Who the hell is Mary Magdalene? James was the brother of Jesus, the head of the church in Jerusalem, but he is nowhere to be found on Easter morning. Paul was the founder of all the Gentile churches across the Mediterranean, but Easter morning found him still busy persecuting anyone who wasn’t Jewish enough. And Peter was the head of …
You Must Be Drunk! (sermon and commentary)
The idea for this sermon did not hit me until the night before I was to present it. It could have used some editing, perhaps some expansion of some points to make it more clear. Perhaps it needed some time to percolate, to find some heart. But, since it was so short, we got to have a conversation, which I …
Nevertheless, She(s) Resisted
Our Scripture today brings us, perhaps, one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. It’s not just this story, but the broader story of which this is just the beginning. The story of the Exodus is the defining narrative of the Jewish people. It is a story of liberation and hope. A story of trials and tribulations. It is …
This Is Not a Metaphor – Sermon from Sunday, November 13, 2016
Readings: Isaiah 65.17-25; Luke 21.5-19 Before I begin, I want to clarify some labels that I will employ throughout. When I say “we” or “us,” I am primarily referring to those who regularly attend this church. However, because I know these people well, I know that most, perhaps all, voted for her, so it is not at all unfair to …
Finding Life in a Place of Death
This was the sermon from Easter Sunday: When the women go to the tomb on that Sunday morning, they are expecting to find a corpse. Because Jesus died after noon on a Friday, it was not possible to properly prepare his body for burial. The women who had followed him all the way from Galilee returned on Sunday morning to …
A Response to Charleston (preached Sunday, June 21, 2015)
I’ve been trying to figure out why the events in Charleston this week have affected me as they have. Yes, it’s a tragedy. Nine good people are gone from this world. But let’s face it: this happens every day. Every day, our news cycle is filled with death. I become immune to it just like everyone else. There might be …
Death and the Possibility of New Life (Gun Violence Sabbath Sermon)
(This was my sermon from Sunday’s Gun Violence Sabbath. – Scott) Erbie Bowser was a school teacher who worked with special education students. He was an imposing figure at 6-foot 7-inches and 335 pounds, but was described as a “gentle giant” by those who knew him. He liked to have fun, entertaining crowds before Mavericks games with the a dance …
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 …