Program Good conversation last Sunday. Bonus points to Sarah for saying that transformation starts with hope. I’m always blessed by the wisdom of the gathering. I did want to comment on one part of the conversation. In talking about a larger, cosmic battleground in Luke, we stumbled upon questions of interreligious dialogue. It’s a question that bedevils those who are …
The Baptism of Jesus (Program)
A little behind, as always, but here is the program from last Sunday. For our response, we did a remembrance of baptism with the blessing: “May the Holy Spirit work within you.”
Epiphany
Again, catching up, so this was the e-mail that went out last week for Ephiphany: Merry Christmas! Did you think that was over? Not quite. As the lyrical evidence clearly shows, there are twelve of them. They culminate on January 6, this Sunday, in the Epiphany. Technically, the Epiphany is the account the visitation of the Magi provided by Matthew. …
Advent Programs
Got a little behind in the end-of-school/Christmas rush. Ready to get back to my normal level of disorganization. Advent Week 1 Advent Week 2 Advent Week 3 Advent Week 4 Christmas Eve
Mark: The Ministry of Mystery (Program and Sermon)
Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I. Who is Jesus? a. Son of God Used in opening and not again until the crucifixion. b. Son of Man Jesus’ preferred way of referring to himself in Mark. “Son of man” initially just means “human” in the Hebrew Bible, but becomes the title of an eschatological judge in Daniel. This develops into the …
Mark: The Beginning (Program and Sermon Outline
Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I. Background a. Author 1. Traditionally Mark, associated with Peter 2. Unknown b. Occasion 1. Fall of Temple 2. Sack of Jerusalem 3. Resolving relationship to two communities a) Jews (1) Rejection by priests and scribes (2) New temple b) Rome c. Community 1. Greek speaking 2. Gentile 3. Persecuted d. Style 1. Crude 2. …
Bread for the World Sunday (Program and Homily)
Program Homily If it’s alright with you, I’m going to preach a little today. There’s a lot on the program today, so I just wanted to share some things I have on my mind, things that came up while working on this service. I’d also like, instead of having the immediate feedback of a conversation, to have folks go home …
How to Read the Bible (Program and Sermon)
Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I. Introduction a. Review 1. Literal 2. Allegorical 3. Moral 4. Anagogical b. Read out loud 1. Jonah 2. God 3. Captain 4. Sailors 5. Narrator 6. Newsreader for the King of Ninevah II. Literal a. What does it say? b. What doesn’t it say? c. What voices are left out? d. Who wins and …
How to Read the Bible: The Anagogical (Program and Sermon)
Program Sermon Outline I. Review a. Literal b. Allegorical c. Moral d. Anagogical II. Classical a. Anagogical b. Destiny c. Prophecy III. Modern a. Dispensationalism b. Process theology c. Speaking prophetically IV. Post-modern Finally, we come to the anagogical sense, which interprets the things related in Holy Scripture “as they signify what relates to eternal glory.” This meaning is not …
How to Read the Bible: The Moral (Program and Sermon)
Program Sermon Outline I. Ancient a. Do good, get good b. Do good, suffer, get good later II. Classical a. Bible as guidebook b. Problems with literal truth 1. Transmission 2. Translation 3. Interpretation 4. Application c. Problems with allegorical truth 1. Interpretation 2. Application d. Both create problems with moral truth III. Modern a. The Bible speaks authoritatively on …