Feb 9, 2015 | Lent, liturgy, Monday Muse, scripture, sermon
Still wondering what you’ll preach when Lent begins next week? Here are eight sermon series ideas for your inspiration and use, all of which aim to shed the traditionally dreary sackcloth of Lent in order to don a vibrant — and occasionally exuberant...
Dec 11, 2014 | church, news, racism, sermon
Dear White Preachers, I have been watching and listening to your reflections on the task of preaching to predominantly white congregations in the wake of the non-indictments in New York City and Ferguson, in the wake of the powerful movement in the U.S. and around the...
Nov 17, 2014 | Advent, Christmas, Monday Muse, sermon
Less than two weeks until the beginning of Advent. Thanksgiving is around the corner, you’ve had a busy fall in your ministry, and you’re trying not to panic over the Advent sermons series that you intended to plan last week or last month. Need a little...
Jun 26, 2012 | blessing, courage, sermon, stories, vocation, women
To place the story of Rebekah within the narrative arc of Genesis, let’s go back a generation: You remember that Abraham and Sarah (originally Abram and Sarai) left their homeland because God called Abraham to settle in a new place. Abraham and God had a...
Sep 8, 2008 | church, justice, scripture, sermon
The following thoughts are adapted (primarily the preface) from a sermon that I preached from Grace’s pulpit. Sometimes a sermon is crafted to deliberately provoke conversation; always such a sermon runs the risk of not adequately engaging the hearers and...