Sermons on Growth
Given to Us
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-20 We made it! We are here, at Christmas Eve. Even if you barely made it here, even if you still have a million things to do, you made it. We are worshipping, and safe, and able to enjoy the music and the people, no matter what went wrong earlier today or this week or this year. This last burst of preparations, and worry,…
Barren
Scripture: Isaiah 51:1-6, 1 Samuel 2:1-5, Luke 1:5-7, 24-25, 39-45 This Advent, as we prepare for Christmas, I am going to be preaching on some of the lesser-known characters in the Christmas story. These aren’t the ones who are in every Christmas play or most of the Christmas cards, but the ones who are at the edges of the story, the ones who briefly appear only to…
In Between
Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15, Psalm 111, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19 There is a concept in story-telling called the liminal space. It is an in-between space: you are between one place and another, or one stage of life and another. And things are always a little weird in a liminal space. It’s not quite like the first place, but you’re not all the way to…
“Who am I?”
Let us pray: Almighty God, in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word; and give us grace that we may clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (prayer source) “Who am I?” Like a lot of young people, when I was younger I had very definite…
Wisdom
Lectionary: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 54; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37 Let us pray: Lord, bless our hearing of Scripture this morning, so that you can speak to each of us what we need to hear. 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. Wisdom “Who is wise and…
Like Fire
Lectionary: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Acts 2:1-21, John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15 Let us pray: Dear Lord God, we pray for your Spirit. We pray that you would come among us today, that you would inspire us and bring us alive and give us understanding, and then send us out again. And so in your Son’s name we pray. Amen. Like Fire My brother loved this movie…