The Meaning of Life: A Parable
This is based on a dream I had. What do you think it means? In a town far away, a young man approached an older man known to be wise. "Sir, I am told that you know the meaning of life. Will you share it with me?" "Yes, my son," the older man said. "Come with me."
"This Generation"
At the end of the prayer, Jesus offers an invitation. It is tantamount to turning from the narrative world to the writer’s world to the reader’s world, what we sometimes call “breaking the fourth wall.” Matthew intentionally includes future generations. That is, “this generation” is the church today, meaning all of us here.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Aaron
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Here is this week's reading from the book of Exodus:
Ed Rosado: More than a Hoax: Creation Groans for Redemption
This turn of events reminded me of the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Rome. It is as if our planet groans for its redemption. The problem is these words immediately conjure up images of our eschatological hope for redemption at the Parousia (i.e., Jesus’ second coming). It is hard to see anything else once we enter an end-times mode.
The Source and End of Unity and Belonging
We might neglect the possibilities of human relationships in a world dominated by empire’s drive to make us enemies, contestants over scare resources, neighbors so suspicious of one another that we build ever greater walls between us.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Press On
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Here is this week's reading from the book of Philippians:
The Dangerous Arson of a Bramble
The great temptation in governance is always the chance for self-benefit. Thus even though Gideon refused kingship, he acted nonetheless in covetous ways...
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Parable - Matthew 20:1-16
In our blog post every Monday, we select a reading from the for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Here is a reading from the gospel of Matthew:
Use The Difficulty
In ministry today, you could make a long list of the difficulties... ...What would it be like to use these difficulties? This doesn't mean you minimize them--we all know they’ve been a lot more than a chair in the way.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: God So Loved the World - John 3:13-16
Every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. This Sunday we will celebrate the Holy Cross. Here is this week's reading from John 3:13-16...
Now Open Between Easter and Christmas
A congregation in the town next to ours has a new main outdoor sign. Recently the sign said, “Now open between Easter and Christmas.” I wondered what they meant by the phrase and why they used it?
Susan Sparks: The Ultimate Lifeboat: A reflection on 9/11 and the power of laughter
The day after 9/11, I was working for the Red Cross taking inbound calls for missing persons in the fallen towers. Somewhere mid-morning I received a call from a woman whose husband was missing. Her call was like all the others I had received: she offered a description of him, information about where he worked, what time he left. Then something totally unexpected happened. She began to laugh...
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: A Path from God - Exodus 14:19-30
Every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Here is a reading from Exodus 14:19-30....
NEWS: ‘Day 1’ Interim Leadership Team Announced
As Peter Wallace retires, Dr. Katie Givens Kime to serve as interim executive director.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: See Our Neighbors (Romans 13:8-10)
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Here is this week's reading from Romans 13:8-10...
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Jesus Saves (Matthew 16:24-25)
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Here is this week's reading from Matthew 16:24-2...
Michael Chan: An Answer to His Own Prayer: Reflections on the Work of God in the Book of Ruth
The book of Ruth is one of the most charming pieces of literature every penned by ancient Israel’s storytellers. That same charm, in conjunction with its brevity, might lead one to conclude that Ruth is nothing more than a simple story about the foreign-born origins of David’s Moabite ancestor. Indeed, that would be a good and fascinating story in its own right.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: The Way He Carries Me
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. Here is this week's reading from Psalm 138:3...
Margaret Marcuson: Never do this with regard to money
I don’t say “never” very often. However, here are a dozen “nevers” about money...
Susan Sparks: All You Need is Love, a Tiara, and a Cupcake
How do you hold on to hope in the midst of despair? To answer that question, you can read the seven trillion self-help books on Amazon, or you can spend hours listening to YouTubes and Ted Talks. My preference, however, is to go the simple route. All you need is love, a tiara, and a cupcake.