Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “The Key to Human Flourishing” based on Colossians 1:1-14 for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost on August 26, 2012. The Gospel is a living power continues to grow in us and renew us throughout our lives as we understand its greatness and implications deeply.

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84
Colossians 1:1-14
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Gospel and Eucharist, Part 4” based on John 6:60-61 for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost on August 19, 2012. According to St. Augustine, the constant renewing of desire is a necessary condition of being creatures in time. Desire is not negative, desires are what get us out of bed every morning. The problem now with our desires is that they continually attach themselves to objects that fail to satisfy. Augustine’s insight was that the Fall and sin meant that are now disordered. Consumer culture creates a promise of desire it can never fulfill, but in Christ our seemingly endless spiritual hunger and thirst are absorbed into the lavish abundance of God’s grace in the Gospel.

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Psalm 111
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:60-71

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Gospel and Eucharist, Part 3” based on John 6:41-59 for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost on August 12, 2012. Jesus gives us a central practice—the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, Holy Eucharist. The celebration of the Eucharist connects us with God—God accommodates Himself to our capacity in the Sacrament in order to make the Gospel real to us.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Psalm 130
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:41-59

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Gospel and Eucharist, Part 2” based on John 6:1-21 for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost on August 5, 2012. In the second of a four part series on John 6, we examine one of the the most powerful systems of formation in the contemporary world, consumer culture. Jesus invites us to participate in a different kind of liturgy, and a different kind of consumption. 

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:22-40