Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Preaching

Sermons, homilies, meditations, and reflections on the art of preaching.

  • The Love Apocalypse (Eating Scripture)

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    2 min read

    Eating Mark 13:1-8 This week, we tackle a gospel we don’t know what to make of, a type of literature we don’t understand, and a meaning for 21st Century American Christians that is consistent with Jesus’s teaching in under 4 minutes. What a workout! This means there isn’t as much time to deal with what…

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  • The Twofer (Eating Scripture)

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    1 min read

    Eating a double helping of Mark 12:28-34 and  John 11:32-44 We get our choice this week between two texts. One is the lectionary text (Mark) and the other is the text from All Saints’ Day (John) which can be transferred. Most churches I’ve served observe All Saints’ on a Sunday, so I thought I’d do…

    2

  • What’s In a Name?

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    5 min read

    a Homily for Proper 25B Text: Mark 10:46-52 A Healing Story Jesus heals people. At this point this seems like old news. Remember several chapters ago when Jesus healed the man of leprosy? Jesus urges the man to tell no one and instead, the blabbermouth runs into town and tells everybody about Jesus. It seems so…

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  • Blind Beggers (Eating Scripture)

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    1 min read

    Eating Mark 10: 46-52 For the last three chapters, Jesus has been taking us to Jerusalem, preparing us for what is to come. And this is the last stop; Jericho. Here he meets a blind man and we learn the last piece of the discipleship arc. All from a story we normally mistake for just another…

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  • The Thunder Blunder (Eating Scripture)

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    1 min read

    Eating Mark 10: 35-45 This whole arc in Mark has been about discipleship; about following Jesus where He is going. Which is Jerusalem and death. And then resurrection. After Jesus foretells His death for the third time, we have this third epic fail. And it is a doozy. Unfortunately for us, even though we recognize half…

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  • Heaven Insurance (Eating Scripture)

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    1 min read

    Eating Mark 10:17-31 There is so much to feast on this week, and the main course is certainly the part where Jesus eats the rich. But something curious is offered up in the first course. Something about a man seeking assurance from a holy man that he can attain eternal life. and the holy man doesn’t…

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