Social Networks for the life of the world
Here’s a small collection of sermons I’ve offered to various congregations in the past few years.
Matthew 28:1-10 1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like … Read more
Mark 11:1-11 1When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, [Jesus] sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring … Read more
A sermon for Nativity Lutheran Church in Rockport, Maine. Text: Paul’s letter to the Galatian’s 3 1-9, 23-2 Other texts, from previous weeks in the Narrative Lectionary: Controversy about conversion of the nations, Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15:1-18 Amos 9:11-12 quoted by James in Acts 15.Philip and the Ethiopian courtier. Acts of the Apostles, … Read more
“Conceived in bigotry and dedicated to the proposition that my tribe is holier than thine”. With deep apologies to President Lincoln, I fear this describes the practice of Christianity among White americans in the twenty-first century. It’s really painful to admit this. What is going on? Recently I visited a man wearing a T-shirt that … Read more
Isaiah 58 :3-12 ‘Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?’ Look, you serve your own interest on your fast-day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do … Read more
Katelyn Beaty, a former editor of the self-styled “evangelical” publication Christianity Today, wrote a summary of a meeting at Wheaton College in Illinois about whether their movement should distance themselves from the present (2018) leader of the Republican Party. They couldn’t figure it out. Maybe they should read the Barmen Declaration. It asks the question … Read more
Journalist Molly Worthen wrote an interesting piece for the New York Times headlined How to escape from Roy Moore’s evangelicalism. She makes an interesting point about ritual and its effect on the human psyche, on my mind and yours. The habits we follow every day shape us as much as, or more than Sunday worship, even for … Read more
Sermon Text: Matthew 17:1-9 The Transfiguration of Jesus Grace to you, and peace, from God our creator and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen Mountaintop experiences. We’ve all had them. I invite you to think about your personal mountaintop experiences. They could be anything. Maybe yours was something huge and visible and shared like a wedding … Read more
Texts Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 1Hear what the Lord says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3“O my … Read more
Text Matthew 4:12-23 12Now when Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15“The land of Zebulun and the land … Read more