_JPG.jpg)
Generous Welcome
A sermon on Luke 14:1, 7-14 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Cyrus Gomez on Unsplash.] I have to admit that I have never found today’s gospel reading terribly inspiring. I mean, I can absolutely get on board with the message of offering hospitality and welcome to those whom society usually excludes… and I’m good with the exhortation to NOT try to push ourselves forward and grab all the glory. But I get really uncomfortable with the way Jesus goes a
The Kind of Peace that Brings Division
A sermon on Luke 12:49-56. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Michelle on Unsplash.] I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that the gospel we just read doesn’t make it onto any of our top ten lists for favorite Bible stories. Even those of us who like it when Jesus gets a little gritty – flipping over tables and confronting oppressors – are probably squirming at least a little bit at the kind of language Jesus is throwing around in this scene:
Knowing Where Our Heart Is
A sermon on Luke 12:32-40. [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash.] My first thought this week, when I looked at the lectionary texts was, “Oh cool! I remember this gospel reading. It was the gospel I preached on for my call sermon!” Kind of a fun connection for re-entering the community after my month away! My second thought on re-reading these texts was, “Oh dear! Am I just out of practice? I have NO IDEA what to do with this!”
The Kind of Healing We Actually Need
A sermon on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 and 2 Kings 5:1-14 [for an audio recording of this sermon, click here. Photo by Trevor Gerzen on Unsplash.] When I read the gospel lesson for this week, my first reaction was “well, that’s bad timing.” I have spent the last month prepping our congregation for a time of REST… and for very important reasons. I know that I am not the only one who is exhausted and depleted by the past 28 months of continuously-shifting expectations and decision-mak
