Scripture
October 13, Ordinary 28B (Hebrews 4:12–16)
One of the most underrated spiritual gifts is perseverance.
Fuller inclusion (Mark 10:2-16)
Jesus’ blessing of the children and re-centering them in the midst of the community serves as a sort of Pride parable.
The meaning of a sermon
I’m sure these faithful people have heard all of these words before. So what is my task here?
Playing to the crowds
J. D. Vance’s lies about Haitian immigrants reveal his willingness to trade his dignity for attention.
October 6, Ordinary 27B (Job 1:1, 2:1–10)
The primary biblical text that addresses human suffering is a comedic folktale. How are we meant to process this?
Many paths to Jesus (Mark 9:38-50)
Jesus seems to have an aversion to the kind of us-and-them boundary setting of his disciples.
Was Paul disabled?
Isaac Soon employs a sociocultural model of disability as a lens for reading the apostle’s letters.
September 29, Ordinary 26B (Psalm 124)
When the Spirit moved among us, we heard the tongues of angels.
Illuminating Qohelet through art and philosophy
Debra Band and Menachem Fisch’s beautiful creation is not your typical Ecclesiastes commentary.
The disciples and us (Mark 9:30-37)
Poor disciples. They rarely miss an opportunity to make a mess.
September 22, Ordinary 25B (Mark 9:30–37)
Rather than rebuke the disciples, Jesus takes a little child by the hand.
A preacher’s (well-bridled) tongue (James 3:1-12)
When is a pastor obliged to speak about their own theological shifts? Or obliged not to?
September 15, Ordinary 24B (James 3:1–12)
As a preacher, I used to worry that people don’t listen to me. Now I worry that they do.
Can Jesus lose an argument? (Mark 7:24-37)
In Mark 7, a Syrophoenician woman is apparently able to win one with him.
September 8, Ordinary 23B (Proverbs 22:1–2, 8–9, 22–23)
There is no reward in heaven for those who work to accumulate wealth rather than care for people.
Faith, in public and in private (James 1:17-27)
James is looking at the big picture.
September 1, Ordinary 22B (Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23)
Jesus warns that the real danger lies within our minds and hearts.
Choosing to abide (John 6:56-69)
This last reading from the bread of life discourse places Jesus’ disciples at a crossroads.
Debating the nature of Jesus
A thoughtful book that includes a lively conversation between New Testament scholars Bart Ehrman and Michael Bird
August 25, Ordinary 21B (Ephesians 6:10–20)
Gird yourself with the T-shirt of righteousness, the backpack of faith, the hoodie of salvation.