Sermons That Work
Sermons and Bible Studies
St. John Chrysostom’s Paschal Sermon, Great Vigil of Easter (B) – 2018
Are there any who are devout lovers of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Are there any who are grateful servants? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let […]
The Readings Today Start Out…, Lent 2 (A) – 1996
The readings today start out with the beginning of the story of Abraham and Sarah. The story itself twists through more than 12 chapters of Genesis; and this being the book of Genesis—which means “origins”—it is introduced by a genealogy that links Abram and Sarai to Shem, a son of Noah. The significant thing about […]
Sermon for a World AIDS Day Interfaith Service: Remembering Wayne
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked…Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”[1] According to the way Christians tell their story, Jesus is crucified. His disciples, who love him so greatly […]
The New Gentiles, Christmas 2 – 2004
Where should we look to see the magi, the wise men, the Gentiles of today, the people perhaps different from us who are following the star to Jesus? May we consider this question with open hearts. In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel presents an epiphany. Epiphany comes from a […]
Principles of Christmas, Christmas 1 – 2001
This is the Sunday of Christmastide when we begin to consider what God has done in the birth of Jesus. In some homes by now the tree has been taken down, perhaps decorations put away. Stores are advertising year-end sales. Some people have already bought presents and cards for next year at significant savings. In […]
It Is Difficult to Pick Up…, Proper 17 (C) – 2001
This sermon is written as an alternative for use on Sunday, September 16, 2001. It may be used in conjunction with the Lessons for the Day or as a topical sermon with other readings. It is difficult to pick up shattered lives. While many people have been able to return to a mostly normal life […]
Jesus As the Vine…, Easter 6 (A) – 1999
Jesus as the vine with us as the branches is a very powerful model for the Christian life. It sets things straight as to how we are to be and what we are to do. As the text says, “cut off from me you can do nothing.” So this text calls us to be branches. […]
The Text from John’s…, Easter 5 (A) – 1999
This text from John’s gospel that we read and hear today is also commended to be read as part of our burial rite. It is commended to us because it is a statement of Jesus’ promise to us in the light of one of our worst fears. This fear is the fear of separation. When […]
Many of Us Can Remember…, Easter 3 (A) – 1999
Many of us can remember a time when our culture enjoyed a rich tradition of story telling. It was a simpler time, before there were televisions in every home. Many families spent the evenings together, telling stories. These were casual gatherings in some comfortable place, perhaps the kitchen table. The function of these family gatherings […]
There Are Many Truths…, Easter 2 (A) – 1999
There are many truths of which the full meaning cannot be realized until personal experience has brought it home. John Stuart Mill Sitting at a table in the lunchroom at work the other day, a small group of people began talking about the movie Titanic. One person in the group had not yet seen this phenomenon […]
All of the Resurrection Stories…, Easter Day (A) – 1999
All of the Resurrection stories have one thing in common. God does something so strange and singular in nature that there is no way to explain what happened. And this strange thing that God does has, as its consequence, either faith, hope, and love, or disbelief. All we can see are “snapshots” or anecdotes of […]
In Bach’s St. Matthew Passion…, Great Vigil of Easter (A) – 1999
In Bach’s St. Matthew Passion there is a musical theme that is connected to the time between Jesus’ crucifixion and his resurrection. It is in a minor key but it is not sad. Rather it is hopeful. It is expectant. Some might say that it captures both the pain of Jesus’ death for our sakes and the […]
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