Category: Sermon
-
Reclaiming The Truth Within Us – A Sermon On John 13:1-17, 31-35 For Maundy Thursday
This night always brings up a lot of stuff for me. I think it does for a lot of people. Maybe that’s one of the reasons it’s not well attended and why most do not participate in washing feet. That’s not a criticism, just a recognition that this night brings up a lot of stuff. Read more
-
Our Self-Betrayals – A Sermon On John 13:21-32 For Wednesday In Holy Week
Over the years I’ve developed a pretty big soft spot for Judas. When I look at Judas I see myself. It wasn’t always like that though. For a long time Judas was simply the betrayer of Jesus. And that’s all he was, all he’d ever been, and all he would ever be. That’s probably what Read more
-
Doing The Truth – A Sermon On John 12:20-36 For Tuesday In Holy Week
I said it to you on Palm Sunday, I said it again yesterday, and I’ll say it today — All through Holy Week we are meeting and examining truths and realities about ourselves, our lives, and our world that feel too big, too dangerous, or too painful to handle. Those truths, however, are more than Read more
-
Put Down Your Palms, Pick Up The Truth – A Palm Sunday Sermon On Mark 11:1-11
I wish Palm Sunday was as easy as the people in our first gospel reading (Mark 11:1-11) make it look and sound. I wish we could walk in the Jesus parade, wave palms, sing hosannas, offer blessings, and then just go to lunch. That’s how Palm Sunday used to be for me. For most of Read more
-
No Temptation, No Salvation – A Sermon On Mark 1:9-15
Over the last several years I’ve found myself, more often than not, rethinking and working to unlearn much of what I’ve been told and come to believe and understand about God and what it means to be in relationship with the Divine. I’ve encouraged you to do the same. It’s part of my teaching and Read more
-
Seeing And Living Transfigured Lives – A Sermon On Mark 9:2-9
Today’s gospel (Mark 9:2-9), the story of the transfiguration, is one of those big stories from scripture. It’s a mountaintop experience of dazzling white clothes, Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus, and a cloud from which God speaks. It’s such a big story that it can easily feel a bit too fantastical, too unreal, and Read more
-
Magic Or Miracle? – A Sermon On Mark 1:29-39
It’s been more than thirty years ago but I still remember the first time I ever met with a counselor. I told him about myself, what was going on in my life, and the changes I was looking for. About the second or third session he said, “Mike, you aren’t here looking to change your Read more
-
“For My Eyes And For My Mind” – A Sermon On Luke 2:22-40
“For my eyes and for my mind.” Nearly every week for two years I heard Jimmie say those words. She was a parishioner at my previous parish. Jimmie was almost completely blind. She was confused and losing her memory. Every week her caregiver would bring Jimmie to church for the healing service. Every week she Read more
-
Who Is Your Voice Of Authority? – A Sermon On Mark 1:21-28
What captures your attention in today’s gospel (Mark 1:21-28)? What astounds you about this story? When I hear this story my attention is almost always drawn to the man with an unclean spirit. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what captures your attention too. It’s dramatic, sensational, and hard to ignore. But today what Read more
Interrupting the Silence 