Even as most of us are flipping the switch that turns on the holiday lights, the Church points us toward a Gospel reading for the first Sunday of Advent that looks ahead to that great, coming day when all the lights will go out – for good! As we prepare to celebrate assurance of theContinue reading “Like Those Who Dream”
Category Archives: Sermons
The Faith of a Few Friends
We’ve all seen it, and it’s a mighty disgusting sight: A little kid with a runny nose that’s gone amuck. All the world can see – though no one really wants to see – that this snotty little kid desperately needs a nose wiping. And that nauseating duty always seems to fall upon mom. ButContinue reading “The Faith of a Few Friends”
Mercy Within Mercy
Not long ago, a nationwide study surveyed people’s attitudes about forgiveness. The study found 75 percent of Americans feeling “very confident” that God has forgiven them of their sins and trespasses. But that rosy outlook turned muddy for interpersonal relationships. Only about half of the people surveyed felt certain that they’d forgiven others. While theContinue reading “Mercy Within Mercy”
Lies We Love
Among the great questions of human existence is the conundrum of why good things happen to bad people and why bad things happen to good people. The Old Testament book of Job is the place where Scripture wrestles mightily with that eternal question. The book’s namesake, Job, is a wealthy man living in a landContinue reading “Lies We Love”
Becoming an Unlikely Ally
No other Old Testament character is as universally revered and respected as Moses. Four of the world’s great religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Bahai – all proclaim Moses a vital prophet of God. And with good reason! A one-time prince of Egypt who frees his people from Pharaoh’s bondage of slavery and leads themContinue reading “Becoming an Unlikely Ally”
Fidgety Faith
Try to forget, if you will, everything you think you know about the apostle Thomas. And please start with the dreadful nickname “Doubting Thomas” that hangs over the apostle like a dark cloud of shame and guilt. Please forget that somewhere along the way you were taught or otherwise came to believe that the mainContinue reading “Fidgety Faith”
Dear Diary
Suffice it to say that preachers over the years have not been kind to the woman who takes centerstage in this morning’s lesson. All we know from the Gospel of John is that she’s had five husbands, and in the setting of this story, the man with whom she’s now living is not her husband.Continue reading “Dear Diary”