Category: Sermon
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What Are You Looking For? – A Sermon On John 1:29-42
“What are you looking for?” That’s the question Jesus asks in today’s gospel (John 1:29-42). We’re now two weeks into the new year and I wonder, what are you looking for in 2023? It’s been seven and a half months since the May 24th shooting. In what ways has that tragedy changed or challenged what… Read more
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My New Christmas Word – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20
The child has been born. Take a deep breath. Breathe in the truth of his birth. The child has been born. I love the Christmas Day liturgy. It’s one of my favorite liturgies of the whole year. It’s so different from last night’s liturgy. The crowd at last night’s liturgy has gone home. There aren’t… Read more
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What Is Your Amazing Story? – A Christmas Eve Sermon On Luke 2:1-20
“They made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.” (Luke 2:1-20) What do you imagine the shepherds told them? Did they tell about standing in a light of divine presence? Did they admit there were terrified? Did they tell about… Read more
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Emmanuel And The Messiness of Life – A Sermon On Matthew 1:18-25
What do you make of today’s gospel? (Matthew 1:18-25) It’s a beautiful story but does it make sense to you? I doesn’t to me. I have some doubts about it. It doesn’t sound or feel real to me. Does it to you? I struggle with today’s gospel and wonder if that’s really how it happened.… Read more
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Imprisoned By Our Blinders – A Sermon On Matthew 11:2-11
What happened to John the Baptist? That’s the question that comes up for me when I hear today’s gospel (Matthew 11:2-11). Last week (Matthew 3:1-12) John was a voice crying out in the wilderness. He was preparing the way of the Lord and announcing that the kingdom of heaven had come near. He demanded repentance.… Read more
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Peace For Our Wolves And Lambs – A Sermon On Isaiah 11:1-10
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” John the Baptist announces in today’s gospel (Matthew 3:1-12). But it’s Isaiah in today’s Old Testament reading (Isaiah 11:1-10) who describes the kingdom. It’s Isaiah who gives us a glimpse of that kingdom. “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with… Read more
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Waking Up To The Unexpected Hour – A Sermon On Matthew 24:36-44
A few nights ago my wife Cyndy woke me and said, “Mike, turn over. You’re snoring.” I said, “I am? Really? I didn’t even know I was asleep.” That’s the thing about sleeping; we don’t know we’ve been asleep until we wake up. Maybe that’s why in today’s gospel (Matthew 24:36-44) Jesus tells us, “Keep… Read more
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The Reign Of Nonviolence – A Christ The King Sermon On Luke 23:33-43
“The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross.” The crucifixion in November? What’s that about? Someone even asked me if I was sure I had the correct gospel for today. It is the correct gospel for today and I completely understand their question. Today’s gospel (Luke 23:33-43) feels out of place. It seems strange… Read more
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A Vision For The Future – A Sermon On Isaiah 65:17-25
I suspect we’ve all had times in our lives when something happens and we know that that event is asking something of us. We know something needs to be done in response to what has happened. We want to do something, but we just don’t know what to do. For the last several months I… Read more
Interrupting the Silence 