Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Nicolet's Sermon Writing for Pentecost (Acts 2)
For this week's sermon illustration, Frederick Buechner offers an excerpt from the novel "The Final Beast" where Pastor Theodore Nicolet is trying to write a sermon for Pentecost.
Uvalde: Church Anew Writers Respond
Following the horrific shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX we invited our contributors to share their thoughts and wrestle with the continuing epidemic of mass shootings in America. We pray their words guide you in your own lament and push us all to consider how we might be part of writing a new more peaceful future.
Hannah Fleming: From An Elementary School Teacher
If you have ever been in an elementary school at the end of the school year; it is well contained chaos. Sometimes, also, not very well contained. Yesterday was no exception. On a near-perfect Minnesota spring day, I sat outside, in front of 50(ish) of my Kindergarten students, as they sang in their Kindergarten graduation program.
Mitch Carnell: Show Respect for Those Who Disagree
Say Something Nice Sunday is rooted in the words of scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” There are great differences of opinion among Christians of all denominations. That fact alone should drive us to seek a more reasoned, respectful debate.
Drew Rick-Miller: Devotional: Seeing Wisdom from God’s View
“God sees everything under the heavens.” Does that mean God sees nebulae, supernovae, and galaxies? What about black holes, dark matter, and even empty space? Can God see wonders beyond the scope of human vision and technology?
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: The Jailer (Acts: 16:16-34)
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 Seventh Sunday of Easter. Here is this week’s reading from Acts...
Angela Denker: America’s Blood Moon: Do not look away
That moon, blood red in the sky, hung over America like a shroud. Our light has been dimmed for far too long. I thought about Roberta A. Drury, age 32. Margus D. Morrison, age 52. Andrew MacNeil, age 53. Aaron Salter, age 55. Geraldine Talley, age 62. Celestine Chaney, age 65. Heyward Patterson, age 67. Katherine Massey, age 72. Pearl Young, age 77. Ruth Whitfield, age 86.
Walter Brueggemann: Bonds of Affection…Once More
I recently wrote an exposition of the phrase from Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address, “the bonds of affection.” Lincoln hoped that those “bonds of affection” would override the eagerness for war. Now I have become aware of two books that in very different ways explore Lincoln’s phrase amid our ongoing national history.
Will Willimon: Confronting Racism from Our Pulpits
In the face of racism, contemporary preachers face two possibilities: we can join in the onslaught of God’s kingdom and speak up, enjoy the disruption of changed hearts and lives, trust that the good news is more truthful than the lies that enthrall the world, or we can be silent and miss the miracles.
Ed Rosado: Engaging Science with Two Presbyterian Guys
For us at Science for the Church, relationship building is the foundation. It is at the point of inclusion and diversity that I want to start reflecting on this challenging yet rewarding journey.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Light (Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5)
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 Sixth Sunday of Easter. Here is this week’s reading from Revelation...
Matthew Ian Fleming: Tears of Renewal
Over two days we gathered asking for renewal, calling upon God to ignite in us a spirit of renewal for ourselves, for our communities, for our congregations, for our neighborhoods, for our world.
Walter Brueggemann: Divine Arithmetic
Now that I have just turned 89, it is inescapable that I think, from time to time, of my ending. Sometimes I think of my longevity and am amazed. Sometimes—not often—I think of my death. I am mostly content to leave that in God’s good hands.
Drew Rick-Miller: The Role of Faith in a Mental Health Crisis
I’m not a mental health professional, nor am I trained to treat even mild mental illnesses. I do, however, know a little about the connection between spirituality and health and its relevance to the role of faith in a mental health crisis.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Bebb's Speech at Revonoc
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 Fifth Sunday of Easter. Here is this week's reading from the Gospel of John...
Walter Brueggemann: Sleepless in Babylon
The dismantling of statues of erstwhile heroes has led me, inescapably, to the nightmare of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2. That powerful sixth-century Babylonian ruler, much despised by Israel had, it is reported to us, many sleepless nights, as he was “troubled” (Daniel 2:1, 3).
Char Rachuy Cox: Loving and Living the Questions
As I look forward to my youngest-child-now-adult walking across the stage, I find myself ruminating on the threads of my own decades-ago-college-experience that continue to be woven throughout my life.
Susan Sparks: We'd Better Dial Up Our Sleep Number
I don’t know about y’all, but I love to sleep. Love. It. And, at the risk of sounding a bit arrogant, I’m really good at it.
Greg Cootsona: Do You Mind? Loving God with All Your Mind
I was recently asked to preach on the final phrase of the Greatest Commandment according to Jesus: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with… with all your mind.’” (Matthew 22:37). Afterward, a neuroscientist in the congregation told me he rarely cries in church, but these words hit home. I hope the message will also resonate with you.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Disaster (Psalm 23)
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 Fourth Sunday of Easter. Here is this week’s reading of Psalm 23...