James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37 A sermon for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B The year was 1957, and Americans were suddenly very worried. In the twelve years after the end of WWII, it was clear that the world had two superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union. A “cold war” was raging, with both nations scrambling for the upper hand. The competition was not limited to the land, however. On October 4 of that year, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite in history. Americans grew very concerned. Were we losing the Space … Continue reading Humility and Ambition

A Sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; Wisdom of Solomon 7:26-8:1; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38 In our reading from Proverbs today we encounter a character named Wisdom. We might think of the book of Proverbs … Continue reading Lady Wisdom would like a Word

A sermon for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B Isaiah 35:4-7a; James 2:1-17; Mark 7:31-37 There is a classic story told by sociologist and pastor Dr. Tony Campolo. He was attending a conference in Honolulu. His jetlag was keeping him up the first night he was there. At 3 am he ventured out into the dark streets in search of something to eat. He found a tiny coffee shop. He ordered coffee and a donut from Harry, the man behind the counter, and sat down in a booth. Around 3:30, the diner door burst open and group of boisterous … Continue reading Opening More than Just Ears

A Sermon for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Can you believe it was ten years ago this morning that we woke up to the horrible news that the levees had failed? New … Continue reading Of Scapegoats and Angry Hearts

A sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B I Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom. King David has died, but Solomon was actually not the next in line for the throne. Even before David was … Continue reading The Wisdom to Choose

A sermon for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B II Samuel 11:26 – 12:15 Have you ever been caught? I mean really caught? The lights go on, and there you are with your hand in the cookie jar. Your … Continue reading When a King Repents

A sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B 2 Samuel 11:1-15 David sinned. Scripture leaves no question in our mind. King David sinned. It’s springtime in the story from 2 Samuel we heard this morning. Apparently spring is the favorite time of year for kings to wage war on each other, who knew? Springtime, as we know from poetry, is also a time when men’s thoughts turn to love as well. David has sent his army away to fight the Ammonites, but he remains behind in Jerusalem. Can trouble be far off? Up to this point in the … Continue reading When a King Sins

A sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B Ephesians 2:11-22 In the days following the tragic killings at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, something remarkable happened that you may not have heard about. Dylan Roof, the young man … Continue reading A Story of Two Christs

A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B Mark 5:21-43 Last Sunday, we heard the amazing story of Jesus and his disciples being in a boat on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee. This morning we hear what happens when they have made the return trip to the Jewish side, that is the “safe” side of the Sea of Galilee. We are told that a leader of the local synagogue, Jairus, comes to Jesus. Jairus’ daughter is sick to the point of death, and he is desperate. This is a bold step for this Jewish leader to take – … Continue reading He Called Her, “Daughter”

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7), Year B 1 Samuel 17:1-49; Psalm 9:9-20; Mark 4:35-41 “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Nearly 200 years ago, in 1816, a group of worshipers at the … Continue reading Do You not Care that We are Perishing?