5/15/22 When Love Shows Up as Breakfast at the Beach
5/8/22 The First Evangelist
The First Evangelist by Rev. L. John GableMay 8, 2022 We are now three weeks out from the Easter day and we are not yet done with this story. I believe it was John Buchanan, former pastor of Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church, who once said something to the effect,...
5/1/22 The Thomas Among Us
The Thomas Among Us by Rev. L. John GableMay 1, 2022 Talk about cognitive dissonance. The events surrounding the death and resurrection of our Lord must have had the disciples reeling, wondering “What had just happened?” John tells us, “On the evening of...
4/24/22 Can I Get a Witness?
4/17/22 Seeing and Believing (Easter Sunday)
Seeing and Believing by Rev. L. John GableApril 17, 2022 (Easter Sunday) For as many years as I can remember we have opened our Easter services as we did this morning with this reading from the 20th chapter of John’s Gospel. Regardless of the text to be...
4/15/22 Denial (Good Friday)
Denial by Rev. L. John GableApril 15, 2022 (Good Friday) There are many stories in Scripture in which we can identify with the characters involved, perhaps particularly so in the passage we’ve read this evening telling of Peter’s denial of Jesus. It is a...
4/10/22 Following Jesus Down and Up
Following Jesus Down and Up by Rev. L. John GableApril 10, 2022 (Palm Sunday) There was quite a party going on at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and for good reason: Lazarus was there after having been recently raised from the dead, and Jesus and...
4/3/22 One Vine, Many Branches
3/27/22 The Prayer That Jesus Prays
The Prayer That Jesus Prays by Rev. L. John GableMarch 27, 2022 I would like for you to think for a moment about your own prayer life during the past few days or weeks, or as far back as you can recall. I’d like for you to think not so much about how...
3/20/22 We Wish to See Jesus
We Wish to See Jesus by Rev. L. John GableMarch 2, 2022 I trust you are familiar with the concept of six degrees of separation, the idea that any one of us could name any person, famous or not, anywhere in the world, and a connection could be made to them...
3/13/22 What Does It Take to Believe?
What Does it Take to Believe? by Rev. L. John GableMarch 13, 2022 Faith is an interesting and enigmatic part of our lives. It seems there are some who, regardless of what happens, will always believe; and others who, regardless of what happens, will...
3/6/22 Talking About Life and Death
Talking About Life and Death by Rev. L. John GableMarch 3, 2022 In January of 2020, just weeks before everything started to shut down from the pandemic, I called my then 95 year old mother one day to tell her that I had a free Friday coming up, my day off, and that I...
2/27/22 What Are You Going to Do with That Rock in Your Hand?
What are You Going to Do with that Rock in Your Hand? by Rev. L. John GableFebruary 27, 2022 What are you going to do with that rock you’ve got in your hand? That is the question you’ve likely been asking yourself ever since you walked in to this service, and it is...
2/20/22 Is This the Christ?
2/13/22 Who Do You Say That I AM Is?
Who Do You Say That I AM Is? by Rev. L. John GableFebruary 13, 2022 Through the years I have had many opportunities to visit with people about matters related to faith. I consider this to be a great privilege, both as a pastor and as a fellow follower of...
2/6/22 Are We Missing the Miracle?
1/30/22 Do You Want to Be Made Well?
Do You Want to Be Made Well? by Rev. L. John GableJanuary 30, 2022 (A first-person presentation of John 5:1-18) We’re walking. We’re walking. If you are just joining us I’d like to welcome you to the walking tour of great walled city of Jerusalem. My name is Simon...
1/23/22 The Problem of Talking Past One Another
The Problem of Talking Past One Another by Rev. L. John GableJanuary 23, 2022 Sometimes even seemingly simple conversations can be confusing. My first call to ministry was as an associate pastor in Mansfield, OH and one of my primary...
1/16/22 With a Glad and Broken Heart
With a Glad and Broken Heart by Rev. L. John GableJanuary 16, 2022 I want my heart to be gladdened by the things that gladden the heart of Jesus, and I want my heart to be broken by the things that break the heart of Jesus. We see both of these in our...
1/9/22 Come and See: The Cost of Discipleship
Come and See: The Cost of Discipleship by Rev. L. John GableJanuary 9, 2022 Every author, producer and storyteller has to make a decision as to how best to introduce the characters in the story they intend to tell, both the lead actors and the supporting...
1/2/22 The Ministry of John the Baptist
12/26/21 The Truest Thing in the World
The Truest Thing in the World by Rev. L. John GableDecember 26, 2021 When the Gospel writer Luke sat down to write his “good news” about Jesus he made it clear what his intention was: he wanted us to know the truth. Perhaps he knew that there were many...
12/24/21 Christmas Eve: Hearing, Seeing, Believing, Telling
Christmas Eve: Hearing, Seeing, Believing, Telling by Rev. L. John GableDecember 24, 2021 In the year 312 AD the Emperor Constantine had an encounter with the Risen Christ which radically changed his life and subsequently that of Roman Empire, and, it is...
12/19/21 The Living Tabernacle
The Living Tabernacle by Rev. L. John GableDecember 19, 2021 Virgil, the old farmer, was not a regular attender at the small, country church his wife attended. With Christmas approaching, however, she persuaded him to attend the Pastor’s Bible study with...
12/12/21 Reflections of Light in the Darkness
Reflections of LIght in the Darkness by Rev. L. John GableDecember 12, 2021 I don’t know if you are counting down the days or not, but if you are we are 13 days to Christmas; but those are not really the days I am counting. I am counting down the days...
12/5/21 Comfort, Comfort
Comfort, Comfort by Rev. L. John GableDecember 5, 2021 “Comfort, O comfort, My people says your God.” These words are spoken by the prophet Isaiah to a people who were suffering the despair of exile, the people of God, the nation of Israel, in...
11/28/21 Preparing for the Ones Who Come
Preparing for the Ones Who Come by Rev. L. John GableNovember 28, 2021 The word “gospel” means “good news”, so it would be right to say that the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, were “good news tellers”. A number of years ago I was filling...
11/21/21 The King and the Kingdom
The King and the Kingdom by Rev. L. John GableNovember 21, 2021 According to Mark’s Gospel, the very first words Jesus spoke as He began His public ministry were these, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near (some translations read,...
11/14/21 A Message to the Church(es)
A Message to the Churches by Rev. L. John GableNovember 14, 2021 Our lesson this morning makes it on to the list of the 50 greatest passages because it is the prologue to the messages written to the seven churches of Asia Minor recorded by the Apostle John in the book...