Rev. Zach

This is the sermon that I preached through an interpreter on May 14, 2017 at Eglasia Presbyteriana Union de Reyes and also Eglaisia Presbyteriana Sabanilla in Matanzas Presbytery, Cuba. It is based on  Matthew 7:21-27 Hello! I bring you greetings from the United States of America, the Presbytery of South Louisiana, and First Presbyterian Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. While it is my privilege to represent the church that I serve, it is an even greater honor to come before you as a brother and a servant of Jesus. It is in his name that I come before you, and because of your faith in him my belief in God is strengthened and encouraged. In fact, many of my friends were confused when I told them why I was going to Cuba. They said, “Oh, you are going on a mission trip!” I said, “No. I am going for missionary training. The mission trip will begin when I come home from Cuba!” So, my brothers and sisters, I am well aware that your faith is strong. I am not deceived into thinking that my c...

Acts 2:42-47      1Peter 1:17-23      Luke 24:13-35 Today’s passages are filled with buzz words that trigger many thoughts and feelings to modern ears, just as they have for centuries. In Acts we hear that the first converts were devoted to the disciple’s teaching and to fellowship. They shared all things in common. There were signs and wonders done in their midst, and many were added to their numbers every day. Sometimes this story is used by people who are fed up with the hypocrisy of the church. “We are nothing like the first century church,” they say, and they are right. We do not know what signs and wonders were performed in those days, but I do wonder how long they were able to share things in common. It also makes me think of a carnival atmosphere or a renaissance festival. It sounds like a party, and maybe it was. Unfortunately, we’ll never know. What we do know is that they were gathered with an expectation. Initially that expe...

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 1 Peter 1:17-23 John 10:1-10 In our gospel reading Jesus repeatedly tells the Pharisees that he is "the gate". For some reason I cannot shake the image of Jesus saying "I am the gate," and sounding to them as though he might be Groot, from The Guardians of the Galaxy . Hear me out on this.  All Groot really says in the film is his name, “I am Groot.” Strangely enough, the only one who understands him is a genetically altered raccoon with a terrible disposition (arguably the least empathetic of the bunch). In the end [spoiler alert], Groot saves the lives of his friends at the cost of his own life. The good news is that he is basically a walking tree, and he is able to be re-grown in another form. Hearing it that way (and from the pulpit) Groot may sound a little Jesus-like than previously imagined. You could certainly view the character as a Christ like figure if that was all you knew about him. The real reason I am making the comparison bet...