Lectionary ReadingsSermon Text: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Sermon Title: “Thinking…again, and again, and again”
Sermon Notes: Confronted by “good religious people” bent on tripping him up on issues of external ritual purity, Jesus turns the question to the internal impurity of human sin. In Jesus’ response to criticism of his disciples’ failure to follow “correct” religious practices, we find ourselves and [...]
Sermon Text: Ephesians 6:10-20
Sermon Title: “History to Future”
Sermon Notes: As a climax to the letter, the author of Ephesians bids readers prepare themselves properly for conflict with the powers of evil in the world. Amid the dangers and difficulties of this life, if we look to the past for guidance, through imagination, observation, and perseverance, we can [...]
Sermon Text: Ephesians 5:15-20
Sermon Title: “Wisdom Calling”
Sermon Notes: Taking advantage of a teachable moment, the author of Ephesians exhorts readers to wise and faithful living. Facing down evil times requires a peculiar wisdom: Wisdom imparted by God to help us, whether it be for unfamiliar freedom, or all-too-familiar persecution, or the not-familiar-enough longings of our hearts for new [...]
Sermon Text: Ephesians 4:25–5:2
Sermon Title: “Changing Times”
Sermon Notes: Because of their faith and oneness in Christ, the author exhorts the Ephesians to live imitating God, not following pagan life-orientations. For the author of Ephesians, and for each of us, there comes a time when a self-centered libertarianism will give way to concern for others and to an understanding [...]
