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 Some favorite sermons

• "Enough for Today" (June 1, 2008) Our culture teaches us (and we believe) that we must have more in order to be happy, but Jesus teaches that God's blessing is enough.  (Matthew 6:24-34)
• "God's Team" (May 18, 2008) Praying for peace begins in us, as we see past our difference to love our neighbors, and work toegther on God's Team.  (Micah 4:1-5, Matthew 5:38-48)
• "Variety Show" (May 11, 2008) The Pentecost story teaches that the church's strength is not in our oneness, but in our diversity, which allows us to be relevant in all times and places.  (1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, Acts 2:1-21)
• "To a Known God" (April 20, 2008) What if all of the aspects of our lives are interconnected-- how we treat each other, our economic systems, our abuse of the planet, our isolation from God? What would it mean on this Earth Day to live our lives as if we were all in God, to be connected to the One in whom we 'live and move and have our being'? (Acts 17:22-31)
• "Seekers at the Tomb" (Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008) In place of a sermon, we presented five monologues of people close to Joshua-- that's Jesus for you Greek speakers: Peter (backup recording, sorry about the inferior quality), a Centurion, Mary the mother of Jesus, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene. Each responds to the resurrection with their own joy and their own fears and doubts as well. What does the resurrection mean to us? Is the Good News really for everyone? All five monologues are written by me, and the first four are performed by a pretty diverse selection of my congregants.   (John 20:1-18)
• "Let Loose" (March 9, 2008) Christ calls Lazarus to come out, and Lazarus responds to the call. The miracle is not over, however, until the community participates in the unbinding, setting Lazarus free. Where are we called to be a community that unbinds and lets others loose? (John 11:1-45)
• "The Blind Leading the Blinded" (March 2, 2008) Jesus heals a man born blind, but it is those around him who choose not to see. A special trip down memory lane for those who went to college with me... (John 9:1-41)
• "Wellspring Witness" (February 17, 2008)  Over the course of her conversation with Jesus, the Samaritan woman at the well goes from dried out to overflowing with hope. Do we identify with her as individuals? Are we wrung dry? As the church, are we the place of encounter, where lonely, tired, dried-up people encounter Living Water? (John 4:5-42)
• "Call Waiting" (January 27, 2008)  God's call to us is disruptive and often a bit uncomfortable, but it builds on the gifts we have and leads us into new life. Plus, gimmicks are cool (that ringing sound is my cell phone, ringing for the fourth time that morning). (Matthew 4:12-23)
• "Tipping Point" (November 18, 2007) There's a difference between living on the side of fear and living on the side of faith. Pushing past the tipping point requires a leap of faith. Stewardship sermon 2007. (Matthew 6:19-21, 25-34)
• "Loving the Darkness" (October 14, 2007) We have learned that one of the greatest modern-day saints suffered terrible despair and doubt, but does that mean she ever lost faith? Can we take courage in her experience and its parallels to our own? The recording includes the Gospel reading and the litany that followed the sermon. (Mark 9:14-29)
• "Broken into Love" (September 30, 2007) Reflections on my mission trip to Ecuador and our responsibility to care for each member of our human family. (Isaiah 65:17-25)
• Untitled ['God can take it'] (September 9, 2007) Following a murder-suicide the day before, which touched lives in our congregation and community, I spoke about where God is (and isn't) in the face of tragedy. (Isaiah 43:1-7 and Romans 8:31-39)
• "Loved Much" (July 8, 2007) God's love is greater than our brokenness. We can focus on the scope of our sin, as Simon the Pharisee does, or we can focus on the depth of God's love, which is what Jesus chooses to do. (Luke 7:36-8:3)
• "Who Are You Looking For?" (April 8, 2007) Easter message - why do people not recognize God in their midst? Is it because we have done a poor job of telling them what to look for? (John 20:1-18)
• "The Faithful Child" (March 18, 2007) There's a message in the story of 'the prodigal son,' but not one of forgiveness and blessing for the youngest child. There's an invitation and an honor for the faithful child and for us, to become the people God creates us to be. (Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32)
• "Into His Life" (Jan 14, 2007) In baptism, we are called, commissioned, and claimed as God's children. We are baptised not only into Christ's eternal life, not only into Christ's death, but first and foremost into his life (recording missed first minute or so: why do we baptise children? is it to save them?). (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)
• "Lifting the Veil" (February 18, 2007) We place barriers between ourselves and God, but God calls us to lift the veil, rip the curtain, tear down the wall, and cut the caution tape (as you'll hear at the end of the sermon) between us, to let God run amok in the world. (Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36)
• "No Experience Necessary" (February 4, 2007) Each one of us is called by God, whether or not we feel qualified, and whether or not we have the burning-bush experience. I tell my call stories by way of example. (Isaiah 6:1-8)