Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It’s a typically Lukan scene of strangeness, a man being carried up into the sky until he disappears into the clouds. Things get weirder this week. It’s Pentecost. You’re probably familiar with the story. Jesus’ followers are hanging out, trying to figure out their next move when, suddenly, a wind starts blowing …
Angels among Us (Sermon and Program)
Program Sermon: Says Who? Introduction So far in this series on angels, we have seen them bring news from God, both good and bad. They bring news of life and hope where there was only death and despair. They bring the two-edged sword of judgment: good for the righteous; bad for the wicked. Sometimes, they bring us news we would …
Angels among Us
After we completed our first sermons in preaching class, the question that most desperately needed to be answered for many was: How do you deal with nerves? Dr. McKenzie’s answer was a bit of a surprise: “When you stand up here, you presume to speak the word of God, so a certain amount of nervousness is appropriate. Fear of God …