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David Kalas

David Kalas is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Union Theological Seminary of Virginia. David has been a contributing writer for Emphasis Preaching Journal and has authored several books.
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Commentary

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Picture perfect -- Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14--23:56 -- David Kalas -- Passion Sunday - C -- 2013
We are indebted to the various sorts of artists through the years who have helped us to picture Jesu
For all the saints -- Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Ephesians 1:11-23, Luke 6:20-31 -- David Kalas -- All Saints Day - C -- 2013
All Saints Day does not boast the repertoire of music that some other seasons and holidays have.
All that he is -- Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) -- David Kalas -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 2013
The Psalmist cries out "O, magnify the Lord with me" (Psalm 34:3), and we make take that as our invi
Extension cords -- Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 -- David Kalas -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Our family moved into a new house recently.
What goes up -- Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53 -- David Kalas -- Ascension of the Lord - B -- 2012
"What goes up must come down." So goes the old saying, in an axiomatic testament to the gravitationa
Walking the hall -- Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19 -- David Kalas -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
Some sports teams have great heritages -- traditions that go way back, and legendary names and event
Cover art -- 1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20, 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1, Mark 3:20-35 -- David Kalas -- Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - B -- 2012
I wonder who the first person was who said, "You can't judge a book by its cover"?
The great backdrop -- 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43 -- David Kalas -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - B -- 2012
If your inclination is to preach with an eye toward the national holiday that is just a few days awa
For the sake of the king -- 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Ephesians 4:25--5:2, John 6:35, 41-51 -- David Kalas -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - B -- 2012
In our Old Testament passage this week, we read the poignant story of Absalom's rebellion and defeat
God's dream house -- 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 -- David Kalas -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - B -- 2012
I was recently appointed by my bishop to a different church in a different town.
Inside-out religion -- Song of Solomon 2:8-13, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 -- David Kalas -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - B -- 2012
For the earliest part of a child's life, the mom or the dad picks out the clothes and puts them on t
Consider the source -- Proverbs 31:10-31, James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37 -- David Kalas -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - B -- 2012
The Bible is marked by a kind of dualism that is much-maligned in our present culture.
Who was, who is, and who is to come -- Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 -- David Kalas -- Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32 - B -- 2012
I have been leading several dozen folks from my congregation through a year-long, cover-to-cover rea
Lord of the strong reaction -- 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52 -- David Kalas -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - C -- 2012
The New Testament gives us only one peek into Jesus' childhood.
Have I thought enough? -- Job 23:1-9, 16-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 -- David Kalas -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B -- 2012
The award-winning 1968 movie A Man for All Seasons portrays a portion of the real-life story
The cross in the desert -- Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21 -- David Kalas -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - B -- 2012
An older church member might see my title and take issue with it.
O holy day -- Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- David Kalas -- Maundy Thursday - B -- 2012
Holidays point back.
An annual reminder -- Acts 10:34-43, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Mark 16:1-8 -- David Kalas -- Easter Day - B -- 2012
In the opening verse of our passage from the epistles, the apostle Paul writes, "Now I would remind
On having a physical relationship... with God! -- Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 1:1--2:2, John 20:19-31 -- David Kalas -- Second Sunday of Easter - B -- 2012
If a human being was a candy bar, what would the label say? What are our ingredients?
The rise and fall of sin -- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 32 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
Lent is traditionally a season of spiritual contemplation.
Matters of life and death -- Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45, Psalm 130 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2011
As I look out on my congregation on any given Sunday, I recognize that a significant percentage of t
A day of surprises -- Acts 10:34-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
Every so often, I have been unable to watch a sports event that I am interested in when it has been
A new us-them mentality -- Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
You see it in every area of life. It's abundantly true in politics and sports.
What's the good word? -- Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 20:19-23, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Day of Pentecost - A -- 2011
I expect that our culture has become a rather cynical audience for speech.
Devil's advocate -- Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Psalm 119:105-112 -- David Kalas, Schuyler Rhodes -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2011
It's an awful phrase, you know, when you stop to think about it: "Devil's advocate." Yet how often h

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