Posts Categorized: sermons

Who's Wasting What? Luke 15:11-32

One Saturday morning during my second year in seminary I sat down at the computer to check our bank balance.  When I logged into the account I saw that the numbers of the checking account were red.  In my naiveté I thought the website had made some artistic changes to the web layout.  I thought,… Read more »

Look, Up in the Sky, Ascension Sunday

It’s contagious, isn’t it, when someone looks inquisitively into the sky?  You can’t help but use your hand as a visor and peer into the blue hoping to see something miraculous, dangerous, or fascinating.  After Jesus tells the disciples that they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit, he is taken up into the… Read more »

Do You Remember the Story? Easter 5 A

               Do you remember the story?  This is what the Motion Picture Association of America is asking.  The summer is here and it is full of summer blockbusters, but interestingly, some of the biggest movies are sequels.  We have Cars 2 and Pirates of theCaribbean4 and Harry Potter 7.5.  The motion picture industry knows us… Read more »

Where Was Thomas?

Several years ago I was on the beach with my father when I asked him how he knows God exists.  He paused for a moment, and then he pointed out toward a sand bar in the distance.  He said, “You know there is a school of fish out there.  Do you see the flock of birds hovering… Read more »

From Suffering to Hope–Romans 5:1-11, Lent 3 A

                           Several years ago I joined a team to provide Katrina relief in New Orleans.  We were charged with gutting out Ms. Helena’s home, which suffered an 8 ft. storm surge and a three week drowning of 4 ft. of stagnant water.  We pulled out dry wall and base boards, we moved pictures and… Read more »

Don’t Worry, Be Happy? Matthew 6:24-34, Epiphany 7 A

Click here to listen! “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.”  One of my friends in ministry shared with me the blessings and woes of working with his… Read more »

Don't Worry, Be Happy? Matthew 6:24-34, Epiphany 7 A

Click here to listen! “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.”  One of my friends in ministry shared with me the blessings and woes of working with his… Read more »

You’ve Heard It Said–Matthew 5:38-48 Epiphany 7 A

           Click here to listen!         Luke settles down with the boys at a Georgia road prison camp for a game of poker.  After all the cards are dealt the men make their wagers in nickels and dimes, but Luke throws in a dollar.  A few men fold as they go around the circle.  When… Read more »

You've Heard It Said–Matthew 5:38-48 Epiphany 7 A

           Click here to listen!         Luke settles down with the boys at a Georgia road prison camp for a game of poker.  After all the cards are dealt the men make their wagers in nickels and dimes, but Luke throws in a dollar.  A few men fold as they go around the circle.  When… Read more »

“Blessed Are the Cheesemakers” Matthew 5:1-12–Epiphany 4 A

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xLUEMj6cwA] In Monty Python’s The Life of Brian a group of bystanders is trying to hear Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from behind a large gathering on onlookers. “What did he say?” someone asked. “I think he said, ‘Blessed are the cheese makers.’” A woman nearby said, “What’s so special about cheese makers,” to which… Read more »