Not Perfect, But Different – Matthew 5:38-48 This was the final Sunday of four we’ve spent hearing Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.  This week we come to the strange commands to turn the other cheek, go the second mile, and love our enemies.  To pretend […]

We have upgraded our technology – audio versions of Pastor Evan Davis’ sermons will now be uploaded each week! This past Sunday, February 16, we heard a lot more from Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount.  Take a look at Matthew 5:21-37.  These can be among the most difficult […]

Sunday, March 2, will be a NEW day for St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church.  Our Sunday Sunday ministry will begin anew, with new learning opportunities for children, youth, and adults.  We know how important it is for us to offer opportunities for the whole family, and this is an important step in that […]

Does Jesus know what it means?  Read this earlier version of last Sunday’s sermon to find out!   4th Sunday after Epiphany (Year A) – February 2, 2014 – Matthew 5:1-12 St. Jacob’s-Spaders and Trinity Lutheran Churches, Harrisonburg, Virginia Pastor Evan Davis   Can you imagine your pastor as a […]

Yesterday we heard about that pivotal first encounter four future disciples had with Jesus, the Fisherman of all fishermen.  I was inspired by this song by Mason Jennings, one of my wife’s favorite musicians.  Sermon is below the video, and as always, the preached version was a bit different than […]

Our Virginia Synod Bishop Jim Mauney sends out a devotion every week derived from the Augsburg Confession, the statement of faith of the Lutheran theologians and princes as the Reformation was unfolding in 1530.  It is still our confession of faith today as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  The […]

Yesterday’s sermon was about pig butchering, but it was really about evangelism.  I know that can be a scary word, but it isn’t really.  It’s all about invitation for folks to “come and see.”  And I am pleased to announce that our evangelism committee, perhaps with this sermon ringing in […]

So I moved back out of the pulpit today and preached a fairly adapted version of this sermon.  In weeks to come, I plan to continue preaching out of the pulpit, which means that what I post here will be similar to what I preached but not exactly the same. […]

The world is not meaningless, and it is not random.  It has a key, a core, a cornerstone – the Word.  The Word that was in the beginning, the Word that was with God, the Word that was God.  The Word through whom YOU were made.   2nd Sunday of […]

First Sunday of Christmas (Year A) – December 29, 2013 – Matthew 2:13-23 St. Jacob’s-Spaders and Trinity Lutheran Churches, Harrisonburg, Virginia Pastor Evan Davis   Merry Christmas (?). Since we were here last, I imagine many of us watched children in our lives have a joyful Christmas morning – maybe […]