Author: Michael K. Marsh
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The Clarity To Be All In – A Sermon On Luke 13:31-35
Last Sunday I spoke about the decisive moments in our lives. You may remember that I distinguished them from the routine and ordinary decisions we make every day. They are the kind of decisions that reveal who we are and what it means to be uniquely us, decisions that ask something of us, decisions that Read more
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The Decisive Moments – A Sermon On Luke 4:1-13
Decisive Moments When you look back on your life what have been some of the decisive moments? I’m not asking about the routine decisions and choices we make every day. I’m asking about those decisions that have profound and lasting consequences. They are the decisions that reveal who we are and what it means to Read more
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Rethinking Ash Wednesday And Lent – A Sermon On Isaiah 58:1-12
Years ago I heard a story about a priest who went to a new parish. I don’t know if it really happened; it probably didn’t, but I think there’s some truth in the story. Anyway, the priest was meeting and getting to know the people and would ask about their relationship with God. Most responded Read more
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Life Transfigured, Life Disfigured – A Sermon On Luke 9:28-43
“Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard.” That’s a phrase the author Kate Bowler often uses. It’s a reality we’ve all experienced. It’s a truth today’s gospel (Luke 9:28-43) holds before us. It’s not an easy truth to accept or live. I’d much rather stand on the Mount of Transfiguration than beg in the Read more
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Taking The Gospel To Heart – A Sermon On Luke 6:27-38
Today’s gospel (Luke 6:27-38) is one of those texts that some say preaches itself. The text itself is the sermon. It’s even called the Sermon on the Plain in recognition that Jesus “stood on a level place” while preaching. I spoke about that level place in last Sunday’s sermon about blessings and woes. Jesus continues Read more
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Blessings, Woes, And A Level Place – A Sermon On Luke 6:17-26
One of the things I struggle with is my sense of privilege, power, and position. I don’t miss a meal unless I choose to. I can pay my bills on time and still have a little money left over at the end of the month. Every now and then someone will get upset with or Read more
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It’s Not About The Fish – A Sermon On Luke 5:1-11
For as long as I can remember, whenever I’ve come to today’s gospel (Luke 5:1-11) my focus has always been on the great catch of fish – two boatloads of fish. That’s a lot of fish – so many fish the nets were beginning to break, so many fish the boats began to sink. Simon Read more
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Keeping Our Appointment With Life – A Sermon On Luke 2:22-40
“Shut up. Suit up. Show up.” Those six words are the daily mantra of a psychologist named James Hollis. He says them to himself as he rides the elevator down to his car each morning. (Hollis, Living Between Worlds, 132) With the first he’s telling himself “to stop whining and complaining” (Ibid.). It’s his recognition Read more
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It’s A Question Of Consistency – A Sermon On Luke 4:14-21
One of the things I’ve always tried to be with you is consistent. I want who you get on Sunday to be who you get on Monday, Tuesday, the day after, and the one after that. I want what you see in and hear from me to be consistent with the gospel week after week. Read more
Interrupting the Silence 