Well, I said we were going to start talking about wisdom literature, but it turns out that’s not quite right. It would have been more accurate to say we are going to talk about the Solomonic corpus, books that are attributed to Solomon. Of course, it is likely that little to none of these books was actually written by Solomon, …
Looking For a Miracle
Tomorrow is Easter, the day that Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the day that, for many, defines what the faith is entirely about. I have to admit, I always have a little trouble making the shift from Lent to Eastertide, the season between Easter and Pentecost. Maybe I’m just a Lent kind of guy with a dark turn of …
The Prophetic Act
Last Sunday, we talked about the prophet, Jeremiah, and the circumstances under which the book that bears his name was produced. I read a lot of history, which means that my mind was packed with a lot of details, which rarely serves me well. I got into the weeds a bit, so let me see if I can narrow this …
My Understanding of Sin
Because Lent is a time when we tend to talk a lot about sin, I endeavored on Sunday to explain my framework for thinking about sin. It differs from things we might have heard growing up in a modern American Christian context, whether Catholic or Evangelical. In the spirit of this church’s emphasis on questioning and conversation, I am not …
The Gospel According to Buffy
I am a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have watched the entire series, including the Angel spin-off, about six times. I’m watching it again now. Part of that is comfort; I know the show and know that I will enjoy it, so it’s easy to put on when I just want to relax. However, when I want …
Celebration and Mourning (Plus: Holy Week, Easter, and a Vote
Holy Week Easter Vote on Pastoral Resident This Sunday, Palm Sunday, is the beginning of Holy Week. The liturgical year began with Advent and the birth of Jesus. One would think that its culmination would be in the death of Jesus after a full year. However, our tradition places that event in the middle of the year signifying that death …
Mark: The End (Program and Sermon)
Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I. Transfiguration a. Elijah, Moses, Jesus b. Making tents c. Beloved Son II. The Way to Jerusalem a. Argument of James and John b. Bartimaeus III. Jerusalem a. Triumphal Entry b. Curse of the fig tree c. Cleansing the temple d. Teaching e. Anointing at Bethany f. Passover g. Betrayal h. Arrest i. Trial j. …
Mark: The End
We know how this ends, right? After an auspicious beginning, Jesus travels to Jerusalem, stirs up trouble, gets arrested, and is crucified. And for those of us who grew up in the church, we probably know the meaning of this as well. Allowing some variation in the way it is formulated, the bottom line is that Jesus’ death is our …