Sunday’s Coming
Monday lectionary email, archived here on Friday
The wisdom of a kinswoman (Luke 1:39-55)
Mary’s first move is to set off to visit Elizabeth.
Joy Sunday and Blue Christmas (Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18)
The Advent 3 readings present an awkward tension.
Unfinished business (Philippians 1:3-11)
Paul challenges us to consider what really matters.
The days are coming (Jeremiah 33:14-16)
We are surrounded by wastelands. God promises new life.
Audacious visions (Revelation 1:4b-8)
Harriet Tubman’s visions seemed, to her, to be glimpses of glory.
Finding rest (Hebrews 10:11-25)
Even as we seek practical solutions to our problems, we cannot afford to abandon the beliefs and spiritual practices that undergird us.
Why is the widow poor? (Mark 12:38-44)
So many stewardship sermons use the woman of Mark 12—lamentably—as an example of the kind of generosity to which we all should aspire.
Steadfast love for sorrowful people (Ruth 1:1-18)
Ruth offers a striking contrast to the chaos and moral ambiguity of the judges era.
“Do you believe this?” (Isaiah 25:6-9; John 11:32-44)
Jesus’ question to Martha extends to all believers.
Creating a disruption (Mark 10:46-52)
There is a tearing at the social fabric when Bartimaeus cries to Jesus.
Third group
Longing for answers (Job 38:1-7, 34-41)
Job experiences awe at God’s response, but not necessarily peace.
Preaching against the rich (Mark 10:17-31)
When the world is in peril and the rich are to blame, such preaching becomes essential.
Fuller inclusion (Mark 10:2-16)
Jesus’ blessing of the children and re-centering them in the midst of the community serves as a sort of Pride parable.
Many paths to Jesus (Mark 9:38-50)
Jesus seems to have an aversion to the kind of us-and-them boundary setting of his disciples.
The disciples and us (Mark 9:30-37)
Poor disciples. They rarely miss an opportunity to make a mess.
A preacher’s (well-bridled) tongue (James 3:1-12)
When is a pastor obliged to speak about their own theological shifts? Or obliged not to?