Tag: Love

Holy Week, Sermon

Fragrancing Life – A Sermon On John 12:1-11

Here’s my question: In what ways are you fragrancing the life of others?

I hope you understand that I’m not talking about perfume or rubbing someone’s feet. I’m asking about love. I am talking about the kind of love that is absolutely free and will cost us everything. I’m not talking about love that is based on feelings or attraction but the kind of love that is a choice and a commitment by which we pour out on another all that we are and all that we have. I am talking about loving someone to death, and beyond. 

I’m asking you to look at how you love in light of Mary and Judas. Let them be the lenses through which you look at yourself.  Continue reading Fragrancing Life – A Sermon On John 12:1-11

Michael K. Marsh6 Comments
Sermon

Love’s Only Hope In This World – A Sermon On Matthew 22:34-46

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

These, Jesus says, are the two commandments on which everything else hangs. They are two sides of the same thing. You can’t truly have one without the other. This is about more than our feelings or affection for God and one another. It’s about our commitment to the life and well-being of the other. It’s a choice we make every day – to love or not to love.

I wonder what that love looks like. I wonder what your life and my life would be like if we held those two commandments as the guiding principles for what we do. I wonder what we might create and achieve if we embodied and lived those commandments. Continue reading Love’s Only Hope In This World – A Sermon On Matthew 22:34-46

Michael K. Marsh11 Comments
Holy Week, Sermon

Let’s Never Stop Loving – A Maundy Thursday Sermon On John 13:1-7, 31-35

Maundy Thursday – John 13:1-17, 31-35 The last couple of days I’ve been thinking of previous Maundy Thursdays and previous foot washings. There are no feet to wash tonight but I think there’s something to be learned from that.   One of the things that struck me as I thought about this night and this liturgy is that Maundy Thursday just might be the original … Continue reading Let’s Never Stop Loving – A Maundy Thursday Sermon On John 13:1-7, 31-35

Michael K. Marsh5 Comments
Sermon, Wedding

Selah: Instructions For A Marriage – A Wedding Sermon

Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 67; 1 John 4:7-16; John 15:9-12 Sophie, Tyler, I am going to give you a word for your marriage and life together. It’s a Hebrew word. It’s used seventy-one times in the Book of Psalms. Selah. Do you know that word? Selah. It’s used twice in the psalm you chose for this evening (Psalm 67). Scholars aren’t sure of its exact meaning … Continue reading Selah: Instructions For A Marriage – A Wedding Sermon

Michael K. Marsh2 Comments
Sermon, Wedding

The Double Yes of Marriage – A Wedding Sermon On Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7

Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7 and John 15:9-12 I am going to start by asking you some simple questions – yes or no kind of questions. I don’t mean to put pressure on you but if you get the answers wrong you’ll ruin my sermon and probably your wedding too. Don’t worry, it’ll be easy. Yes or no. Nano, do you love Sarah? Do you … Continue reading The Double Yes of Marriage – A Wedding Sermon On Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7

Michael K. Marsh2 Comments
Sermon

But First…. – A Sermon On Luke 9:51-62

Today’s gospel (Luke 9:51-62) is a difficult one. It’s confrontational and it doesn’t leave much, if any, wiggle room. “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” We’re either looking toward the kingdom or we are not. We’re either responding to the call of life or we’re not. We’re either open to the coming future or we’re not. Continue reading But First…. – A Sermon On Luke 9:51-62

Michael K. Marsh9 Comments
Sermon, Marriage, Wedding, 1 John 4:7-16, Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7, Love
Sermon, Wedding

The Beautiful Risk – A Wedding Sermon

Those are not demands we make on each other. They are gifts we offer each other. And with a true gift there is no holding back. It’s all or nothing. If there is a measure of your marriage, it is love, and the only measure of love is love without measure (St. Augustine).

So you must always keep your ears and heart open to the urging and wooing of each other. It just might be the urging and wooing of God. Because if “God is love” (1 John 4:8) then the wooing of love is the wooing of God.  Continue reading The Beautiful Risk – A Wedding Sermon

Michael K. MarshLeave a comment
Sermon, Parable of the Weeds, Proper 11A, Matthew 13:24-30 36-43, Tacuina Sanitatis, Judgment, Forgiveness, Love
Sermon

Weeding out Judgment – A Sermon on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; Parable of the Wheat and Weeds

“Where, then, did these weeds come from?” (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Parable of the Weeds, Proper 11A) Who has not at some point asked that question? You may not have used those same words and you may not have spoken it aloud but I’ll bet everyone has, at some time or another, asked the question. Maybe you’ve read or watched the news and wondered, “How did … Continue reading Weeding out Judgment – A Sermon on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; Parable of the Wheat and Weeds

Michael K. Marsh16 Comments
Matthew 10:24-39, Proper 7A, Love, Priorities, Choices, Sermon
Sermon

Love Triangles – A Sermon on Matthew 10:24-39

Love triangles. I want to talk with you today about love triangles. You know what I am talking about right? You’ve seen the pictures and headlines on the tabloids in the grocery store check out lines. Love triangles are often the subject of movie plots and sometimes they are the circumstances in which a crime is committed. They are also a part of our lives. … Continue reading Love Triangles – A Sermon on Matthew 10:24-39

Michael K. Marsh9 Comments