All Blog Posts for October, 2008

Blogging Toward Sunday

Saints and their source

Joshua 3:7-17; Matthew 23:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Oct 27, 2008 by D. Brent Laytham and Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom

For all the saints in your congregation, today is a crucial moment to name both the importance of the saints--that great cloud of witnesses--and the source of saintliness, our “one instructor, the Messiah” (Matt. 23:10).

Blogging Toward Sunday

Christ Jesus it is he

Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 22:34-36; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Oct 20, 2008 by D. Brent Laytham and Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom

In many church traditions, this Sunday is Reformation Sunday—a time for trumpets and triumphalism, for remembering where we Protestants got it right and for justifying our salvation with a vigorous singing of Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” We may even believe that it is we who are the prophets like Moses, the ones whom God knows face to face.

Blogging Toward Sunday

Render unto God

Exodus 33:12-23; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22

Oct 13, 2008 by D. Brent Laytham and Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom

Noting that Jesus’ interlocutors in today’s gospel reading were truly amazed at his answer, Stanley Hauerwas comments that it’s too bad Christians have not been equally amazed. Rather than being amazed that Jesus has come to usher in God’s reign, we are preoccupied with the politics and rulers of the world.

Blogging Toward Sunday

Standing in the breach

Ex. 32:1-14, Phil. 4:1-9, Matt. 22:1-14

Oct 06, 2008 by D. Brent Laytham

What a great party Aaron managed to throw while Moses was on sabbatical! (Perhaps Exodus 32 is a caution for associate pastors against starting new initiatives while the senior pastor is on vacation—even if the people beg.) Jesus too offers a parable of a party. Such festivity will likely be the last thing on most people's minds this week, however.

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