Please read the note from Pastor Woodhouse regarding his sermon below:

James 3:1 has a special place in my heart: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” For the years I was a public high school teacher, it was on a notecard that I posted on the wall behind my desk, as a tongue-in-cheek reminder of the serious responsibility one has when one becomes a teacher. Obviously, it took on an even more relevant and personal meaning when I found myself called to the seminary and started to believe that I really was called to become the kind of teacher that James was really writing about! And it was stuck in my head most of the day on July 14th as I approached the moment of my ordination and installation as your pastor.

James 3 is a somewhat scary reminder of how difficult it is to be a good teacher. It’s impossible, actually, without the help of the Holy Spirit. And this is also a lesson we learn from Mark 9, our Gospel reading for this Sunday. The Disciples had been charged by Christ to go out and preach His Word, heal the sick, and drive out evil spirits. But they encounter one they could not cast out. This is both a warning to all of us that we remain mere human beings in whatever vocations we are called to, as well as a wonderful reminder that it is Christ who performs the miraculous. Who drives away evil. Who brings unbelievers to faith. Who helps the unbelief of believers!