Consider My Servant Job
The Twentieth Sunday after PentecostJob 1:1, 2:1-10 Job is a very strange book of the bible. It’s been one of the very hardest books to interpret. No one knows when, … [Read more…]
Sermons
Servant of All
The Eighteenth Sunday after PentecostMark 9:30-37 In last week’s gospel passage, we found Jesus struggling with his identity as God’s anointed one, God’s Messiah, God’s Christ. He knew that he … [Read more…]
Who Do You Say that I Am?
The Seventeenth Sunday after PentecostMark 8:27–38 It’s not what we would normally expect from Jesus, but here in the Gospel of Mark today, Jesus seems to be having an identity … [Read more…]
Doers of the Word
The Fifteenth Sunday after PentecostJames 1:17–27 I need to warn you: this is a political sermon. Or, to be more precise, this is a sermon about politics. I know that … [Read more…]
The Whole Armor of God
The Thirteenth Sunday after PentecostEphesians 6:10-20 The words sound a little strange to our modern ears: “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to … [Read more…]
Twelve Years
The Sixth Sunday after PentecostMark 5:21–43 Mark the Evangelist uses a very special literary technique, sometimes called interpolation, inclusio, or chiastic structure, but more commonly referred to as a Markan … [Read more…]
The Lot Fell on Matthias
The Seventh Sunday of EasterActs 1:15–26 We are almost at the end of our seven-week Eastertide journey through Acts. So it is a little strange that this morning we’re jumping … [Read more…]
Even on the Gentiles
The Sixth Sunday of EasterActs 10:44–48 We’re continuing our Eastertide journey through the book of Acts. We haven’t read it yet this season, but one of the first things that … [Read more…]
How Can I Understand?
The Fifth Sunday of EasterActs 8:26–40 All through the seven weeks of the Easter Season we are focusing on the fifth book of the New Testament, the Acts of the … [Read more…]
The Name of Jesus
The Fourth Sunday of EasterActs 4:1-20 We are in the third week of our Eastertide journey through the Book of Acts, which is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. … [Read more…]
Everything in Common
The Second Sunday of EasterActs 4:32–35 After journeying through the reflective and penitential season of Lent, after celebrating the joy of resurrection on Easter Morning, we are now in the … [Read more…]
Who Will Roll Away the Stone?
Easter SundayMark 16:1–8 “Overcome with terror and dread, they fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” They were expecting to find a corpse. And … [Read more…]
All of Them Said the Same
Maundy ThursdayMark 14:12–31 It is Holy Week, and this year we hear Mark’s version of events. On Sunday, Jesus comes triumphantly into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, with people waiving … [Read more…]
The Coming Kingdom
Palm-Passion SundayMark 11:1–11 It’s all a misunderstanding. Back in chapter 8 of Mark, Jesus had talked with his disciples about who he is and what he is meant to do. … [Read more…]
Truth in the Most Hidden Places
The Fifth Sunday in LentPsalm 51:1–12 I’m doing something this morning that I don’t usually do; I’m preaching from the Psalm. Generally speaking, all things being equal, my favorite kind … [Read more…]
The Serpent in the Wilderness
The Fourth Sunday in LentNumbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21 We just heard, from the Gospel of John, probably the most well-known passage in the New Testament. “For God so loved the … [Read more…]
Overturned Tables
The Third Sunday in Lent John 2:13–22Mark 11:25–29 The story from John’s gospel today is one of the few stories that is contained in all four gospels. However, John’s version … [Read more…]
The Way of the Cross
The Second Sunday in LentMark 8:31–38 Last week you heard a story from the Gospel of Mark about Jesus and his identity. The gospel lesson this morning comes right after … [Read more…]
Everyone Is Searching for You
Mark 1:29-39The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Poor Jesus, he just can’t seem to get a break. He sneaks out of the house early in the morning and heads out … [Read more…]
Idol Meat
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany1 Corinthians 8:1-13 It’s a very strange text we have from 1 Corinthians this morning. It seems very foreign, doesn’t it? Meat sacrificed to idols. … [Read more…]