Please see the previous post to catch the introduction to this sermon. Don’t you wish our world could be as simple as a children’s story? The people of Kazoo lived happily ever after when THEY heard from the teacher. But we seem much less willing to respond to Christ’s call to love. That seems especially … Continue reading Red State, Blue State – The Sermon
Category: Faith
Red State, Blue State – The Sermon
Please see the previous post to catch the introduction to this sermon. Don’t you wish our world could be as simple as a children’s story? The people of Kazoo lived happily ever after when THEY heard from the teacher. But we seem much less willing to respond to Christ’s call to love. That seems especially … Continue reading Red State, Blue State – The Sermon
With Apologies to Dr. Seuss
Once upon a time, in the land of Kazoo, lived two grizzled old men, one red and one blue. Across the street from each other, in houses alike, and out on the street they both road their bikes. But though they were bikers, and lived very close, they avoided each other, and thought the other … Continue reading With Apologies to Dr. Seuss
Wilderness Opportunities
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless … Continue reading Wilderness Opportunities
Red State, Blue State. How ‘Bout A New State?
This Sunday I am preaching a sermon on the belief in early Christianity that our citizenship is in another kingdom than the one in which we reside during our time on earth. The sermon is titled: “Red State, Blue State. How ‘Bout A New State?”, which is a take off on the Dr. Seuss classic, … Continue reading Red State, Blue State. How ‘Bout A New State?
Red State, Blue State. How ‘Bout A New State?
This Sunday I am preaching a sermon on the belief in early Christianity that our citizenship is in another kingdom than the one in which we reside during our time on earth. The sermon is titled: “Red State, Blue State. How ‘Bout A New State?”, which is a take off on the Dr. Seuss classic, … Continue reading Red State, Blue State. How ‘Bout A New State?
The Economy of the Kingdom
This is the fourth in a series of sermons on The Sermon on the Mount, preached at the Antioch United Methodist Church in Nashville. Bear Sterns. Lehman Brothers. Fannie May and Freddie Mac. AIG. Washington Mutual. Just a few months ago these were names that we may have been familiar with, but were hardly on … Continue reading The Economy of the Kingdom
What’s A Hook Anyway?
Thanks to all who responded to my question asking for help with my October sermon series. As the comments have rolled in, it’s become clear that my specificity in what I was looking for was lacking. So here are a few thoughts on the sermon series development process. When I talk about a “hook,” I … Continue reading What’s A Hook Anyway?
Prayers for a Friend
I think I have written in the past about the group of pastors I meet with every Thursday to pray for the community of Antioch. This group recognizes that we have differences in theology and practice, but we lays those aside in the knowledge that we all are trying to walk in the way of … Continue reading Prayers for a Friend
To Fear Or Not To Fear
I live in a community paralyzed with fear. Well that’s not completely true, but the fact is that our community, this place called Antioch, a suburb of Nashville, finds itself at a crossroads driven primarily by fear. The fears are many: the fear of crime, the fear of others who aren’t like us, the fear … Continue reading To Fear Or Not To Fear
10 Minute Review — The Shack
Well who knows how long it will last, but here is the first in what I hope will become part of a series of podcast reviews on "The Shack," by William P. Young. Review #1 -- The Shack Music by: Tim Parsons & Nick Reynolds "Air on the G String - Johann Sebastian Bach" (mp3) … Continue reading 10 Minute Review — The Shack
Church Basement Roadshow – The Nashville Edition
I am certain that many others will go into more detail than I about tonight’s Church Basement Roadshow, featuring Doug, Tony, and Mark. Given the hour it seems fitting to throw out a quick review in fine bullet point fashion on what was a great evening. Part of the value in any emergent gathering of … Continue reading Church Basement Roadshow – The Nashville Edition
Church Basement Roadshow – The Nashville Edition
I am certain that many others will go into more detail than I about tonight’s Church Basement Roadshow, featuring Doug, Tony, and Mark. Given the hour it seems fitting to throw out a quick review in fine bullet point fashion on what was a great evening. Part of the value in any emergent gathering of … Continue reading Church Basement Roadshow – The Nashville Edition
The Informational / Formational Paradox
Once upon a time there was information. Actually, if we want to be precise there was knowledge. It was something to be gained, something to be pursued, and the acquisition of knowledge was seen as a source of personal power. With the coming of the enlightenment, the age of reason and science, the pursuit of … Continue reading The Informational / Formational Paradox
The Embracing Church: Xenia – The Practice of Hospitality
Once upon a time, in a time much earlier than our own and a place far from here, lived an old man and an old woman. They had walked the earth for many years together as husband and wife. Many years before, when the possibilities of the world stretched endlessly before them, they had dreamed … Continue reading The Embracing Church: Xenia – The Practice of Hospitality
The Embracing Church: Xenia – The Practice of Hospitality
Once upon a time, in a time much earlier than our own and a place far from here, lived an old man and an old woman. They had walked the earth for many years together as husband and wife. Many years before, when the possibilities of the world stretched endlessly before them, they had dreamed … Continue reading The Embracing Church: Xenia – The Practice of Hospitality
The Embracing Church: Tolerance, Inclusion, and Embrace
This is the third in a sermon series on The Embracing Church For the past couple of weeks, we have been thinking together about what it might be to be a church which is known to welcome all with the love of God, a church that reaches out with grace and acceptance to draw folks … Continue reading The Embracing Church: Tolerance, Inclusion, and Embrace
The Embracing Church: The Ways We Exclude
This is the second sermon in a series on The Embracing Church “Okay, guys. It’s time to choose sides…” Those words are part of a ritual that has been a part of our lives almost from the beginning. It is a ritual that has been seen again and again in countless gyms, on schoolyards, and … Continue reading The Embracing Church: The Ways We Exclude
A Plug for SoulFeast
Next month, Kay and the girls and I will load up the car and head six hours south to the Mecca of southeastern Methodism, Lake Junaluska, for our annual pilgrimage to the SoulFeast Conference, sponsored by the Upper Room. We started attending SoulFeast several years ago when we were short on funds and needed to … Continue reading A Plug for SoulFeast
Prophetic Preaching and the Good News
Last week I started a series of sermons titled: The Embracing Church: Life in the Expansive Kingdom of God. It is a series looking that assumes that the God who embraces all of us likewise wants the Body of Christ to be about embrace as well. Last week, I preached a variation on the post … Continue reading Prophetic Preaching and the Good News
Only Wonder Understands 