Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Sermons

Sermons preached in a context, but written for people of all sorts and conditions.

  • a Sermon for Easter 5C Text: John 13:31-35 Love Each Other. Too Obvious? Sometimes we have a selection from scripture that is too obvious. We understand where Jesus is going and what He’s getting at. Today is one of those days. Jesus gives a new commandment, something he pretty much never does outside of this,…

  • Naked Love

    a Sermon for Easter 3C Text: John 21:1-19 Why is Peter naked? The astute observer will notice that each of the gospels handles the resurrection of Jesus differently. Mark, the earliest gospel has no Jesus appearance; Matthew and Luke each have one appearance; while John has three. This morning we get the last one and…

  • With Us

    a Sermon for the Great Vigil of Easter C Text: Luke 24:1-12 Our Bible study group that started last fall has slowly been working its way through Genesis. For many of us, it has been a pretty eye-opening experience. We are currently wrestling with Jacob and his return home. I admitted to the group that…

  • a Sermon for Good Friday C Text: John 18:1-19:42 The Cross Jesus was forced to carry it. He died on it. What more do we know about it? Jesus was being led to the outskirts of the city, right outside the front gate. This is where traitors were hanged and let to rot in the…

  • a Sermon for Maundy Thursday Text: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Memory Making. Before breaking bread with His disciples for the final time, Jesus washed their feet. Then he told them to wash one another’s feet. Many of us focus this night on the dinner they share—particularly the breaking of bread at the beinning and the sharing…

  • a Sermon for Lent 4C Text: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Two Sons Most depictions of this story focus on the first half: the sinful son, the return to the farm, the generosity and mercy of the father, and the embrace. It is a wonderful and evocative image. I have a book full of these images, art…