Jesus said that we are to love each other. But not just any love, a particular kind of love. “Love each other the way I have loved you.” That is a scary proposition. If you can’t play the audio file … Continue reading →

This week, the Lectionary turns our attention to Jesus as “shepherd”. But before considering who Jesus is, maybe it’s necessary to consider who Jesus isn’t. Jesus is always who we need him to be, but rarely who we want him … Continue reading →

Jesus appears to the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and asks, “Simon, Son of John, do you love me?” Why does Jesus call him Simon? I thought he changed his name to Peter. Maybe Peter has … Continue reading →

“Christ is Risen! / He is Risen Indeed!” This is a call and response heard in Christian churches around the world. Easter is a call to experience abundant life through the resurrected Christ. So, it is especially fitting for Easter … Continue reading →

Palm Sunday and the Triumphant Entry are the focus of this sermon. Celebration comes easy when we think we’re on the winning side. But what happens when our expectations come up against Christ’s call to take up our cross? If … Continue reading →

This was to be the sermon on the first Sunday in Lent (2016), but due to other elements running long earlier in the service and because we had a large number of visitors, it seemed best to toss the sermon … Continue reading →

The commemoration of All Saints Day on November 1st is a long-standing Christian tradition. We gather and proclaim that Christ’s church is more that what we see, consisting of saints from all times and places. How do you relate to … Continue reading →

I have preached a lot of sermons over the last ten years, but this has to be my personal favorite. It is the story of Blind Bartimaeus. We hear him cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” … Continue reading →

It is World Communion Sunday and the lectionary points us to a text about marriage and divorce. What does that have to do with communion? Maybe more than we think. In this reading from Mark, Jesus seems to offer a teaching on marriage and divorce.

Often the work of God is done in ways that we wouldn’t expect. What does it say that we would rather the work not get done than admit that God could operate in a way that doesn’t seem right to … Continue reading →