New Things
Third Sunday in Advent: Old Testament, Isaiah 35:1-10 Isaiah 35:1-10 Isaiah 35 is a wonderful chapter. Hope abounds. Promises are made. And because of the character of the Promise Giver, what is...
A Season of Presumption
Second Sunday in Advent: Gospel, Matthew 3:1-12 Matthew 3:1-12 There is a word in our gospel reading this week that gives me great concern. It gives me pause because in the years I have been in Christian ministry, it is a...
What the King Needs
Second Sunday in Advent: Psalm, Psalm 72:1-7 Psalm 72:1-7 Kings need help. Ancient kings. Modern kings. All kings, all rulers need help. Psalm 72 comes from the pen of a king who, in human terms, was probably the...
Lamb and Lion?
Second Sunday in Advent: Old Testament, Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah 11:1-10 Funny isn’t it how certain phrases are quoted with great authority and familiarity only to be found to be in error when sourced? One...
Waiting
First Sunday in Advent: Gospel, Matthew 24:36-44 Matthew 24:36-44 Questions abound regarding the coming again of the Son of Man. It’s time is compared to the days surrounding faithful Noah. It’s compared to the...
Wear Him Well
First Sunday in Advent: Epistle, Romans 13:11-14 Romans 13:11-14 Our Old Testament reading for the week focused our attention on the wonderful days ahead, going to the house of the Lord, the hill-dwelling of the Great...
Better Days Ahead
First Sunday in Advent: Old Testament, Isaiah 2:1-5 Isaiah 2:1-5 God calls and His calling is always clear. In our Old Testament reading for the week God makes a call that His people should...
Your Word Is...
Proper 29: Gospel, Luke 23:27-43 Luke 23:27-43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Sweet words indeed. But in the context of the event during which they are spoken … not so nice. The event, that is. The darkness of the event makes the...
Who?
Proper 29: Epistle, Colossians 1:13-20 Colossians 1:13-20 Many years ago I heard a prominent American pastor lament that the church was publishing myriads of books on many topics and a lamentable few on Jesus Christ. It causes some reflection as I look at my own bookshelf and see the titles...
How Can It Be?
Proper 29: Old Testament, Malachi 3:13-18 Malachi 3:13-18 The gospel doesn’t only live in the New Testament. So many make the mistake of thinking the Old Testament is law, law...
