Sept. 16, 2018: “In Jesus There Are No Outsiders”
Still we struggle with Jesus and his barrier-busting, wall-crushing insistence that the old tribal loyalties of outsiders and insiders no longer apply. Yet it’s the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ: In Jesus Christ there are no outsiders! Will we ever learn and love accordingly?
Sept. 9, 2018: “Would We Crucify Jesus?”
One way to avoid the claims of the gospel is to listen to the ser-mon as an exercise in whether or not you agree with the preach-er. Today I would like for you to overhear as I engage in a ser-mon that I am preaching to myself. I would like for you to watch and […]
Sept. 2, 2018: “Show Your Colors”
“Show your colors” seems like a playful subject. This sermon will turn playful and light and then serious and dark and then return to playful. There is more to color than meets the eye. Colors have a power in our lives that philosophers and scientists have long documented. We are influenced by colors. For example, […]
August 26, 2018: “A Cosmic Battle Bigger Than Star Wars”
The New Testament writers insist that we are at war — a cosmic war — that determines the fate of the universe. Why are we so attracted to movie thrillers like Star Wars and yet so detached from New Testament apocalyptic scenarios? Rather than read the New Testament texts literally, we are going to read […]
August 12, 2018: Candidate Sunday
Please listen to the sermon delivered by our pastoral candidate, Rev. Dr. Robert Collins. There will be a short business meeting following worship on August 19th where a membership vote will be taken.
March 18, 2018: “We Have A High Priest”
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33 Baptists have never “cottoned” to priests. The words of Jesus about calling no man “father” have been taken literally. Putting aside our allergic reaction to the office of “priest,” we have a “high priest.” Hebrews 5 tells us that Jesus is our high priest after the order of Melchizedek. […]
March 11, 2018: “Snake on a Stick; Savior on a Cross”
Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 13:14-21 The wilderness is no place for the weak. Label the wilderness, like March Madness for favorites (one of the most solemn and joyful festivals in our liturgical calendar): Danger Zone. Moses’ sister, Miriam, soprano diva of Israel, died there. His brother Aaron, stripped of his priestly vestments, died there. […]
March 4, 2018: “Commandments and a Temple”
The season of Lent invites us to turn inward and reflect on the depth of human sin. The Exodus reading reminds us forcefully that we are far too casual about God’s commandments and so apt to change commandments, temples, and churches into objects of our own idolatry. The fourth gospel’s account of Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple […]
February 25, 2018: “How Not to be Satan”
Legend says that as Shoeless Joe Jackson was leaving the courthouse during the trial of the Chicago Black Sox, as they were known, a young boy begged of him, “Say it ain’t so, Joe.” Well, Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, […]