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Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
Lent 1A
There are no “only children” in God’s adopted family. Since, as Paul insists in this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson, Abraham is our father, we don’t just have a second (and third — in God) father. We also have countless siblings with whom we now and in the future will share an enormous inheritance. So preachers might…
John 3:1-17
Lent 1A
In the verses just before Nicodemus comes knocking on Jesus’s door, the gospel writer tells us that people were coming to believe in Jesus because of the signs Jesus was doing while in Jerusalem. Then there’s this rather ominous line: “But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them… he himself knew what…
Romans 5:12-19
Lent 1A
This first Sunday in Lent offers those who preach on the Revised Common Lectionary’s Epistolary Lesson a chance to proclaim the gospel through some theology about what Jesus came to do. By the power of the Holy Spirit it may even offer a chance to humbly present a corrective to several narrow emphases about the…
Matthew 4:1-11
Lent 1A
Comments, Questions, and Observations What sort of place is the biblical motif of “wilderness” to you? I added biblical intentionally there because I live in a beautiful part of the world where wilderness is part of enjoying recreation and everyday life. If you’ve ever visited Egypt, Jordan, Israel or Palestine, and retraced the steps of…
Matthew 17:1-9
Transfiguration Sunday
There is plenty of reason for Peter and the other disciples to misread the situation on the mountaintop because there is a lot that is eerily reminiscent of key experiences from their people’s story. The legacy lives in their bones and even if they weren’t there, what happened at these holy places is carried in…
2 Peter 1:16-21
Transfiguration Sunday
At first glance this Sunday may seem like a less than ideal Sunday on which to explore what its Epistolary Lesson has to say about the doctrine of inspiration. While, after all, the North American church generally pays little attention to Jesus’ transfiguration, this Transfiguration Sunday gives Jesus’ followers a chance to think about it…
Matthew 5:13-20
Epiphany 5A
How does salt lose its saltiness? Thinking about the salt as it is, one of the ways it will lose its potency is by diluting it, say in a large amount of water. As the salt dissolves and has more and more water added to it, its saltiness won’t be as strong. Or, salt that…
1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)
Epiphany 5A
In last week’s Epistolary Lesson commentary I suggested that preachers who feel called to proclaim 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 might consider entitling their message “Good News for Ordinary Christians.” This week I’d offer that preachers who proclaim 1 Corinthians 2 might consider entitling their message “Good News for Ordinary Gospel Proclaimers.” The faithful proclamation of the…
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Epiphany 4A
If I were to preach on this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson, I might entitle my message, “Good News For Ordinary People.” In this text, after all, Paul doesn’t primarily address the “100 Most Influential Christians.” He doesn’t even speak to that roster of preachers that seem to get invited to present at nearly every preaching conference….
Matthew 5:1-12
Epiphany 4A
This series of promises known as the Beatitudes continues to speak with hope, comfort, and possibly a little challenge. Most of us don’t want to claim these promises as prizes or rewards, and future glory can be a small comfort during current tragedy and hardship. But remembering the one who speaks these words may just…
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