1 John 3:16-24 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. When we in our culture talk about someone who has laid down their life for another, we speak of heroism, of martyrdom, of an unjust death in the pursuitContinue reading “Life Daily Laid Down”
Tag Archives: sermons
Lessons in the Aftermath
Acts 4:32-35 Last week, in the dim light of the empty tomb, we asked if fear and faith can coexist. We asked how the failures and the falling short of the first apostles can reflect the state of our own hearts, and what we might learn from the redemption God made possible in them. WeContinue reading “Lessons in the Aftermath”
Love Laid Bare
Maundy Thursday, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 When I was in college, I lived for a year and a half in a house owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky. This house was on the same property as St John’s Episcopal Church, right next door to the house they used as their church office. It had aContinue reading “Love Laid Bare”
Lent, Continued.
John 12:20-33 Although the flower-laden celebration of Easter is still two weeks away, the first buds are appearing on the trees, the first blooms are bursting forth, and spring is officially upon us. Fresh fruits and vegetables are becoming more numerous in the markets and patio seating is a little more comfortable than it hasContinue reading “Lent, Continued.”
Not a Tame Lion
John 2:13-22 The images we encounter of Jesus, whether they be physical icons or works of art that we can see and touch, or metaphors and scenes we come back to in moments of prayer and contemplation, shape our understanding of the personality of the incarnate God. Perhaps you are familiar with a particular paintingContinue reading “Not a Tame Lion”
Make Space
Mark 1:9-15 The following sermon was given to the people of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage KY, and shared with the people of St John’s in Murray KY and the people of Thankful Memorial in Chattanooga TN. For the past two weeks, I’ve posed the same question to many different people. I’ve asked youngContinue reading “Make Space”
Disfigure Your Faces
In preparing this sermon, I am indebted to the right reverend Neil Alexander for his reflections on the history of Ash Wednesday, linked at the end of this sermon, as well as to the poetry and ministry of the reverend Elizabeth Brooks Harden. If you flip the page in your bulletin, you will notice thatContinue reading “Disfigure Your Faces”
Lifted Up
Mark 1:29-39 Today we step right back into a very busy 24 hour period in the early ministry of Jesus. We pick up where we left off last Sunday, with Jesus leaving the synagogue after relieving a man of his demons and teaching those present in a remarkable way. The first disciples, Simon, Andrew, James,Continue reading “Lifted Up”
All We Have to do is Look
Luke 2:22-40 The following sermon was given on the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord at the Temple to the people of St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage KY on February 2nd, 2020, and to the community of the School of Theology in the Chapel of the Apostles on February 2nd, 2018. I thinkContinue reading “All We Have to do is Look”
He is the Teaching
Mark 1:21-28 “They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” The first disciples, whom Jesus called away from their families and their livelihoods to become fishers of people, followed him into Capernaum, into a synagogue on the Sabbath day. This small group of young,Continue reading “He is the Teaching”
Mother A Writes 