James Liggett

The Rev. James Liggett is the retired rector of St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church in Midland, Texas. He is a native of Kansas and a graduate of the University of Houston and the Episcopal Divinity School. He has served parishes in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma and has been a contributor to Sermons That Work since the 1980’s.
Sermons and Bible Studies
To Be the Beloved, Epiphany 1 (C) – January 12, 2025
[RCL] Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 I want to talk a bit about the Baptism of Jesus, about what it means. And the place to start, of course, is with today’s Gospel reading. We heard the first part of this story just a few weeks ago at the end of Advent. […]
Suffering, Pentecost 5 (B) – June 23, 2024
[RCL] Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 Note: During the 2024 Season after Pentecost, Sermons That Work will use Track 2 readings for sermons and Bible studies. Please consult our archives for many additional Track 1 resources from prior years. People suffer. Indeed, it very much seems that good and innocent […]
Waiting, Easter 7 (B) – May 12, 2024
[RCL] Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 This morning, we hear that peculiar little story from Acts. It’s generally overlooked, but since it’s about anxiety, and these are anxious times all around, it can be a bit comforting. Here’s what’s going on: The time is somewhere during the ten days between […]
Death, Lent 5 (A) – 2023
[RCL] Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 These long readings from John’s Gospel during Lent have a depth and a power to them that can, if we take them into our hearts, reach the very core of our lives. Today we hear about death and new life, about the end of some things, […]
Surrender, Lent 1 (A) – 2023
[RCL] Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Seldom does our lectionary give us such richness in Scripture—two of the most powerful and evocative stories in the Bible on the same day. And when it comes to stories about temptation, these readings just about cover the waterfront. First is that wonderful account of […]
Locked Doors, Easter 2 (C) – 2022
[RCL] Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31 Today’s sermon illustration is that odd picture that’s included. It’s an old Charles Addams cover from a 1981 New Yorker magazine. The image shows a typical affluent Addams New Yorker standing at the door inside his apartment. The door is made of steel […]
Behold My Servant, Good Friday – 2022
[RCL] Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42 At no time do we stand closer to the mystery, the hiddenness, the total otherness of God than we do at this hour, at this moment, at this cross. At no other time do we see how completely not-us God is. This […]
Pearls and Grit, Easter 7 (B) – 2021
RCL: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 Everybody knows that oysters sometimes make pearls; that little tidbit has been used to illustrate many a point. But you may have heard that old truth said in a new way a while back, a way that gives it more power. It seems pearls […]
Showing Up, Easter 2 (B) – 2021
RCL: Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31 Alleluia, Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia. The Second Sunday of Easter is very dependable. (Not just with attendance.) This is Thomas’ Sunday, and every year the Gospel tells the story of Jesus’ special appearance among the Apostles to greet Thomas. There’s […]
Who Sinned?, Lent 4 (A) – March 22, 2020
[RCL]: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 That long reading from John about the man born blind is always very current. We only need to look at the news, or around town, or in our own lives, to ask the disciples’ question: “Who sinned” and thus caused this to happen? Today, let’s […]
The Same Story, Christmas 1 – 2019
[RCL]: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 147 or 147:13-21; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18 Have you ever noticed that when you get together with your family and start telling stories about when you were growing up, or what happened years ago, the same events sound very different as different people tell the story? Depending on who’s describing […]
Outstretched Arms, Easter Day – 2019
Note: This sermon includes references to an icon that can be downloaded via a link at the bottom of this page for distribution to the congregation. Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia! This morning, I want to say a word about Easter, a word taken from one of the great Eastern […]
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