Park View Mennonite Church sermons

Phil Kniss: When scarce is the shelter

Pastor Phil Kniss, of Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia, preaches from Luke 9:28-36, the story of Jesus' transfiguration. He suggests this story is less about the mystical mountaintop experience, and more about the difference it makes to our lives at the bottom of the mountain. The story reinforces the essential part of our calling to be the body of Christ, even as forms, shelters, and institutional expressions change.

Moriah Hurst: Compassion—to suffer with

Pastor Moriah, of Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Virginia, preaches from Luke 7:1-17, and compares and contrasts these two healing stories of Jesus, challenging us to follow the example of Jesus and show compassion by being willing to "be with" those needing healing in a deeper way.

Paula Stoltzfus: A life-giving vision of Sabbath

Pastor Paula, of Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia, preaches from Luke 6:1-16, a Gospel story in which Jesus communicates through his actions what the Sabbath is all about. It creates a disturbance among the religious gatekeepers, but clarifies Jesus' own commitment to the heart of the law, and not just the letter of the law.

Phil Kniss: Whole-hearted, whole-bodied, whole-life disciples

Pastor Phil Kniss, of Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA preaches from Luke 5:1-11, Jesus calling four fisherman to be his disciples. He seeks to help us see that Peter’s show of humility when he was called by Jesus, as also rooted in pride, and something that all of us must shed if we are to become a disciple.

Phil Kniss: When the lights came on for Jesus

At Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA, Pastor Phil Kniss preaches from Luke 4:14-30, lifting up the human side of Jesus’ journey of discovering his call and identity, a journey described in Luke 3 and 4, culminating in his identification with Isaiah, when he read from the scroll in his hometown synagogue.

Phil Kniss: In holy and in hopeless place

Sermon preached by Pastor Phil Kniss on January 10, 2021 to the Park View Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA. This sermon is based on Luke 3:1-22, the story of John the Baptist's preaching at the Jordan River, and Jesus' baptism by John. The sermon also reflects on the parallels between the social context for the Jewish people in the days of John and Jesus, and the social context for Christians in North America in 2021, and makes connections to the horrific violence and insurrection at our nation's capitol this past week, with many of the participants identifying with the Christian community.

Phil Kniss: Jesus the inquisitive

Sermon from Pastor Phil Kniss on January 3, 2021, the first Sunday of the new year, based on the Gospel story (Luke 2:41-52) of Jesus as a young boy who stayed behind in the temple, asking questions of the leaders and scholars.

Reflections from the pastors: Words from Mary, Simeon, and Anna

Christmas 1: God With Us
Luke 2:21-38

Phil Kniss and Dr. Bishara Awad of Bethlehem: What love really looks like (the other side of the Christmas story)

Advent 3: LOVE
Psalm 113; Luke 1:26-56

Moriah Hurst: Joy instead of mourning

Advent 3: JOY
Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-11