Easter – The Promise of New Life Makes Disciples Fearless
Easter – The Promise of New Life Makes Disciples Fearless One of the most common phrases in the bible is “Do not be afraid” in all its variations, like, fear not, have no fear, fear him not. That of course depends on the translation, it can also be fear thou not, fear ye not, etc. There is a legend out there that this phrase is in the bible 365 times, once every day. I have counted, or I have let…
The Resurrected Christ
The Resurrected Christ, John 20:19-31 These past two years have been quite an experience for our confirmation students! First classes were canceled due to the pandemic, then taught over zoom, then in-person again, then two classes combined. And, of course, all this happened in a general climate of disruption, insecurity, and danger. If we look at our gospel reading today, we will see that Jesus’ disciples are experiencing their own time of disruption, transition, and worry. After three years of…
Palm & Passion Sunday – Some disciples follow Jesus and pay the ultimate price.
Palm & Passion Sunday – Some disciples follow Jesus and pay the ultimate price. Mark 14:40 Our saint for today is Jimmie Lee Jackson. He was the youngest deacon of St. James Baptist Church in Marion, Alabama. In 1965 he was shot by an Alabama State Trooper and died 8 days later in hospital. At a voting rights march, the state troopers clubbed the marchers. Jimmie Lee, his sister, mother, and 82-year-old grandfather fled to a restaurant. They were pursued…
Lent 4 – God works through disciples
Lent 4 – God works through disciples – John 3:17 We meet our saint today in Ukraine, when it was devastated by another war, the Crimean war from 1853 to 1856. Mary Seacole lived from 1805 to 1881. She was a black woman from Jamaica and she comes from a tradition of Jamaican and West African doctresses, as they were called at the time. She was trained in traditional medicine with a strong focus on what we today would call…
Lent 3 – The Price of Theological Certainty
Lent 3 – The Price of Theological Certainty – Genesis 3:16 Throughout the Season of Lent, I will preach on saints who might not be known as such. Today, we will learn about Ann Glover, an elderly Irish widow, who was prosecuted and executed as a witch by influential theologian Cotton Mather in 1688. New England Puritan Mather’s ancestors had come to the shores of America fleeing religious persecution in England. Despite their own experience, they did not build a…
Lent 2 – Discipleship is vacating God’s throne and submitting to the law of love
Lent 2 – Discipleship is vacating God’s throne and submitting to the law of love; Matthew 7:15-20 Throughout the Season of Lent, I will preach on saints who might not be known as such. Today, we will learn about Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. What made a scientist work on such a dangerous, destructive weapon? The threats that the world faced through Nazi Germany were real and immediate. He thought he was saving civilization by developing the…
Lent 1 – What does it take to challenge the Status Quo?
What does it take to challenge the Status Quo? In the season of Lent and on Easter, we look at Saints who paid for their discipleship hoping their example will inspire us and give us directions as to where our path of discipleship will lead us. The example for today is Emily Davison. Emily was a college graduate, militant suffragette and Christian feminist, born in 1872 in London. Christian feminism believes that the principle of egalitarianism was present in the…
Ash Wednesday – John Newton and the courage to repent.
John Newton and the courage to repent. In the season of Lent and on Easter, we look at Saints who paid for their discipleship hoping their example will inspire us and give us directions as to where our path of discipleship will lead us. Our example of the courage it takes to repent is John Newton, the writer of the Hymn Amazing Grace. He was a slave ship captain, taking black people into bondage, taking them on the grueling middle…
Transfiguration and Gethsemane – Luke 9:28-36 and 22:39-46
Transfiguration and Gethsemane – Luke 9:28-36 and 22:39-46 Jesus’ prayer on the mountain and Jesus’ prayer in the garden show me the two natures of his being: Jesus’ Godly nature sparkles and shines in joyous insight when Jesus converses with the prophets; and Jesus’ human nature glows in honesty and courage as Jesus prepares for the time of suffering. Joy and suffering are both part of our lives. As we prepare to face the challenges life presents to us, we…
Love your Enemies – Luke 6:27-38
Love your Enemies – Luke 6:27-38 When you are on one side of a conflict, it is difficult to question the side you are on. Your side, is where you have meaningful relationships. The other side is rather abstract. Normally you don’t know the people on the other side. You know some facts and rumors about them. Sometimes you try to figure out what drives them, but most of the time you don’t even bother to find out their motivations.…
We have seen strange things today – Luke 5:17-26
We have seen strange things today – Luke 5:17-26 Sometimes strange things happen, and we need to do the work of discerning: Is this strange thing a message from God or rather from the devil? Or just some random coincidence? The people in the house with the hole in the roof, through which the sick man was brought to Jesus, they knew in the moment of healing and forgiving that this was a Godly thing occurring. Not because it gave…
Fishing for People – Luke 5:1-11
Fishing for People – Luke 5:1-11 Let’s look at Peter in the Gospel story. The divine touches down in his boat and makes him throw out his fishing nets. And under Jesus’ guidance, the bounty of the lake is bestowed upon them. God’s plan for God’s people is that they have life in abundance. It is God’s will that they do not suffer hunger and want. But as soon as God shows them love, Peter falls on his knees and…