December 28, 2021 — John 15:1-9 – “Heard Through the Grapevine”

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts (or lifts) every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” John 15:1-9 

“Heard through the grapevine:” When wires were first being strung from telephone poles and homes and businesses, these wires utilized in America’s first telegraph stations often swooped and draped in twisted, random patterns. The workers who strung the lines and onlookers alike believed the tangled masses resembled grapevines, eventually birthing a common idiom still used today. Of course, we cannot reference this idiom with mentioning the catchy song by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”. 

The parable of the Vine in John 15 is so significant in our understanding of how the word feeds us, and connects us to Jesus, to G-d, and to each other. If Jesus is not our vine, then we, as individual branches, run the risk of withering away when the scorching heat of sin and satan burn away at our lives and our souls. As Jesus says, “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine…” — for if it does not remain, it will die (spiritually). How do we remain in the vine? By dwelling in the Word of Jesus, in the love of Jesus, and in the Grace of Jesus.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, help us to remember to dwell in your word, for your word nourishes, empowers and sustains us every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave 

December 27, 2021 — Luke 10:1-12 – “Riding Shotgun”

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” Luke 10:1-12 

“Riding shotgun:” Back when stagecoaches existed as the “Uber” and “Taxi” mode of transportation of its day, the seat immediately next to the driver was reserved for individuals holding (of course) a shotgun. Such a strategic spot allowed the “shotgun toting protector” to better ward off any bandits attempting to loot passengers. As engineering marched on into motor vehicles, the vernacular designation for the coveted spot stayed the same. 

Of course, Jesus was the first to send out his disciples with a “shotgun” position. He did not send them out individually — he sent them out in pairs, in the original “Buddy System” role — either could be in the “shotgun” position depending on the situation. We still teach this role today — even when we go out to evangelize for the church, we go out in pairs — like Jesus’ disciples entering the darkness of the role of evangelizing prophet — one was there to support the other.  

We never need to go out in this world alone to preach the word — in fact Jesus encourages we take someone with us. When one is tired, the other is there to pick them up. When one does not know what to say, the other is there to speak the word. There is no need to go it alone when speaking G-d’s word, and why would we want to anyway.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, give us the words to speak – and today, give us the people to share in this calling. Amen.

Pastor Dave