Sermons (Page 25)
Lent’s Invitation: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday: February 26, 2020 Year A: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 103; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 At the time of this posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. If you’re looking for a truly ironic twist for Ash Wednesday, you only need to think about our Gospel reading appointed for today. “Beware of practicing piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your father in heaven…when you…
Listen To Him: Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Last Sunday After The Epiphany: February 23, 2020 Feast of the Transfiguration Year A: Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 At the time of this posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. “Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.”[1] If you look at the Gospel of Matthew, a lot of things happened in the days that immediately precede this…
Forgiveness And Love Are The Only Way: Epiphany 6
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany: February 16, 2020 Year A: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 CLICK HERE to listen to an audio recording of this sermon. This Sunday’s gospel is brutal. We’re still hearing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. You can try and unpack its meaning time and again, but it’s tough stuff. And it’s tough because Jesus seriously meant it to be that way. There’s no getting out of it, even the scholars who are most skeptical…
We are the Salt of the Earth: Epiphany 5
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany: February 9, 2020 Year A: Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12], Psalm 112:1-9, (10), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16], Matthew 5:13-20 CLICK HERE to listen to an audio recording of this sermon. You are the salt of the earth.”[1] “You are the light of the world.”[2] Which are we? Are we salt or are we light? What is Jesus even getting at with statements like these? Added questions might be where are we? Who are we? Why are we here?…
The Rewards Of Faith: Feast of the Presentation
Feast of the Presentation: February 2, 2020 Year A, Fourth Sunday after Epiphany: Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 84, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 CLICK HERE to listen to an audio recording of this sermon. Today, we celebrate a simple, humble yet very important event: Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. It’s called the Feast of the Presentation. It’s an easy one to miss liturgically, coming as it does exactly forty days after Christmas Day. It’s one of those…
Our Sacred Duty To Carry The Light: Epiphany 3
Third Sunday After Epiphany: January 26, 2020 Year A : Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23 At the time of posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested…”[1] I’m not sure that when we hear the first verses of our Gospel that we fully get the danger that Jesus is facing before his public ministry has even fully begun. “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested…”…
Our Invitation to “Come and See:” Epiphany 2
Second Sunday After Epiphany: January 19, 2020 Year A : Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 CLICK HERE to listen to an audio recording of this sermon. When I first looked at today’s Gospel, I was struck by the continuation of the baptism theme that we heard in the Gospel of Matthew last week. It’s easily a reading where baptism is easily preached. But it is also one of the few instances in our weekly readings that…
What Happens In Baptism? The Baptism of our Lord
First Sunday AFter Epiphany: January 12, 2020 The Baptism of our Lord Year A : Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17 At the time of posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. We are in the season of Epiphany, the season of growing light, the season of the Magi and the revelation of Christ to all the nations – the day in our church calendar when we celebrate Christ’s baptism. A season when we celebrate Christ…
Be Not Afraid Because Love Fuels Courage: Christmas 2
Second Sunday After Christmas Day: January 5, 2020 Year A : Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 CLICK HERE to listen to a recording of this sermon. On this Second Sunday after Christmas, we’re in the gospel landscape of Matthew. It’s a story of angelic messages delivered in dreams. It’s a story without shepherds, without a manger, with no mention of other animals. It’s a story that features strangers from other realms – “Magi”, whatever such…
The Faithfulness of Joseph: Advent 4
Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 22, 2019 Year A: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 At the time of posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. It’s the Sunday before Christmas. For many of us it means the presents are all bought and wrapped and under the tree. Or, if you’re like me, you still have much to do before 5:30 on Christmas Eve when we will begin our first service of Christmas with carols…
Our Advent Dream and Hope: Advent 3
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday): December 15, 2019 Year A: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 CLICK HERE to listen to a recording of this sermon. What happens when our expectations don’t get met? And what happens when it’s our expectations about God that don’t get met? The one social media tool that I’ve never gotten into using is Twitter. It’s one of those ubiquitous ways of instantly communicating in today’s world, a very annoying way I…
The Power Of Repentance: Advent 2
Second Sunday of Advent: December 8, 2019 Year A: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 CLICK HERE to listen to a recording of this sermon. Repent, I say. Repent. Many of you might be tempted to head for the doors right now. What kind of sermon is she going to preach this morning? I’m guessing that most of us assume repentance means saying we’re sorry. Or, that we’re really, really sorry and will never do it –…