Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, James 5:13-20 James 5:13-20 Recently I heard a pastor online speaking about the issue of seeing the Bible as a true authority. Our final authority. For in Scripture, we read and hear the voice of the living God who has chosen to reveal Himself and...
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Old Testament, Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16, 24-29 Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16, 24-29 How often do you complain? I know that’s a blunt question. A bit in your face. I am including myself in the “you” above, so I admit to my sin of...
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Mark 9:30-37 Mark 9:30-37 Power is a challenge. Maybe a better thought: power is temptation. Behind its allure, at no matter what level or position, are all manner of ugly manifestations of...
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, James 3:13-4:10 James 3:13-4:10 We shared together last week that the letter of James is challenging. Doctrinally, yes. And practically as well. Why? Because James is gifted as he wields both Law and Gospel. And whenever the...
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Old Testament, Jeremiah 11:18-20 Jeremiah 11:18-20 I love the Old Testament prophets. I think it’s their resilience. Some of them recognize that they are not prepared for their task. At least in their own estimation. Some have doubts. Some turn tail and...
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Mark 9:14-29 Mark 9:14-29 Our week’s readings have centered on the power of words. Good words, damaging words, even wasted words. All these are a reality in our daily lives. “Waste not, want not.&rdquo...
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, James 3:1-12 James 3:1-12 Our Old Testament lesson for the week put on display for us the “overlap” of God’s speech and that of His servants the prophets. Our epistle for the...
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Old Testament, Isaiah 50:4-10 Isaiah 50:4-10 When I took a class on Old Testament prophets in seminary, my professor emphasized that in our reading of the prophets we should come away with the sense that sometimes it’s hard to know who’s...
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Gospel, Mark 7:24-37 Mark 7:24-37 Jesus loves the little children. And I am equally thankful that Jesus loves those a bit further down the road; we “older children.” Jesus, in our reading this week, brings His healing power to bear on two in need...
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Epistle, James 2:1-10, 14-18 James 2:1-10, 14-18 James is tricky. Judgment is tricky. Heaven’s sake, being a Christian is tricky. To those of us who claim legacy from the Reformation, especially the Lutheran stripe of it, James can be troublesome. But...
