Category Archives: Sermons

Luke 1:39-55 [watch sermon here] It’s only been a few dayssince Mary heard the newsthat that would change her life forever. Mary had just learned that she would be part of the processof birthing a revolution for her people. Unable to stay still, Mary set outand ran with haste to the hill country. There’s an intensityContinue reading “At the Threshold”

Prelude Introduction Roses exude a sweet perfume and dazzle the eye with their intricate layers of petals. This Sunday we will reflect on the rose as a symbol within the Christian tradition. What do roses teach us about God? Mary, mother of Jesus, is traditionally associated with roses. In the Catholic tradition, people use theContinue reading “Lesson and Carols: Rose Edition”

Mark 13:1-8 Look! Magician Nate Staniforth displays a five-rupee cointo a stranger on the streets of India. Nate shows the five-rupee coin andthen closes his hand over it. With a magical sleight of hand,Nate maneuvers the coin within his fingers. When he opens up his hand,the coin is gone. It has vanished. Ahmed, the strangerContinue reading “A Sleight of Heart”

Mark 12:28-34 (Watch the video here.) Listen, Israel. Listen, Israel:Our God is the one God,and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your being, and with all your strength. These are the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-9,also known as the shema. It’s called the shema because in Hebrew the text starts,Shema, Yisrael! Which is Listen,Continue reading “Listen!”

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a James writes,If you are wise and understand God’s ways,prove it by living an honorable life,doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. James conveys to uswhat is at the coreof the Christian lifestyle:humility. Another translation reads,Show by your good life that your works are donewith gentleness born of wisdom. DrawContinue reading “Lift from the Core”

James 1:16-27 (Watch the video here.) With a word, our lives changed: coronavirus. With a lack of words, our world shrinks in size. With a dearth of words, our souls ache with hunger; if only we could listen, watch, think, scroll, read our way to satiation. We thirst for words. Immersed in an ocean, weContinue reading “With a Word”

James 2:1-10, 14-17 (Watch sermon here.) James writes, “My siblings, your faith in our glorious Savior Jesus Christ must not allow favoritism.” Do you play favorites? How do you know when you are playing favorites? Hm. At the core of our faith, Jesus provides an orientation to a life of transformation. Jesus begins this orientationContinue reading “An Orientation to Transformation”

James 3:1-12 (Watch sermon here.) Our passage today is a snippet of a letter. I am going to continue reading it, so you hear how James emphasizes wisdom after speaking of the dangers of speaking. James writes, “Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle thatContinue reading “The Art of Conversation”