Sermons on God's Love
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…
Set Up A Table
Now that I work at the library, I have started reading picture books. I see them all the time when I’m shelving or helping get new books ready to be checked out, and they’re so interesting! They have beautiful illustrations, they’re fun or silly or deeply true, and… and OK, yes, I also love feeling accomplished because I read a book in three…
Psalm 67
I thought I’d try something different this morning. So I’ll be using Psalm 67 as a framework to speak a new prayer for us this morning. 1: May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord’s face shine on us with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon us with favor and ☩ give us peace. 2: And we pray for this blessing for us–us writ large, not just those of…
Good News
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 This story of Nicodemus and Jesus in the garden–the way Nicodemus seems to have snuck away to see Jesus at night, Jesus’ teachings, this image of two men surrounded by the sounds of crickets and big green trees (fine, that last one’s my own image, and Israel is nothing like that, but…
Lost and Found
Scripture Readings: Exodus 32:7-14, Psalm 51:1-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 In our gospel reading today, we have two parables of Jesus about things that are lost. They’re very similar stories, with a person losing something, searching for it, finding it, and finally celebrating its return. In the first, we have a shepherd who is caring for his flock. One of…
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…
Letting Go of How-it-was
Lectionary: Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Let us pray: Lord God, holy and true, we ask for your presence here. Come among us and speak to us. Show us your will and your way. 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. In your holy name we pray, Amen.…
Ashes and Repentance
Lectionary Readings: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Let us pray: Lord God, as we come together this night, speak to us. Remind us of your truths. Give us faith and courage to go out again in your name. Amen. Ashes and Repentance Ash Wednesday is, to say the least, not the happiest celebration on the church calendar.…
Overwhelming Love
Readings: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38 Let us pray: Dear and holy God, we pray to you this morning. We pray that you would fill this place with your presence, that we might hear your voice whispering through your word. We pray that through your holy word you would heal our hurts and strengthen us to be your people…
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…