Sermons
Spiritual gifts never get old
I like this week’s blog post title because for me, at least, spiritual gifts never do get old. I can think about them and talk about them a lot but there are always new things to consider; new aspects to ponder. This Sunday’s sermons are more of a reminder than anything else. A reminder of three salient facts about spiritual gifts. We all have spiritual gifts It is okay that…
The myth of the self-made person
For the first time ever, the title of the blog post comes from what might amount to a mini-rant in the middle of a sermon. The sermon title is “What do we need?” and is intended to give us some insight into how important it is to see that there are a number of things that we simply cannot do for ourselves. There is a pernicious notion in our culture…
What’s a cornerstone anyway?
Well, spoiler alert, I won’t really discuss what a cornerstone is like because I don’t know. I could do an in depth, i.e. three minute, internet search and pretend I know but I don’t think that would address any questions anyone might have anyway. Our New Testament text this week talks about Jesus as the cornerstone, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with…
Blessings and more blessings
I don’t know how many times I have read the book of Ephesians, 20, 30, 50? Who knows? Lots anyway. One of the best things about reading and rereading both Scripture and great literature is that you can come back to the same work over and over again and find new things. The new thing you find was always there but you weren’t able to see it or weren’t ready…
Paradox?
No, no, no. Paradox not a pair of ducks, yeesh. This Sunday’s sermons were about paradox. Well not exactly the notion, theory or existence of paradox but rather a particular statement that might be a paradox. First, here’s a few definitions of paradox. n. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking. n. One exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects: “The…
Courage is still needed
I know this Sunday is Father’s Day and as I am at pains to point out in at least one of the sermons, I am not opposed to Father’s Day . . . I’m just more focused on the Lectionary and the texts it has for us on this or on any given Sunday. There is a very well known story in the Old Testament. This story is so well…
New, renewed and still new
So does the blog post title give you a hint about what this week’s sermons were about? One of the many great promises in the Bible is found in Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth where he writes, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV) This is a great promise…
It is all about context
When we don’t have the correct context it is very difficult to understand what is going on. A pastor of my acquaintance, newly installed at a church, was reported to be “having lunch with a blonde” by a, no doubt well-meaning, parishioner who had never met the pastor’s daughter, the daughter had been away school. Not knowing the context meant that this person drew a correct but erroneous conclusion about…
Pentecost for all times
This Sunday was one of the high holy days in the Liturgical year, Pentecost. This is the Sunday that we celebrate the Holy Spirit coming in a new way to the people of God. The Holy Spirit has always been here, this arrival wasn’t the first, after all the Holy Spirit was there at creation and involved with all of the created order, including people, ever since. What was new…
Where do we belong?
Where do we belong? An interesting question that has so many potential answers. This Sunday’s texts had so many fruitful possibilities but the phrase I kept coming back to was “They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.” (John 15:17 NRSV) If we don’t belong in the world, then where do we belong? The sermon is an attempt to answer this question….