Sunday’s Coming
The nature of eternal life (John 3:14-21)
I memorized John 3:16 as a child—along with a specific interpretation of it.
The call of the commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
From the beginning—“I am the Lord your God”—the Decalogue is about vocation.
The adversary incarnate? (Mark 8:31-38)
We can ignore the Satan stuff, or we can address it.
Sent out with words of approval (Mark 1:9-15)
The wilderness is hard enough. Kindness helps.
Ashes without glitter
I'm a queer Christian pastor, and I'll be using regular, old, boring ashes like always.
Compelled and free (1 Corinthians 9:16-23)
Can Paul literally be any identity?
When the captives can speak for themselves (Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28)
God invites us to live out an authentic prophetic ministry truly guided by God.
Preaching about the kingdom of God is urgent (Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20)
This week’s readings challenge us to adopt a particular posture.
Glorifying God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
What would it look like to do this right now?
God of the storm (Psalm 29)
Can our baptism compel us to help mitigate the world’s disasters?
The king of the Jews and the kin-dom of God (Matthew 2:1-12)
In Matthew, Jesus’ identity as king is the major source of conflict.
Prophecy grounded in history (Luke 2:22-40)
Anna and Simeon’s hope precedes their encounter with Jesus.
Candles in the balcony (Isaiah 9:2-7)
I understand the people who only show up once a year, just to hold a candle of their own.
Angel-quality truth (Luke 1:26-38)
Mary and Elizabeth knew the basic truths of life.
What about the brokenhearted? (Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126)
Unabated cultural frivolity rules our churches, too.
Comfort and hope (Isaiah 40:1-11)
There is comfort, and then there is comfort.
What do we expect? (Isaiah 64:1-9)
During Advent, the cry of Isaiah should be our cry.
Lamb and shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Matthew 25:31-46)
I once cared for a sick and vulnerable lamb.
Deep in the hole (Matthew 25:14-30)
Once the servant digs the hole, is there any way out?
Hope in the face of death (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13)
Everybody dies. My mother-in-law intended to be ready.