Sermons on Isaiah
Embrace
Scripture: Isaiah 66:10-14 Some context before we begin talking about the passage itself: most scholars divide the book of Isaiah into three parts. The first deals with God’s judgment of Israel and warnings to stop sinning. This was when Israel still had kings and was an independent nation. The second part of Isaiah is after the kingdom of Israel has fallen and the…
Jerusalem
Scripture: 2 Kings 25:1-12, Psalm 99:1-5, Isaiah 54:7-15, Luke 1:8-25 As you know, I’ve been preaching this Advent on forgotten characters from the Christmas Story. This week I chose Jerusalem, and so I’d like to do something a bit different: preach a story/sermon from Jerusalem’s perspective, as it were. I bet you didn’t even notice me, did you?…
Letting Go of Reluctance
Lectionary: Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8 Let us pray: Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, we look to you. Be with us this morning; guide us and speak to us. Show us your way and give us strength to follow you. In your name we pray, Amen. Letting Go of Reluctance Saul had it all, you know? His family observed the law faithfully,…
Letting Go of Indulgence
Lectionary: Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 Let us pray: Lord God Almighty, be with us this morning as we hear your Word. Speak to us; show us what we need to hear. Bless our understanding; send us out from worship to do your will. In your name we pray, Amen. Letting Go of Indulgence “You deserve this!” I saw the slogan on a…
Called Where???
Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-13, Psalm 138, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11 Let us pray: Lord God, bless us with ears to hear and eyes to see when you speak to us. Give us grace when we fall short, and carry us through those places where your call is too much for us. Give us ears to hear your word, O Christ. Amen. Called Where??? I once read a comparison between searching…
Redeemed
Lectionary: Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Let us pray: Dear God, remind us of your presence. Remind us of your redeeming love, which we remember in baptism. Speak to us today. In your holy name we pray, Amen. Redeemed Like a lot of us, I think, I was baptized as a baby. I was two months old, and so of course don’t remember a thing about…
Good News??
Lectionary readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 Let us pray: Lord, prepare the way for your coming. Prepare our hearts and our world. Speak truth to us, that we may see you coming. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations on all our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. Good News?? I think…
The Spirit of…
Lectionary readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 Let us pray: We come before you to hear your Word. We come to worship You. We pray that you would enter among us and speak to us. Give us understanding; bless this gathering of your people. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations on all our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock…
He Died (Good Friday 2018)
Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12, John 18:1-19:42 Let us pray: O God, as we are gathered here together tonight, we pray that you would open our eyes so that we may see the wonder of your love. Open our ears, so that we can understand your word and your truth. Permeate us, Holy Spirit, so that day after day we may know your will and see your light. In Christ’s name we pray,…