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Acts 19:1-7: Continuing Education – Day1 series: Faith and Science, part 8
We can learn something new every day. This became crystal clear to me during one academic year at Duke University. A senior Duke student was one of the scripture readers for the Sunday morning service in Duke Chapel. His job was to read the gospel lesson. On that morning, he was assigned to read a…
Revelation 5:11-14: Hear the Animals Singing: The Bible and Genetics – Day1 series: Faith and Science, part 6
There is an astonishing array of animals mentioned in the Bible. Some of them readily come to mind: sheep, goats, camels, and perhaps the most beloved animal–the donkey–one that carried Jesus to his place of birth and another that carried him closer to his death. And then there is, of course, the infamous serpent. But…
Mark 10:35-45: Quantum Physics and the Nature of Eternity – Day1 series: Faith and Science, part 4
In Mark’s Gospel the two brothers, James and John, ask Jesus to give them the seats of honor in the fulfilled kingdom of God. It’s not a huge surprise that it should be these two who ask such a thing. They’re known as the Sons of Thunder, a nickname that Jesus himself gave them, most…
Mark 10:17-31: What Matters Eternally – Day1 series: Faith and Science, part 3
When you woke up today, what did you notice about the natural world around you? What’s the weather like? What animals and plants have you seen? What has changed since yesterday? Many of us likely start with the “news” about disasters, wars, and violence around the world. Even the weather tends to be reported with…
Romans 5:1-8
Proper 6A
At the beginning of this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson Paul carries forward the theme with which he ended last Sunday’s Lesson: Jesus’ followers’ “justification” (4:23). In verses 1-2a the apostle writes, “Since we have been justified [dikaiothentes*] through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [prosagogen]…
Matthew 9:9-13,18-26
Proper 5A
Notice who is willing to utilize the doctor in their midst. First of all, even a tax collector becomes a disciple! That tax collector is joined by others, sinners and cheats every one, at dinner with Jesus. The waiting room is full! And though some of the Pharisees complain about this practice, there is one…
Romans 4:13-25
Proper 5A
In his May 21. 2026 blog on the Yale University Press blog, the philosopher James K.A. Smith wrote: “We are awash in knowledge and overwhelmed by a flood of information … Yet because our society is organized as an information economy, we are also vexed by mis- and dis-information. “In an age of AI slop…
Matthew 28:16-20
Trinity Sunday A
Comments, Questions, and Observations The eleven finally make it to Galilee where Jesus told them to meet him. In the gospel of Matthew, there are no upper room stories, so this meeting on the mountain in Galilee is the first time that the disciples actually encounter the resurrected Jesus in the narrative. After all they…
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Trinity Sunday A
“Finally, brothers and sisters,” Paul tells his readers of all times and places in verse 11, “rejoice!” [chairete*]. In other words, the apostle basically finishes his second letter to the Corinthian Christians with a summons to be “cheerful” (The Message) or “joyful” (New Living Translation). So it’s as if he tells Jesus’ friends, “When it’s…
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Pentecost A
Christians sometimes rightly think of Pentecost as the birthday of the Church. Since birthdays are often occasions for gift-giving, it seems appropriate for preachers to join Paul in considering and celebrating the gifts [charismaton*] the Holy Spirit gives to the members of the Body of Christ that is the Church. Few texts open themselves to…
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