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Repentance–Turning Toward Love
In preaching repentance, John reveals the surprising truth about the mission of Jesus. That we are first called to admit that we were wrong. Advent 2B | Mark 1:1-8 Reading the opening verses of Mark, we’re often struck by what’s not there. There’s no Mary and Joseph. No trip to Bethlehem, to David’s city. We…
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The Pain of Memory
The apocalyptic opening to Advent always shook me. Now I realize that this is the whole point. Advent isn’t about the baby, but about us. Advent 1B | Mark 13:24-37 The people collected their weapons. The secret gatherings swelled with supporters coming from all over the hill country. The ragtag militia was beginning to look…
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Talentless
In the parable of the bridesmaids (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus gives a chilling picture of the kin-dom which is more “what not to do” than it is “how to be a Christian”. Proper 28A | Matthew 25:24-30 If I entrusted you with a key to our home while we go away on vacation, what do I…
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Getting In
In the parable of the bridesmaids, Jesus gives us, not instructions on how to get into heaven, but an example of how not to. Proper 27A | Matthew 25:1-13 It was about this time 4 years ago when my friend Bruce died. He was a faithful and pious man. He had a real certainty about…
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Blessed in the Dirt
In the Beatitudes, Jesus shows us what it truly means to be blessed, revealing the truth about the kin-dom. It isn’t about winning or getting in. All Saints A | Matthew 5:1-12 Do you feel blessed? I don’t mean #blessed or social media blessed. I mean really blessed by God. Right now, in this space,…
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Love Against the Wind
Why we know to love, but not how or when. We often think of love as the antidote to chaos, but it isn’t so related to the chaos. Proper 25A | Matthew 22:34-46 This year, we gathered at the river for Convention. Down in Jeffersonville and New Albany, just across the Ohio River from Louisville,…
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Faces of Love
In Matthew 22:15-22, we get stuck on the words “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s” we forget the whole thing’s a trap. Proper 24A | Matthew 22:15-22 I don’t know if any of you have been outside in…you know…the last few years…but there are people really concerned with the mixing…
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The Parable of the Sharp Dressed Man
in Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus tells a weird parable about wedding banquet and a murderous king. How could this possibly reveal God to us? Proper 23A | Matthew 22:1-14 Remind me not to let Jesus be in charge of the guest list for any future weddings. That guy will let anyone in. Or would he? This…