Sermons

Letting Go and Holding On

July 2, 2017  | 

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The sacrifice of Isaac is a difficult story that traditionally is interpreted as typological of a person of faith.  But this story is multi-layered and has important things to say about the power of letting go in order for God to hold on to us with such love we would never know if we hold the reigns of our life to tightly.  It is also a meaningful way to understand the nature of sacrifice, both sacrifice we choose and sacrifice that is willed on us by life.  Both are incapable of saving us because we don't have the faith and trust necessary to meet these challenges.  God however, is a faithful partner in our lives and God does have the capacity to redeem.

When Resistance Ia Faithful

June 25, 2017  | 

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There is a great divide in the world between those who are out for their own good and those who are interested in the good of others.  Today we are divided as a nation, in our families, and our religion, politics, and culture.  Jesus identifies these differences and the trouble that can come with them but requires of disciples a faithful commitment to follow him in the way of the cross.  We must not let anything get in the way of serving the common good.

Living The Gospel

June 18, 2017  | 

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Living the Gospel is more important that doctrinal debate.  People will know the content of our faith by the way that we live and not just by what we say.  Jesus noted that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  What is the meaning of this for Christians in the church today.  Are we faithful laborers?

Pentecost Diversity

June 4, 2017  | 

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Pentecost is the birthday of the church.  We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the empowering of the Church.  Some interpreters see Pentecost as the solution to the Tower of Babel but I'm not sold on the idea that somehow Pentecost re-unites us in language and culture.  Pentecost is a celebration of the Spirit's power to enhance our hearing, no matter what language we speak.  There are some deep human connections that do not depend on culture, race, gender or religious homogeneity.  While in Turkey on Sabbatical my heart was touched just as deeply by the poverty in rural communities as it is in the U.S. when I see people begging on the streets.  I'm just as touched by kids playing and laughing on a playground in Syria or people greeting each other with a hug as I am seeing it at home.  The language of the Spirit is deep and meaningful beyond words and we can sense the Gospel in a world away just as powerfully as we can within our church family.