

When We Want Revenge, And Jesus Says Learn
A sermon on Luke 9: 51-62 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Ilayzu on Unsplash.] Over the past two months I have developed a bit of an addiction to a delightful new Netflix show called Heartstopper. It is, simply put, the most beautiful, pure, authentic, and heart-warming love story I think I have ever seen. It happens to be a love story between two High School boys, which means that one of the significant plot lines revolves around bullying and hom


Spirit-led Unproductivity
A sermon on 1 Kings 19:1-15a and Luke 8:26-39 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash.] I had a remarkably unproductive week this week. That was not my original plan. In fact, my original plan was exactly the opposite. I knew I had a lot of pressures on my time this week – a family birthday on Monday, and a number of medical appointments, and a long-planned tripped to New York City on Friday – so I was going to NEED to be on my p


Trusting the Spirit
A sermon on Acts 2:1-21 (for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash) Pentecost Sunday has long been one of my favorite Sundays of the church year. I love the imagery of God’s Spirit pouring out on God’s people with the undeniable energy of wind and fire. I love the recognition that THE VERY FIRST THING that happens in the formation of Christ’s church is God’s work of inclusion, a miraculous act of communication that redeems the conf


(Not) Waiting for God to Act
A sermon on Acts 1:1-11 (for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash) If you have ever participated in a Bible study that I have lead, you will know that I am usually all about exploring the original context. I am far too familiar with the kinds of damage that can be done – to people and to the scriptural witness – by reading isolated verses as though they had been written, in English, for a modern American audience. Nine times out of 10