Category: Sermon
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It’s Not Fair But… – A Sermon On Matthew 20:1-16
Several years ago a friend called me about the sermon she had preached the day before. She was not happy with how it went. She said, “I gave a really good sermon yesterday. And someone said to me, ‘Thank you. I really enjoyed your sermon.’” She said, “I didn’t want them to enjoy the sermon. Read more
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The Mixed Bag Of Our Life – A Sermon On Matthew 16:13-20
What do you see when you look at yourself these days? What stands out for you? And what do you wish you could hide? What do you want others to see? And what’s the last thing you want them to see? I ask those questions because I think it’s easy to take one aspect or Read more
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“Uh-Oh” – A Sermon On Matthew 15:10-28
“Listen and understand,” Jesus says in today’s gospel (Matthew 15:10-28). Imagine what our world and lives might be like if listening and understanding were our daily practices. There is a lot of practical wisdom in what Jesus says and we’ve all experienced the truth of his words. Haven’t there been times when deep thorough listening Read more
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A Reaching Out Kind Of Faith – A Sermon On Matthew 14:22-33
“Just have faith.” “Get more faith.” “You need a stronger faith.” You’ve heard those kind of things, right? Maybe you’ve said or thought them to yourself. I think that’s often how we hear Jesus’ question to Peter in today’s gospel (Matthew 14:22-33).“You of little faith, why did you doubt?” The implication is that if Peter Read more
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Living In The Field Of Maybe – A Sermon On Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
“Let both of them grow together,” says the farmer in today’s gospel (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), referring to the wheat and the weeds. Is that what you do? Do you just let the weeds keep on growing? Does that make sense to you? I’ll bet it didn’t make sense to the workers who want to gather Read more
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Sowers, Seeds, And Soils – A Sermon On Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Have you ever asked someone a question and she or he responded by telling you a story? I have a mentor who often does that. I’ll go to him with something about my life – a question, a struggle, a wondering – and instead of giving me an answer or telling me what to do Read more
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What Is Stirring Your Life Today? – A Sermon On Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
When I was around three years old the army assigned my dad to Korea for about eighteen months. During that time my mom, sister, and I lived in my mom’s hometown. Shortly after Dad came home I was – to use Jesus’ imagery in today’s gospel (Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30) – acting like one of those Read more
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One Welcoming After Another – A Sermon On Matthew 10:40-42
Every Sunday we read the gospel – words on a page. But every now and then the words come to life. They take shape and form. The words become flesh and sometimes a new building. That’s what happened this past Thursday. A few of you and I gathered with more than one hundred others to Read more
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Fields Of Pain – A Sermon On Matthew 9:35-10:8
There’s a lot of pain in the world today. But you don’t need me to tell you that. It’s an everyday reality; physical pain, emotional pain, spiritual pain, and the systemic pain of violence, injustice, poverty, racism, to mention just a few. We read about in the news. We see it in the tears of Read more
Interrupting the Silence 