Listen to the "Take 2" Sermon Podcasts
(Sermon preached November 3, 2024) The scripture associated with this sermon is the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30. Frederick Buechner makes the association of the stewardship of pain and this parable. This sermon asks, “What do we do with our pain? How do we steward it well?”
A comment related to the parable. This sermon does not exegete this parable. If I were to preach on this parable, my post-election analysis is that this parable describes the way things are and why the rich get richer. Profiting from interest was forbidden in Jewish culture. And any master that reaps where he doesn’t sow, and gathers where he didn’t scatter, is exploiting those who do sow and scatter. The outer darkness might be an apt description of the margins where so many people are relegated by poverty, illness, tragedy, sexual identity…
(The sermon preached October 27, 2024) Many congregations with property, like FCCO, are approaching the crossroads of declining numbers and rising costs. Tough decisions have to be made when the property ceases to serve the ministry. This sermon explores how our campus is currently used and appeals to steward it well.
(Sermon preached October 20, 2024) 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, along with passages in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4, name spiritual gifts. Everyone is gifted by the holy spirit, but our gifts differ so that we can work together, like parts of a body. What’s your spiritual gift? Who are you, really?
(Sermon preached October 13, 2024) In John 6:1-12 we read John’s version of the story of the feeding of the 5,000. With just five loaves and two fish the whole crowd is fed. The story challenges us to imagine God’s abundance when our default is scarcity. What are your five loaves and two fishes?
(Sermon preached October 6, 2024) Micah 6:8 tells us that God requires us to “do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.” This sermon invites us to think about ways we can steward our citizenship to love our neighbor, do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
(Sermon preached September 29, 2024) This sermon concludes a five-week series called “Matters of the Heart.” Mark 9:38-50 challenges us to examine ourselves and to sift out things in us that do not serve the kingdom/kindom.
(Sermon preached September 15, 2024) In Mark 8:27-38, Jesus asks, “Who do people say that I am?” And then he asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” The rest of the passage reveals that they are still “on the way” to understanding, but not there yet.
(Sermon preached September 8, 2024) Mark 7:24-37 tells the story of a gentile woman falling at Jesus’ feet, pleading for him to heal her daughter. His reply is troubling. It appears he is denying her request and calling her a dog. Would Jesus do that? What can we learn from this story?
(Sermon preached September 1, 2024) This is the first of five sermons from the gospel of Mark, a series I am calling, “Matters of the Heart.” Mark 7:1-23 addresses the challenges of trying to be pure and spins back around to tell us we are the ones who need our hearts examined.
(Sermon preached August 18, 2024) What is wisdom and why should we care? In Proverbs 9:1-6, wisdom cries out to us, inviting us to a feast. She invites us to seek insight and to walk in the way that bends toward life in all its fullness.