This sermon reflects on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 to ask: what is repentance really about? And why is it so important?
Lowering Fences through Repentance
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Jesus! Not John Wayne
Here is my sermon from January 7, the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany. I explore John the Baptist’s message in Mark 1:4-11 that ultimately we must be baptized by the Holy Spirit, as well as Kristin Kobes du Mez’s book Jesus & John Wayne and Gregory of Nyssa’s Great Catechism to ask what Christians’ attitudes towards tradition and change ought to be.
I thoroughly recommend you read Prof. du Mez’s book, which you can find here:
https://calvin.edu/directory/publications/jesus-and-john-wayne-how-white-evangelicals-corrupted-a-faith-and-fractured-a-nation
Indulging in the Flesh
This sermon explores Romans 7:15-25a to ask what Paul means when he talks about the sinfulness of the “flesh”. Is he talking about something sexual? Or something else?…
Un-Binding Abraham: Following the Spirit of Change
This sermon explores the disturbing story of the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14) to ask: how often is the status quo actually God’s will? How can we discern God’s true voice? And when does the Spirit call us to change?
Discovering Ourselves with Pauli Murray
This sermon reflects on Galatians 3:27-28 & Isaiah 65:13, 16-17 and the life of the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray to ask: who are we, really? And: are we willing to let go of the illusions about ourselves to embrace the truth about who we are in Jesus Christ?
What does the Bible say about LGBTQ people?
Most people probably think they already know the answer to this question: “What does the Bible say about LGBTQ people?” But…do they really? In this special forum held at my parish on June 25, 2023, I look closely at 5 of the so-called “clobber passages” to discover what Scripture really says about LGBTQ people. You may be surprised by what you hear!
Trying the Trinity (Sermon on Genesis 1:1-2:4a & Matthew 28:16-20)
So, yet again—it’s been a long time since I’ve posted here. The goals I set for writing a few years ago haven’t come to fruition, mostly because my focus each week is necessarily on the sermon I preach that Sunday. I do hope to do some more writing here, but I want to get back to at least posting my sermon videos here, especially as I often address topics I otherwise would like to blog about.
Here is my sermon from June 4, 2023, for Trinity Sunday. For those familiar with the history and details of Trinitarian thought, this sermon won’t have any surprises—this sermon is aimed more at those for whom the Trinity is still a confusing or odd idea.
The Harried Potter
This sermon reflects on Jeremiah Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1-21, & Luke 14:25-33 to wonder how we should respond when we discover problems in life—and the importance of recognizing how different sized problems require different kinds of change to fix them.
Beyond the Humble Brag
Reflecting on Hebrews 13:1-5 & Luke 14:7-11, this sermon considers what the purpose of humility might be. Is it just a smokescreen, etiquette that we engage in to (ironically) impress others? Or is there more to it?…
Seeking the Truth Beyond 1st Impressions
This sermon focuses on Hebrews 12:18-29 to wonder how we can discern truth beyond our (often mistaken) first impressions—both of other people, and our world at large.
Wrestling with the Angel 