Tag: sermon
-
convenient pieties — holding Christ at arm’s length
To offer a specific example, even the idea of attending church can become a convenient piety – “I go to church on Sunday. It’s important to go to church on Sunday.” But this sentiment easily becomes a convenient basis for essentially ignoring God the rest of the week – a convenient way of forgetting Jesus’…
-
a beautiful branch – wisdom for life
We have these amazing texts preserved and handed down to us in the prophet Isaiah. Beautiful texts that speak about the transformation of our world. Beautiful texts that remind us of what we are waiting for. We are waiting for God to come in judgment and grace to his people, a waiting that infuses every…
-
Christ the King – Politics and Palliative Care
This morning we come to the end of the church year. Over the past twelve months we have celebrated God’s self-revelation in Advent and Christmas and Epiphany. We have recalled the suffering patience of Jesus in the season of Lent. We have walked through the darkness of Good Friday into the glory of Easter morning.…
-
love — the way over the mountain
Paul speaks of love as the more excellent way – an image which includes within itself the idea of a mountain pass. So love is the more excellent way, the higher way, and the way over the mountain. With this in mind, my sermon a few weeks ago included images from a walk I took…
-
saying goodbye – with grace in Christ
They are those who pray for the sick or the stricken among us, and seek their comfort. Those who pray for the poor, and support them in their need. Those who pray for the lonely, and visit them in their isolation. Paul invites us: Put yourself in the service of such people. Submit to them.…
-
love, knowledge, idols — priorities!
We are not defined by what we know. We are not defined by our freedoms. We are defined by the fact that we are known by God and loved by God. Our starting point in all of life and thought and action is the knowledge that the one God has created us and embraced us.
-
of maple leaves and chickadees
Those few moments on the edge of a field – those few moment with adult hands and children’s hands fussing over a precious bird – those few moments of wanting to see it thrive and flourish – that moment of care is a parable of God’s loving care for the smallest of creatures – and…
-
stewards of mysteries
Paul writes to the church in Corinth: You seem to think Apollos and I are pawns to be played on the chessboard of your church battles. You seem to think that Apollos and I will carry your flag into war – that we are little more than figureheads who will represent your cause against brothers…
-
boasting and foolishness – taking the cross seriously
President Barak Obama got into trouble a couple of years ago for something he said in a campaign speech. Obama was visiting Roanoke Virginia during the long 2012 campaign season and he was speaking off the cuff about how community and government support is important to the success of businesses. Speaking off the cuff, here’s…
-
division, baptism, unity — or, who we are
Let me begin this morning by reading again just a few words from 1 Corinthians chapter 1. For me these particular words are more than a little odd – they almost stick out like a sore thumb – and for that reason I want to start with them. Paul writes these words to the church…
encrusted words 