When I do something for God, I want Him to approve and praise it. When I give something to God, I want him to love it and thank me. However, Scripture says He just doesn't--and won't--unless Jesus acts through those signs given us...Hear the full audio of "The Fugitive's Faith"A sermon on Genesis 4:1-15; Luke … Continue reading The Fugitives’ Faith
Hanging on His Words: The Sermon
Hear the full audio of "Hanging on His Words"A sermon on Luke 19:41-48Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 20 August 2017Jesus weeps over those robbed of His peace. He visits judgment on those who steal away heavenly treasures. Christ comes to fill the temple with His teaching. He speaks mercy to His people. Jesus restores the gift … Continue reading Hanging on His Words: The Sermon
Hanging on His Words: Perspective
Dominus Flevit, "The Lord Wept," so the Franciscan friars name the chapel above, now overlooking Jerusalem. Not that I've been to this place. Whether Jesus actually paused on that very spot or some other nearby, I delight in the design of this chapel's window. One looks at Jerusalem below through the cross, through the chalice … Continue reading Hanging on His Words: Perspective
Hanging on His Words: The Passage
Tuesday, I double check our travel itinerary for this week's spiritual jaunt together towards a sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity and sigh. We're headed quite a long way, well outside my comfort zone into rather unfamiliar territory. Ignore my grumbling. We use a 1-Year lectionary--a well-worn churchly roadmap of readings, handed down by … Continue reading Hanging on His Words: The Passage
Hanging on His Words: The Journey
On the Isaiah 50:4 Blues Facebook page, I've invited you gracious readers and hearers to follow along and walk with me behind the scenes of a sermon throughout this week. Not that I have hundreds of people following the page. Hardly so. But here's three reasons why I've offered to do this goofy thing. First, the … Continue reading Hanging on His Words: The Journey
Think You’re Standing Strong?
Hear the full audio of "Think You're Standing Strong?"A sermon on 1 Corinthians 10:6-13Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 13 August 2017Is there such a thing as a strong Christian? Yes, but none so strong as to be able to escape and endure temptation on their own. None stand strong enough to rescue themselves from their slavery … Continue reading Think You’re Standing Strong?
God Breathes Life
Hear the full audio of "God Breathes Life"A sermon on Genesis 2:7-17Seventh Sunday after Trinity, 30 July 2017From the beginning, God gives us a glimpse of His personal interest and affection toward each person He brings forth into the world. The fallen world continually diminishes personhood into biological accident, evolutionary anomaly or random combination of … Continue reading God Breathes Life
First, Be Reconciled
Hear the full audio of "First, Be Reconciled"A sermon on Matthew 5:17-26Sixth Sunday after Trinity, 23 July 2017Christ does not envision his church as a place where people come to be fired up against their neighbors. Christ does not envision the Holy life of his Holy people as life marked by anger and accusations. Rather, … Continue reading First, Be Reconciled
We Will Fish Anyway, Lord…
Jesus asks the boat guys to lend a boat, move it out little. Jesus asks these tired fishermen to fish. Those nets they were mending, Jesus asks them to cast them out. These weren’t difficult, strange, or unfamiliar thing Christ bid them to do--until the Lord blessed it in spite of their failure and half-hearted … Continue reading We Will Fish Anyway, Lord…
My Enemy is Unmade
Jesus keeps taking my enemies away! He scratches their names off my list faster than I can write them down! "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." Really, Jesus? Bless the hostile? The haters? The sinners who sin against me?! Hear the full audio of "My Enemy is Unmade" A sermon on … Continue reading My Enemy is Unmade
Isaiah 50:4 Blues 