Sermons
Sermons preached in a context, but written for people of all sorts and conditions.
-
Changing the Image of Jesus
•
8 min read
When Peter calls Jesus the Messiah, he gets the right answer the wrong way. A pattern we repeat in our fear of chaos and of intimacy. Proper 16A | Matthew 16:13-20 If you’ve ever watched a painter work a canvas, you see the very transformation of absence into presence. The white canvas gets swirled and…
-
Fever Dreams
•
9 min read
In Matthew 15, a confrontation with leaders, a teaching about evil, and an encounter with a woman expose the true evil of abuse and violence. Proper 15A | Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 With Jesus’s words Do not be afraid still ringing in their ears, When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. After…
-
Walking on Water
•
8 min read
In the story, Jesus walks on water. So does Peter. He is just doing what Jesus did, offering us an option at a time of great fear. Proper 14A | Matthew 14:22-33 The first time I walked on water, I was 16 years-old. I had never done anything so intentional as that before. It was…
-
They Entered the Cloud
•
7 min read
Following Jesus can be really hard. But in the Transfiguration, we have a story about following the path, even when it forces us to face our fears. Transfiguration | Luke 9:28-36 Jesus chose three disciples to join him up a mountain, for prayer. It must be an honor to be chosen. How special they must…
-
Love Poets
•
8 min read
Like poets, Jesus invites his followers to observe in our world those places where God breaks through so that we might revel in that joy. Proper 12A | Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 The work of the poet is discovery. After ruthless editing of course. Discovery. It begins first with discovery in the world: observation. The poet watches…
-
Revealed
•
7 min read
In Matthew’s parables, we are offered different visions of God’s dream for humanity, but we struggle to hear what Jesus is revealing. Proper 11A | Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The first time I knew that God was real, I was in seminary. While some of you might think that’s crazy, I know some of you know…