Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Wayne Brouwer
In Susan Howatch's novel, Absolute Truths, the main character is a rather perfect man. Oh, to be sure, Charles Ashworth had his little peculiarities in his younger years and he needed the guidance of Jon Darrow to help him understand himself. But all in all he is a portrait of humanity at its best -- sound and sleek in body, steady in temperament, keen in intellect, faithful in relationships, and unwavering in morality. He is the consummate churchman. It is no accident of fate that has placed him in the high post of Bishop of Starbridge.
Just as he faces off against those in the church and society who seem to be changing the morals of culture, his wife suddenly dies of a blood clot in the brain. Charles is with her at the time and watches in horrified helplessness as...
Just as he faces off against those in the church and society who seem to be changing the morals of culture, his wife suddenly dies of a blood clot in the brain. Charles is with her at the time and watches in horrified helplessness as...
Wayne Brouwer
Frank Fowler tells this amazing story: during World War II, fifteen hundred international noncombatant prisoners of war were held by the Japanese in a prison camp. Three hundred were Americans, 1,200 were of other Allied nationalities. The American Red Cross sent 2,100 “care packages” to the camp, each with some necessities and some conveniences.
The Japanese decided that since these came from America, each American should get three packages, and all of the non-Americans would get one package apiece. But the Americans protested; as a group they demanded that they each get seven Red Cross packages, and their non-American allies get none!
The Japanese decided that since these came from America, each American should get three packages, and all of the non-Americans would get one package apiece. But the Americans protested; as a group they demanded that they each get seven Red Cross packages, and their non-American allies get none!
David Coffin
In the 2010 dystopian movie entitled Book of Eli (starring Denzel Washington), the main character “Eli” is a drifter in a post-apocalyptic American desolate, violent wasteland. He finds comfort and solace in a unique book which he guards very closely. While scavenging food and other supplies, Eli reaches a village ruled by a mobster named “Carnegie.” A girl named “Solara” sees the precious book, which Eli carries that bears a Christian cross on the cover. Carnegie finds out about it, and desperately seeks to possess it. The rest of the movie is a battle for survival, as Carnegie and his gang attempt to steal the sacred book from Eli, who has been carrying it for thirty years. He wishes to place it at an appropriate place to be stored and reproduced. The viewer quickly surmises...
David Coffin
A pastor receives a telephone call from a person who is on the church roster, but who rarely attends worship except on Christmas and Easter, or to borrow tables and chairs for spring family party events. The matriarch of the family tells the pastor that her daughter wishes to get married in the church with the full use of the sanctuary, fellowship hall, musicians, and dressing rooms. The pastor checks the dates on the calendar to “buy time” and listen for more details. As the mother proceeds to lay out her vision for the wedding ceremony, she informs the pastor that the couple wishes to write their own wedding vows. They see this as “their day” to celebrate in the church. The pastor provides some “pushback” and reminds the mother that this church does worship services which glorify God....
Sandra Herrmann
As we approach the end of the year and the days get shorter and darker, many people have a difficult emotional time. That's why so many societies worldwide have celebrations during this season that feature light and put the emphasis on celebration. The secular world celebrates Halloween, while the Christian church celebrates the lives of those who have gone before us in the faith. In the United States this is followed by Thanksgiving and then the Christmas (shopping) season. But it is good to talk about those things that we are trying to avoid: darkness and our fear of change. Today's scriptures talk about the death of Moses, the separation of those who have been blood or spiritual family, and the end of things.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Wayne Brouwer
In Susan Howatch's novel Absolute Truths, the main character is a rather perfect man. Oh, to be sure, Charles Ashworth had his little peculiarities in his younger years and he needed the guidance of Jon Darrow to help him understand himself. But all in all he is a portrait of humanity at its best -- sound and sleek in body, steady in temperament, keen in intellect, faithful in relationships, and unwavering in morality. He is the consummate churchman. It is no accident of fate that has placed him in the high post of Bishop of Starbridge.
Just as he faces off against those in the church and society who seem to be changing the morals of culture, his wife suddenly dies of a blood clot in the brain. Charles is with her at the time and watches in horrified helplessness as...
Just as he faces off against those in the church and society who seem to be changing the morals of culture, his wife suddenly dies of a blood clot in the brain. Charles is with her at the time and watches in horrified helplessness as...
David Kalas
I've been doing some around-the-house projects lately, and it seems each project has
required at least one more new tool. Not that I mind. I have discovered the truth that
having the right tool for the job can make all the difference. And I have found, too, that
the tool aisle in hardware and home improvement stores makes me feel like the toy aisle
used to when I was a boy.
One of the tools I have discovered recently is called a post level.
A level is a device that helps you detect whether an object is straight or not. A level can be fairly short or rather long, depending on its usage. At first glance, it might look like a heavy-duty yardstick. Whether long or short, this rectangular piece of wood or metal uses a bubble floating in a small,...
One of the tools I have discovered recently is called a post level.
A level is a device that helps you detect whether an object is straight or not. A level can be fairly short or rather long, depending on its usage. At first glance, it might look like a heavy-duty yardstick. Whether long or short, this rectangular piece of wood or metal uses a bubble floating in a small,...
October 27 this year is the Sunday before "All Saints Day." That festival day in the church on November 1 each year has been so eclipsed in the broader American culture by Halloween that it is little more than a trivia question about the etymology of that latter holiday's name ("All Hallow's Eve"). But there are some serious indications that it is time for our culture to reclaim a proper sense of mourning. Who would have predicted, after all, that a dark comedy about the funeral business could become a television hit? Yet that is precisely what Six Feet Under has become.
The Christian theology of mourning, as Paul expressed it early on (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), brings together both grief and hope. We do "not grieve as others do who have no hope" (v. 13). Paul is clear that...
The Christian theology of mourning, as Paul expressed it early on (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), brings together both grief and hope. We do "not grieve as others do who have no hope" (v. 13). Paul is clear that...
The question about how we love God in our lives is essential to the meaning of life itself. If we are creatures of God, made in God's likeness but sufficiently rebellious to remove any resemblance, then remade into that likeness by the death of God's Son Jesus Christ, then loving God would seem indeed to be the motive and the focus for living our lives in the world.
We might well imagine that the way we love God is keeping open the communication through worship and prayer, living out morals and values that we glean from the Bible, and obeying the statutes and ordinances and commandments.
What gives perspective to all our attempts to love God and what tells us how to love God is the subject of two of our lessons for today. When it is all said and done, it might not...
We might well imagine that the way we love God is keeping open the communication through worship and prayer, living out morals and values that we glean from the Bible, and obeying the statutes and ordinances and commandments.
What gives perspective to all our attempts to love God and what tells us how to love God is the subject of two of our lessons for today. When it is all said and done, it might not...
After following Moses for many weeks, we come to the end of the line. The single text from Deuteronomy gives us a taste of a book in the Pentateuch that is different from the others. It has been suggested that Deuteronomy is to the Pentateuch what John 13-17 is to the four gospels. Here we meet a more tender God, a loving Lord who endures patiently the disobedience of the people of Israel. The appeal is as much to the emotions as to the mind.
Even the difficult word that Moses cannot set foot in the land of promise is couched in gentle and loving tones. Though faithful in his leadership, he is so much a part of the people that he must share in the consequences of their errant behavior. It has been called "accepted disappointment." Here we encounter realism. This is no "happily...
Even the difficult word that Moses cannot set foot in the land of promise is couched in gentle and loving tones. Though faithful in his leadership, he is so much a part of the people that he must share in the consequences of their errant behavior. It has been called "accepted disappointment." Here we encounter realism. This is no "happily...
Lectionary Commentary and Sermon Illustrations
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For each week, Emphasis writers delve into the heart of the lectionary readings, providing you with several fresh, solid ideas -- based squarely on the lectionary texts -- for creating sermons that speak powerfully to your audience. They look for overall themes that hold the readings together. Then, they zero in on the themes and the specific scripture links, suggesting directions for the sermon and worship service. Since a single idea each week may not provide what you are looking for at that particular time, writers suggest several, giving you the opportunity to select the one that matches your specific needs.
