Sermons on Love your Neighbor
The Good Samaritan?
When I say ‘Good Samaritan,’ you’d probably know what I meant even if I hadn’t read the passage from Luke just now (which, to be fair, doesn’t use the phrase at all). It’s a phrase we all know and have even used of someone who’s been especially kind or generous. But even though we all know this parable, I suspect, I think…
Content
Readings: Amos 6:1a, 4-7, Psalm 146, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31 I have a vivid memory of one morning during seminary. It was during the summer, when I was working in an office. That meant I was answering phones, stuffing envelopes, making copies, that sort of thing. It was a good job, with good co-workers, and one that I enjoyed. It was the summer I was finally…
Family
Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 Philemon is one of those books of the Bible that you may not remember is even there. It’s one of the shortest, at only one chapter of 25 verses, and we rarely preach or read from it. It is a letter of Paul. Paul was probably writing after his missionary journeys, in the middle or…
Love
Lectionary readings: Proverbs 25:6-7, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14 As I was getting ready to preach this week, I was so struck by Psalm 112. This psalm describes a godly person, someone who loves God and neighbor and lives their life justly and lovingly. It reminded me of how much I would also like my life to look like this. I want to be someone who…
Storage Barns
Lectionary readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23; Psalm 49:1-12; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 Let us pray: Lord, we thank you for this chance to hear your Scripture read. We pray that you would enter it and speak to us, each of us what we need to hear this morning. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations on all our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O…
Shaped by Jesus
Lectionary: Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138, Colossians 2:6-19, Luke 11:1-13 Let us pray: God, we pray for your presence this morning, among and beside and inside each of us. Speak to us this morning, we pray, in your name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Shaped by Jesus Like most people, I think, my family grew up with its own language, shaped over time by memories, like…
A New Heaven and a New Earth
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 150, Revelation 21:1-8, Matthew 24:29-31 Let us pray: God, we pray that you would come among us this morning as we hear your Scripture. Bless our hearing of it, that we might learn and grow. Speak to us through it that which we need to hear. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be pleasing in your…
On our Travels
Lectionary Readings: Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Psalm 25:1-10, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37 Let us pray: God, come among us this morning. Bless our hearing of your Word, that it might open our hearts to hear you speak to us this morning. 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. On…
Freedom
Lectionary: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5: 1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62 Let us pray: God, our Lord and our Savior, come and speak to us. Show us your ways; free us from that which binds us. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. Freedom Last week I read a book…