My New Christmas Word – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20
The child has been born. Take a deep breath. Breathe in the truth of his birth. The child has been born. I love the Christmas Day liturgy. It’s one of my favorite liturgies of the whole year. It’s so...
View ArticleWhat Are You Looking For? – A Sermon On John 1:29-42
“What are you looking for?” That’s the question Jesus asks in today’s gospel (John 1:29-42). We’re now two weeks into the new year and I wonder, what are you looking for in 2023? It’s been seven and a...
View ArticleRethinking Repentance – A Sermon On Matthew 4:12-23
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” Jesus says in today’s gospel (Matthew 4:12-23) How’s that working for you? Who here has repented today? Anyone? No? Okay, well it’s still early, not...
View ArticleWe’re All Blessed – A Sermon On Matthew 5:1-12
“Blessed.” Jesus says that word nine times in today’s gospel (Matthew 5:1-12). We often talk about ourselves or others as being blessed. “I’m blessed.” “She’s blessed.” “We’re really blessed.” You’ve...
View ArticleLet’s Wait And See – A Sermon On Luke 2:22-40
“Now you are dismissing your servant in peace.” That’s what Simeon says in this evening’s gospel (Luke 2:22-40) after he took the child Jesus in him arms. Simeon’s experience of receiving and holding...
View ArticleSalt And Light – A Sermon On Matthew 5:13-20
Anybody feeling particularly salty today? How about bright and shining? You are “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” aren’t you? That’s what Jesus says about you in today’s gospel (Matthew...
View ArticleHealing Our Divided Life – A Sermon On Matthew 5:21-37
Our older son Brandon often brought a friend over for supper. He was a really nice kid. He was polite and well behaved. He always said and did the right thing. I don’t remember his name but I do...
View Article“Get Up And Do Not Be Afraid”– A Sermon On Matthew 17:1-9
Today's gospel (Matthew 17:1-9), the transfiguration of Jesus, is often thought of, described, or spoken of, as a mountaintop experience. And I think it is a mountaintop experience, but I'm beginning...
View ArticleI Don’t Want To Do Lent This Year – An Ash Wednesday Sermon On Matthew 6:1-6,...
I’m not sure if this is a confession or just a description of where I am these days but I don’t want to do Lent this year. Do you? Let me explain what I mean by that. We began tonight…… Read More I...
View ArticleLet’s Not Waste A Good Temptation – A Sermon On Matthew 4:1-11
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” That’s the first line in today’s gospel (Matthew 4:1-11) and my first thought is, Well, that’s not fair. The Spirit...
View ArticleHeroes On A Journey – A Sermon On Genesis 12:1-4
Have you ever considered yourself to be a hero? George, have you? No? Sharron, have you ever thought of yourself as a heroine? No? Judy? Anna? You either, huh? Nano, what about you? Are you a hero? No?...
View ArticleHere’s Mud In Your Eye – A Sermon On John 9:1-41
I’m going to begin this sermon a little differently from how I usually do. I’m going to start with a visual aid and a little experiment that I hope will help open our eyes. About ten or twelve years...
View ArticleMaybe We Should Call It Turmoil Sunday – A Palm Sunday Sermon On Matthew 21:1-11
We call this day Palm Sunday, and for obvious reasons, but I wonder if it would be more accurate to call it Turmoil Sunday. What do you think of that? Would you be excited about coming to church on...
View ArticleLove Without Measure – A Sermon On John 12:1-11 For Monday In Holy Week
In yesterday’s sermon for Palm Sunday, or as I called it Turmoil Sunday, I said that this week would be one of conflict, confrontation, and choices. And that’s what we find in today’s gospel (John...
View ArticleFiguring It Out As We Go – A Sermon On John 12:20-36 For Tuesday In Holy Week
On Palm Sunday I told you that Holy Week would be a week of conflict, confrontation, and choices. I told you that again yesterday. Any guesses on what I’m going to say today? In case you missed it the...
View ArticleFacing Our Betrayals – A Sermon On John 13:21-32 For Wednesday In Holy Week
It’s hard to read today’s gospel (John 13:21-32) and not talk about betrayal. It sits in front of us like bread on the table. So I’m not going to try to avoid the subject. I want us to face our…… Read...
View ArticleOur Jesus Moments – A Sermon On John 13:1-17, 31-35 For Maundy Thursday
Earlier this week I was talking with a friend about tonight’s foot washing. He said, “Do you want to hear about my Jesus moment?” I couldn’t help it and I just started laughing. And then he started...
View ArticleThe Jesus Choice – A Sermon On John 18:1-19:42 For Good Friday
We often come to this day, Good Friday, and talk about what Jesus on the cross did for us. We talk of his death as having accomplished and completed something for us. I think that’s why a little later...
View ArticleWe Shall Overcome – A Sermon On Matthew 27:57-66 For Holy Saturday
“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.” (Matthew 27:57-66) I know what that’s like and I’ll bet you do too. We’ve all had times in our life when we were “sitting...
View ArticleTelling The Same Old Story – A Sermon On Matthew 28:1-10 For Easter Sunday
Alleluia. Christ is risen. That’s what I said to you last Easter, the one before that, and the one before that. It’s what I’ve said to you for the last eighteen Easters. Every year it’s the same. It...
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