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Broken Rules and Miracles
A sermon - in first person narrative - on Mark 5:21-43. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Jaleel Akbash on Unsplash] I imagine the people of the town were surprised that day, to see me throw myself in desperation at the feet of the itinerant prophet. That’s not how Jairus, leader in the synagogue, is expected to act. I was a man of authority and status in the town, not a beggar to grovel in the dust. But there is a time in every person’s life when y
Stories in Storms
A sermon on Mark 4:35-41 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Matt Hardy on Unsplash.] *** Before I begin, I need to offer a content warning, because I know that stories can trigger traumatic memories and I am going to be sharing a story about a near drowning. If that might be too distressing to hear, feel free to mute the first two minutes of this sermon (or all of it, if you need to. Spend the time meditating on our gospel and letting the apostle Mar
Funny Growth: Parables as Improv
A sermon on Mark 4:26-34 [for an audio recording of this sermon click here. Photo by Juan Gomez on Unsplash] For the last month I have voluntarily spent my Tuesday evenings on zoom. Even more unexpected than that, I spend a lot of that time laughing. The explanation of the mysterious behavior is that I am taking an online class called “improv for clergy.” I have never been interested in doing impro, but I have to say… I am having a blast! I am also finding surprising connecti
Trusting Disruption
A sermon on 1 Samuel 8:4-20, and Mark 3:20-35. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash] I want to start today by offering you a question to ponder. I say ponder, because I don’t want you to answer right away, not even just to yourself. When we answer right away, too often we are giving what we think is the “right” answer, rather than the answer that comes from the deep truth of our souls. And I don’t want you to try for the “righ
Experiencing the Trinity
A sermon on John 3:1-17 and Romans 8:12-17. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash] It’s Trinity Sunday! The Sunday that almost every preacher I know dreads to preach because…it’s Trinity Sunday! Theologians spend their entire careers trying parse out how to explain the essence and significance of the doctrine of the Trinity, without accidentally committing heresy, so how in the world are we supposed to do that in 10-12 minutes
