Scripture
God in the particular (Luke 2:1-20)
The Christmas story is scandalous because of its specificity.
December 24 and 25, Nativity A (Luke 2:1–14 (15-20)
It’s likely that Jesus was born in a cave. Does that make any difference?
December 21, Advent 4A (Matthew 1:18-25)
Birthing takes a village. Our Christmas pageants recognize this truth.
The bad king
Nimrod is the biblical archetype of the corrupt leader obsessed with his own power.
Getting in shape to move (Isaiah 35:1-10)
“Make firm the feeble knees,” the prophet calls.
Imagining the grace to come
Witness is an act of trust in a God who sends us to see and tell of all the things God is doing.
December 14, Advent 3A (Matthew 11:2-11)
There is ample evidence that Christ is alive and on the move.
More life to come (Isaiah 11:1-10)
A magnificent tree is reduced to a stump. But it’s still alive.
December 7, Advent 2A (Matthew 3:1-12)
Even if repentance begins right now, it feels too late for anything to change.
Our appetites and our lives (Romans 13:11-14)
Paul has some quite specific recommendations about our preparedness for the day of salvation.
November 30, Advent 1 (Matthew 24:36-44)
We are called to be ready, to be alert to God’s kingdom breaking in anywhere, anytime.
The heft of a pulpit Bible
As I pressed my sermon’s pages across the book’s valley, I couldn’t keep them from sliding into the groove.
King of mercy (Luke 23:33-43)
Unlike many politicians, Jesus did what he said he would do.
November 23, Reign of Christ/Christ the King (Jeremiah 23:1-6)
The prophet Jeremiah knew about hard times.
Born a feminist
Phyllis Trible mesmerized scholars and preachers alike with her fearless biblical exegesis.
Strategic spiritual resistance (Luke 21:5-19)
Personal salvation isn’t about sin management. It’s about refusing to cede the soul to power and its interests.
November 16, Ordinary 33C (Isaiah 65:17-25)
In Isaiah, every promise of newness is an indictment of present brokenness.
Whose victory? (Psalm 98)
People want to be champions. Psalm 98 offers something different.
November 9, Ordinary 32C (Luke 20:27-38)
God’s parentage operates by entirely different logic than human patriarchy.
Calling Zacchaeus to be Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
Jesus is present in the circumstances in which we already find ourselves.