies?” Now, that’s a question, but how would you feel if I never shared the punch line. Would you be frustrated? I would! I hate starting a story, but never getting a chance to finish it. Last spring, we started a Sunday school class called, “Focus on the Bible.” It was designed to look at how we are to interpret, understand and apply the commands of the Bible to our lives today. Unfortunately, the class ended before I could share the “punchline”! The whole reason for the class was to build a foundation so we could intelligently interact with several critical biblical passages that speak to our identity as a church (and without all of that, it will be

The Priests and the Sin of the Church

The Priests and the Sin of the Church

One of the things that you’ve got to love (got to love) about the Vikings (aka, the “Danes”) is their spectacular names. There was King Gorm the Old, Harald Bluetooth, Sven Forkbeard, Ivan the Boneless, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and Kierkegaard. Okay, Kierkegaard wasn’t a Viking, but he was a Dane. And like the Vikings, he had a problem with priests and pastors and the church. Now, to be fair, when he had a problem with the church, he wrote a scathing critique; when the Vikings had a problem with the church, they ransacked it. But maybe that’s just “tomayto, tomahto; potayto, potahto.” We’re looking at the Netflix series, The Last Kingdom (please note, this series is not for everyone and is rated mature for gore, language and some nudity and some awful church practices). The Last Kingdom is the story of a Saxon (read English) born, Dane (read Viking) raised warrior

Focusing on What the Bible Is

Focusing on What the Bible Is

This sermon introduces our new series and is based on Proverbs 26:4-5. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: Question: “What has four wheels and flies?” Now, that’s a question, but how would you feel if I never shared the punch line. Would you be frustrated? I would! I hate starting a story, but never getting a chance to finish it. Last spring, we started a Sunday school class called, “Focus on the Bible.” It was designed to look at how we are to interpret, understand and apply the commands of the Bible to our lives today. Unfortunately, the class ended before I could share the “punchline”! The whole reason for the class was to build a foundation so we could intelligently interact with several critical biblical passages that speak to our identity as a church (and without all of that, it

Aelswith and the Church of Hate

Aelswith and the Church of Hate

It’s true. I’m a sucker for most things Viking (though, as you can probably guess, I’m not so fond of all the pillaging, raping and murdering). Now, thankfully I come by this inclination honestly. I’m Swedish and, therefore, must have Viking blood running through my veins. Plus, look at my name. A Dane not only implies someone from Denmark, but also a Viking raider. So, I guess my love for Viking lore was fated (as Bernard Cornwell would say using the Old English, “Wyrd bid ful āraed” – fate is inexorable). And this fate has revealed itself in many ways. I’ve steered a Viking longboat. I have a stone from a Viking grave on my mantle (it’s next to the Viking ship my grandfather made for me). I have a rune stone keychain depicting how King Harald Bluetooth became a Christian, and I have three Lewis Chessmen (they are also on my mantle!). As

The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

This week, we welcomed guest speaker, Chris Zang, who shared God's Word based on Acts 16:6-10. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A