Reading: John 14:1-7, 20:19-31
The lectionary text for this week dealt with the famous story of Doubting Thomas, which is certainly appropriate since the original event took place about a week after Easter. Opponents of Christianity (and religion in general) often enjoy taking potshots at us because we are, in their view, figures of authority who want to squelch all independent thought and questions. Maybe a closer look at Thomas can help rehabilitate that particular view, though...
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on April 11, 2010 at PLWC.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Come Awake
Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; John 20:1-22
We had a great Easter at Pocono Lake Wesleyan; I hope you did, too. For our worship this year we explored the question of whether humans are meant to slowly decline, year after year, into death, or whether we are meant to become more and more alive and awake as we grow older.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on April 4, 2010 at PLWC.
We had a great Easter at Pocono Lake Wesleyan; I hope you did, too. For our worship this year we explored the question of whether humans are meant to slowly decline, year after year, into death, or whether we are meant to become more and more alive and awake as we grow older.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on April 4, 2010 at PLWC.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Choose Your Weapon
Reading: Luke 19:28-44
No sermon for March 21; our District Superintendent was visiting that week and preached the service. Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, so of course that was our focus. The main contrast in this sermon is between the palm branch and the sword, so I preached the sermon using a palm branch (of course) and a toy reproduction of a Nazgul's sword from the Lord of the Rings. It was a fun one to preach.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on March 28, 2010 at PLWC.
No sermon for March 21; our District Superintendent was visiting that week and preached the service. Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, so of course that was our focus. The main contrast in this sermon is between the palm branch and the sword, so I preached the sermon using a palm branch (of course) and a toy reproduction of a Nazgul's sword from the Lord of the Rings. It was a fun one to preach.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on March 28, 2010 at PLWC.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
DNA of the Church: Do Justice
Reading: Micah 6:1-13; Luke 4:14-21
Ah, Glenn Beck. Normally I'm content in my sermons to avoid naming names, but when a popular media figure leaves the realm of his own crackpot theories and becomes an armchair theologian, it gets personal. I had always intended to focus on social justice as part of my DNA of the Church series, so it honestly is a coincidence that I preached on the topic the week after Glenn Beck encouraged people to leave churches that take social justice seriously. He has since backpedaled a bit, which in my mind only bolsters my assumption that the man is simply making stuff up. Must be nice to get paid to do that.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on March 14, 2010 at PLWC.
Ah, Glenn Beck. Normally I'm content in my sermons to avoid naming names, but when a popular media figure leaves the realm of his own crackpot theories and becomes an armchair theologian, it gets personal. I had always intended to focus on social justice as part of my DNA of the Church series, so it honestly is a coincidence that I preached on the topic the week after Glenn Beck encouraged people to leave churches that take social justice seriously. He has since backpedaled a bit, which in my mind only bolsters my assumption that the man is simply making stuff up. Must be nice to get paid to do that.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on March 14, 2010 at PLWC.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
DNA of the Church: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
Reading: Matthew 22:34-40; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-21
This is the third sermon in our Lenten series for this year. Continuing our theme of things that are so fundamental to our spiritual life that they're practically part of our DNA, this week we looked at the second part of what Jesus called the greatest commandment: love your neighbor as yourself.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on February 28, 2010 at PLWC.
This is the third sermon in our Lenten series for this year. Continuing our theme of things that are so fundamental to our spiritual life that they're practically part of our DNA, this week we looked at the second part of what Jesus called the greatest commandment: love your neighbor as yourself.
Click here to view a manuscript of this sermon.
Preached on February 28, 2010 at PLWC.
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