the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. Phil Brochard This sermon reflects on Jesus’ teachings about power and humility in Mark 9, where he holds a child while instructing his disciples on true greatness in God's kingdom. The disciples, shaped by a world that values coercive power, argue about who is the greatest, but Jesus teaches them that true power is found in service, especially toward the powerless. Jesus’ strong language warns against actions that harm the vulnerable, urging his followers to live by a different kind of power—one of compassion and healing. The sermon concludes by encouraging the congregation to resist worldly instincts for domination and instead embrace Jesus' radical call to serve and protect those at risk.