Down by the riverside I laid my burdens down and I'm travelin' light
Posted in Sermon Notes on Aug 24th, 2010
Costly Kindness 1 John 3:16-20, NRSV Reflections It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital ‘H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular. — C.S. Lewis Random [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Aug 22nd, 2010
The Shape of the Christian Life Matthew 5:1-12, NRSV When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. — Matthew 5:1 There has been a lot of prosperity gospel being preached But gospel sounds different in this Beatitudes passage, or in chapters just before [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Aug 8th, 2010
Sermon Series: Misunderstood Words “Church” 1 Timothy 3:14-16, NRSV if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. — 1 Timothy 3:15 negative associations history of oppression division in the church 3 [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jul 27th, 2010
Sermon Series: Misunderstood Words “Saints” Ephesians 1: 1-2, 15-23, NRSV Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. — Ephesians 1:1-2 saints are “celebrities” we [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jul 27th, 2010
The Frustration and Freedom of Desire Song of Solomon 3:1-5, NRSV Reflections Desire is insatiable not because the goods of the world are too few, too uniform, or too bland. Desire burns through the goods of the world, even though these goods are not false or intrinsically unsatisfactory…. Desire shatters the economy of things; it [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jul 26th, 2010
Patience in an Age of I Want It Yesterday James 5:7-12, NRSV Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge is standing at the doors! — James 5:9 losing patience is like disappointment in God Hebrews 12: if we wait on Him, we will receive great [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 29th, 2010
The Meal Jesus Gave Us 1 Cor 11:18-34, NRSV Reflections Charis (grace) always demands eucharistia (gratitude). Grace and gratitude belong together. Gratitude follows grace as thunder follows lightning. — Karl Barth Don’t mess with my food (Ice dirtier than toilet water) Jesus’ Meal gave us: community yet we can still somehow use the meal to [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 25th, 2010
Growing into Your Baptism Galatians 3:23-29, NRSV Reflections Baptism does not primarily express our turning from the old life to the new, but rather presents to us the new life toward which we must continually turn. Baptism thus points to God’s generous cleansing and renewing grace poured out upon us, and repentance and faith reflect [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on Jun 17th, 2010
Entertaining Angels Hebrews 13:1-6, NRSV Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. — Heb 13:2 the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding – different views of hospitality Hospitality in Bible attitude of heart that seeks to turn strangers into guests, then hopefully into [...]
Posted in Sermon Notes on May 26th, 2010
Sermon Series: Living Out the Resurrection Live by the Spirit Galatians 5:16-26, NRSV Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. — Gal 5:26 Live by the Spirit, or, Led by the Spirit of God a cosmic conflict – between flesh and spirit two worldviews two identities pursue the relational wholeness [...]