Oh, don’t you just hate to have to admit that you were wrong? We hear a lot about privilege these days, being privileged. Privilege isn’t just gets more; it is…
We have all been inconvenienced. Hopefully, it hasn’t been at midnight. But, you know, any midnight call . . . it’s coming from someone who feels as if there isn’t…
The sermon on the mount—Matthew tells us that Jesus spoke to the people on a mount, a big, high hill. Maybe that would remind Jewish listeners of Moses on the…
It’s no accident, no coincidence, that temptation follows baptism. John offered a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jews were familiar with the forgiveness of sins: they gloried…
There’s just enough distance between Jesus and his followers as they walk along that, though their words aren’t distinct to him, Jesus can tell they’re arguing. The church continues to…
Jesus is mean. We don’t like mean Jesus. Mean Jesus is too much for us. Can you imagine Jesus insulting someone or treating anyone like a second-class person? You don’t…
The most inconvenient part of our faith isn’t having to gather here on Sundays or listen to me preach, tedious though that can be. The most inconvenient part of our…
The Sabbath was God’s gift, God’s blessing for His people. The one thing you do not do, then, is fail to honor and respect the gift. That would dishonor the…
No one gets to Jesus in just the same way. Am I going to tell Jesus, “Lord, that’s not how I’d do it”? If people bring someone to Jesus in…
Not purification but preparation. Jesus didn’t need any purification. His baptism wasn’t for his purification; rather, it was a sign of his dedication, his official consecration, if you will. His…