Sermons
Some things only seem easy
Faith. One of those words that we all know the meaning of perfectly well but find very difficult to define. In today’s Lectionary readings we have several references to faith: “the righteous live by their faith” Habakkuk 2:4, “I am reminded of your sincere faith” 2 Timothy 1:5, “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!’” Luke 17:5 (all references from the NRSV). So what brings all of these…
An age old question
Okay, this might not be a real “age old question” but it is a question that is asked frequently and has been for a long time, namely, is contentment “settling”? That three word question is the sermon title for these sermons and it springs from our Epistle lesson for today, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, feel free to click the link to read the whole passage. There is something in many of…
Sometimes you just have to
Prayer is one of the aspects of the Christian life that most of us are pretty sure we understand. I hasten to add that we don’t think we understand all of it by any means. We are still baffled why God answers some prayers in the way we expect and want and doesn’t answer others. We might struggle with finding time pray or think we could pray better but all…
Don’t beat yourself up
Okay, the post title is good advice more or less anytime. There is something about most of the humans I have ever met that makes it easier for them (and me, who am I trying to kid) to look at all of their many faults and decide that on the basis of said faults they can’t do . . . well many things. Some of these things are quite cut…
How to deal with confusion
That’s a pretty substantial goal, telling anyone how to deal with confusion, so maybe I better lay out some of the parameters. I am not promising to help you deal with every area of confusion you might be facing in your life. What I am promising, or at least hoping, is to help you deal with that sense of confusion you may encounter when you are reading Scripture. This is…
Why would we do those things?
This Sunday we are looking at another list, sort of. The group of things in question are in Hebrews and the (anonymous) author of Hebrews doesn’t present lists quite the same way St. Paul does. I was musing in one of the sermons today that I think Paul would have liked power point and slides of lists and such things. In Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 we have a number of things…
Am I a hypocrite?
There are all sorts of provocative questions that we can ask ourselves but one of the most significant, for those inside the wire of the church, is this post’s title. It is especially significant for us who identify as church goers because one of the ongoing charges against the church is hypocrisy. I would venture to guess that every church person has heard at some point, “The church is full…
Racing and faith
I am not immune to what is happening in the world around me as it relates to sermons, I am frequently indifferent which is not at all the same thing. The Olympics are currently going on in Rio and it was a delightful coincidence when it comes to the combination of athletics and this week’s Lectionary readings; assuming you believe in coincidences over providence. We are still looking at Hebrews,…
Do we have faith?
The sermon title this week is another rhetorical question, “Do I have faith?” This is intended as an inclusive “I” not just an opportunity for me to ramble on about myself in front of an audience. It is a good question to think about. It was triggered this week by the Lectionary’s epistle reading which is taken from Hebrews 11, frequently referred to as the “Faith Chapter.” If we are…
Not another list
We love lists. We love to see where we fit when we have answered a list of questions. Bring these two things together and we might have a problem with Colossians 3:1-11, the epistle lesson for today. Paul provides a list of behaviours that we should not engage in and there is an all too human temptation to look at the list and say one of two things. We might…