Stay Put
Reformation: Gospel, John 8:31-36 John 8:31-36 It is a blessing that the Lord gives outstanding servants to the church. I work among several each day. My life is made rich in Christ as...
Law First
Reformation: Second Lesson: Romans 3:19-28 Romans 3:19-28 Law first. Not in rank, but in time, in order. What do I mean? The Reformers of the 16th Century brought to the fore a distinction that had been muddied...
Angels Understand
Reformation: First Lesson, Revelation 14:6-7 Revelation 14:6-7 God delights to use his human children. Think of it. Can you imagine that with all power at his disposal he chooses to use weak and...
Gaining His Ear
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Luke 18:1-8 Luke 18:1-8 Does God hear us? Does God listen to us? He does. Psalm 65:2: “O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.” At the outset of that hymn to God comes this sure...
Sleepless Helper
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Psalm 121 Psalm 121 I love Psalm 121. I think it grew on me during my days of hospice chaplaincy, which I loved. It became a regular part of my committal services...
Wrestling
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Old Testament, Genesis 32:22-30 Genesis 32:22-30 “Down to earth.” It’s a phrase we use to show that something is every day, understandable, and on our level. In our Old...
Faith of a Foreigner
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Luke 17:11-19 Luke 17:11-19 It isn’t unusual to find examples in the Bible of those we might think would be the last to have “faith” in the promises of a Jewish Messiah. The thief on...
Oh, This World
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, 2 Timothy 2:1-13 2 Timothy 2:1-13 Pressure. Do you feel it, Christian brother and sister? Pressure this time from without, from the world around us. Lately, in my teaching I have been focusing on the Body of...
Reading God’s Hand
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Old Testament, Ruth 1:1-19a Ruth 1:1-19a God doesn’t play cards. At least I don’t think he does. Just a nod toward the title above that we are not talking about bluffing or laying...
Forgiveness is Big
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Luke 17:1-10 Luke 17:1-10 The suggested portion of this week’s gospel points to “Mustard Seed Faith.” It is a great text, but my attention went instead to the...
