This is an edited manuscript of my sermon on Luke 14:1–6 for February 8, 2015. Today in Luke we join the story as the Pharisees were getting ready to examine Jesus. They wanted to see what this guy was all about. Jesus, after all, had a growing reputation and they probably wanted to see if…
Tag: Preaching
Not Quiet
This post is an edited manuscript for my sermon on Luke 18:35-43. Jesus comes near Jericho. If you’ve been keeping track to our sermon series this is actually an event which happens before the story with the wee little man up in a tree 1. I think the lectionary switched the order around because of…
Going Neutral – Part I
I pastor a church in the Baptist tradition. A key element of the Baptist tradition is it’s independence in the calling of the it’s pastors. The congregation, and the congregation alone has the power to call its pastor. This has both obvious benefits and downsides. If a congregation is reasonably healthy and self-aware of it’s…
Language Lessons
“If the Bible has been translated, why do you need to learn Greek and Hebrew?” That’s a question I got posed quite a bit when I was preparing for seminary. After seminary I was posed a different question by some of my fellow pastors, “I’m a pastor, not a language scholar, why do I need…
Summer Opportunity
I have an opportunity for folks who might be interested in learning how to integrate digital projection with their preaching or teaching. This August, I would love to work with four individuals in developing, writing, and presenting a sermon using a technique I call, “Sermon Painting.” Here’s what I’m thinking: Participants would meet 3 or…
Summer ends, the madness begins
Today is the “unofficial end of summer” for the majority of folks in the country. Vacations are coming to an end, the boardwalks are holding their clearance sales, and kids all over the country are preparing to head back to school. Even though my kids don’t head back to school until next Monday, I can’t…
