1 Samuel
The Bible features several accounts of mothers, but my favorite Old Testament story about mothers is the story of Hannah and Samuel. Found in 1 Samuel 1, Hannah's story recounts her willingness to give her son, Samuel, back to the Lord. Samuel, in turn, heard the voice of
1 Samuel
On Mothers' Day, I delivered the chapel message at Hargrave Military Academy. The 800-seat chapel was filled with cadets and their families on a beautiful Sunday morning. Sacrifice Demands Responsibility 1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I
Matthew
In Matthew 28:16-20, we usually miss verse 17: "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted." What did the 11 disciples doubt during this post-resurrection appearance of Jesus? Did they doubt that he had been resurrected? Or that he was the Messiah, the Son of
John
In John 21:15-19, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Most Bible scholars agree that Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to atone for his betrayal of Jesus during Jesus' arrest. But what does this mean for us today? How do we know if
John
Now that Easter Sunday is behind us, what do we do next? How do we as followers of Jesus live in light of Easter's message of hope and joy? In John 20:19-31 we read the story of Jesus' first encounter with his disciples after his resurrection.
Isaiah
On this Easter Sunday we hear the words of Isaiah 25:6-9, written over 600 years before the birth of Jesus. In Isaiah's day, the nation of Judah believed that God has left them. Isaiah reminds them what will happen when the God they are waiting for returns.
Isaiah
The God We’ve Been Waiting For Isaiah 25:6-9 NRSV 25:6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 25:7 And he
Lectionary Yr A
As we approach Easter Sunday, here are the manuscripts of the sermons I have preached at Easter for the past five years. I hope you have a glorious Easter celebration this year! * Seeing Jesus Again For The First Time, 2007, John 20:1-18 * Now We Understand, 2008, Acts 10:34-43
Lectionary Yr B
In Mark 15:1-39 we read the story of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. The descriptions of the suffering of Jesus remind us that we should not trivialize the sacrifice of Christ. The apostle Paul reminds Christians that we share in the suffering of Christ. This passage provides us
Jeremiah
On the final Sunday of Lent we are looking at Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God says that "the days are coming" when those in captivity in Babylon will have a new covenant with God. That new covenant was unimaginable to the people of Jeremiah's day because
Lectionary Yr B
In Numbers 21:4-9, the nation of Israel rebels against God on their Exodus pilgrimage, so God sends poisonous snakes into their camp. Recognizing their sin, the people repent and ask Moses to ask God to remove the snakes. Instead of removing the snakes, God sends a remedy for snakebite.
Genesis
When God changes the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah, we are reminded of the importance of names. Our new name in the family of God is eternally linked to God's plan and purpose for God's creation, just as Abraham and Sarah'