Category: Sermon
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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
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What’s Your Water To Wine Story? – A Sermon On John 2:1-11
So what do you make of today’s gospel (John 2:1-11)? Did Jesus really turn water into wine? If so, how did he do that? And what do we have to do to get a refill? I think those are the kind of questions we often bring to stories like this. But I wonder if they Read more
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Becoming All Flame – A Sermon On Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. But I’m more interested in your baptism. If you don’t remember it, that’s okay. You can still tell a story about your baptism. And if you haven’t yet been baptized in the Church, that’s okay too. You can still tell a story about your baptism. I’m Read more
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All They Could Do Was Follow The Star – An Epiphany Sermon On Matthew 2:1-12
I’m going to begin by telling you about some epiphanies I’ve had. I offer them not so much to tell you about myself but as an invitation for you to connect to the epiphanies in your life. They may be a little different from what you are used to when you think of an epiphany. Read more
Interrupting the Silence 