Sermons

When Life is Overwhelming

September 10, 2017  | 

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Sometimes life throws too much our way.  Life in Egypt was like this for the Israelites.  This is part of the human condition - that which causes conflict between us.  Jesus outlines a process for solving conflict in the Matthew text.  First try to solve it between the two parties privately, then a small group, and finally the community through dialogue.  We need dialogue today about many issues that divide us.  Finally, when you get instruction to treat unresolved conflict as you would a tax collector or other outsider, remember how Jesus treated the outsider, the tax collector, and the sinner.

Predestination

July 30, 2017  | 

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It is my impression that most contemporary Presbyterians are not nearly as interested in the doctrine of Predestination as people outside the Presbyterian Church assume we must be. But If there is a popular stereotype of Presbyterianism, it’s that Presbyterians believe in predestination as a kind of fatalistic belief that God determines everything in advance-including that some are destined to be saved and others destined to damnation. As Presbyterians, we should know, not only what Calvin said about the doctrine of Predestination but, in the spirit of Reformed and always reforming, we should know alternative ways of understanding predestination that may be more satisfying.

Lessons in Sowing: Part 2

July 23, 2017  | 

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This is the second sermon in a series of parables on seeds and sowing.  In this parable Jesus teaches that it would be peril to weed the wheat field.  The roots get tangled together and pulling weeds may pull out the wheat too.  It is time for the Christian community to take seriously this admonition for Christians to sow good seed and steer away from judgment and weeding.  Harvesting is God's work.  Planting love is the task that God has given God's people.

Lessons in Sowing

July 16, 2017  | 

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The church is worried that it will die.  It is concerned about the future.  Young people are just not interested in the church.  The parable of the sower reminds us that our job is to faithfully sow the seed.  The harvest is up to God.  We don't have to persuade.  We have to love.  How about we leave the church's future in God's hands and be busy with sowing as much love as we can.