Surprised by Joy – Rev. Jonathan P. Boehne

Lent Midweek April 10, 2019 Surprised by the Joy of Suffering

Sunday: Lent Midweek | Sermon Text: Romans 5:1-5

Lent Midweek
Romans 5:1-5
April 10, 2019

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This lesson tonight is very counterintuitive. Doesn’t make sense. Why would there be joy in suffering? Isn’t that the whole deal about suffering—it’s not enjoyable? Yes, but that’s exactly why it’s so surprising. We wouldn’t expect to find joy in suffering and so most of us try to avoid suffering at all costs. But when we do suffer as Christians, we discover the surprise that there’s joy hidden in there. Like a piece of candy hidden in an Easter egg. Like a sunny day hidden in the middle of winter. Like a call from a friend you haven’t heard from in a long time. In suffering, joy can jump out and surprise you.

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Lent Midweek March 27th Surprised by the Joy of Creation

Sunday: Lent Midweek | Sermon Text: Psalm 19

Lent Midweek
Psalm 19
March 27, 2019

“Surprised by the Joy of Every Day (Creation)”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This sermon would preach much better if we all went far out in the middle of a wide open field somewhere and laid on our back and stared up into the heavens. “The heavens declare the glory of God,” Psalm 19 says. And they do. When you stare up into that great infinity, at that great sun 93 million miles away from us, at the stars some 6 trillion miles away from us, don’t you hear the sermon? The heavens preaching the great glory of God?

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Lent Midweek March 20, 2019 Surprised by Joy

Sunday: Lent Midweek | Sermon Text: Romans 12:3-16

Lent Midweek 2
Romans 12:3-16
March 20, 2019

“Surprised by the Joy of Sharing in Others’ Joy”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The key words we’re looking at tonight are these in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice.” Or let me put it this way—it should give you joy when others have joy. Or another way—when you see other people rejoicing it should cause you to rejoice.

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Lent Midweek March 13, 2019 Surprised by Joy

Sunday: Lent Midweek | Sermon Text: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Lent Midweek Service
1 Peter 1:3-9
March 13, 2019

“Surprised by the Joy of Believing in God”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There’s this general idea out in the secular world that life would be better if we didn’t have religion. I’m sure many of you have thought about this before also. What if you didn’t have any god telling you how you’re supposed to live your life? What if you didn’t have to go to church or pray or give money or read a holy book? What if you never had to feel guilty about doing anything wrong?

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Ash Wednesday March 6, 2019

Sunday: Ash Wednesday | Sermon Text: 16-21, Matthew 6:1-6

Ash Wednesday
Matthew 6:16-21
March 6, 2019

“Surprised by the Joy of Repentance”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Joy? How’s there joy in repentance? Ash Wednesday? Isn’t Ash Wednesday supposed to be sad and gloomy? Isn’t repentance being sorry for our sins? How’s that joyful? What’s the joy in ashes? In rubbing ashes on your forehead? Isn’t that gloomy and somber?

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