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This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached tonight, Good Friday. The gospel text was John 18:1 -- 19:42. On Sunday, we heard the Passion of Our Lord according to Luke. And I invited you to write down questions that the story brought up in you. A few of you did so, and … Continue reading Who Am I in the Face of the Cross? (Good Friday Sermon)
I did not preach a sermon in worship today. Today is Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday, which means that the gospel reading is the entire story of the passion of Christ, from the Last Supper through his burial. This year, the passion gospel was Luke 22:14 -- 23:56. Since the gospel itself takes … Continue reading Rambling about the Fulfillment of Scripture
This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached this morning. The gospel text was Mark 8:27-38. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells the crowd, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” It reminds me of someone who took up a cross … Continue reading Taking Up the Cross
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached on Good Friday, March 30, 2018. The gospel text was John 18:1 -- 19:42, the whole Johannine Passion story. Our gospel story tonight begins in a garden. Across the Kidron Valley there’s a garden. A garden where Jesus and his disciples used to go. Not … Continue reading Between the Gardens
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning, the Fifth Sunday in Lent. It was also the day I baptized a baby we'll call "Matthew" for the purposes of this blog. The gospel reading was John 12:20-33. Good morning, Matthew. I’m glad you’re here today! Today is a very special day … Continue reading Sir, We Wish to See Jesus
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning, the Second Sunday in Lent. The gospel text I preached on was Mark 8:31-38. Peter didn’t want to hear what Jesus was saying. Jesus said that he would undergo great suffering, be rejected, and be killed. Peter didn’t want to hear that. Jesus … Continue reading Take Up Your Suffering
This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached this morning. The gospel text was Matthew 16:21-28. By now most of you have seen the devastation that Hurricane Harvey has wreaked on Houston and surrounding cities in Texas. And perhaps some of you are wondering why things like this happen. What did the people … Continue reading Follow Where Jesus Leads
I preached four times this weekend, during the "Great Three Days" worship service that lasts from Thursday evening through Sunday morning. In current Evangelical Lutheran liturgical understanding, this is one long service that begins with Maundy Thursday and ends with the Vigil of Easter. Click here for Maundy Thursday. This is my Good Friday sermon. Click here … Continue reading Face to Face with the Cross (Good Friday)
Something just occurred to me. While I was at the retreat at Holy Cross Monastery two weeks ago, I had this really brief vision. I saw an image of a map of all the places I've lived, and I saw that by connecting those places with lines, it formed the shape of a cross. So … Continue reading I Have Walked the Sign of the Cross
This is an adapted version of the sermon I preached on Christ the King, November 20, 2016. The gospel reading was Luke 23:33-43. That may have been a surprising reading to hear. Today is the final Sunday of the church year, a day called Christ the King. We might expect to hear about Jesus seated … Continue reading The Phantom Innkeeper
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