It’s not just animosity and fear that kept the religious leaders waiting on Pilate’s stoop. It’s probably some of that. After all, Pontius Pilate was Rome’s emissary, the commander of the Roman legion holding Palestine in submission, and therefore the most powerful man in the region....
Paying Attention to Everyday Grace & Joy
posted by DJL
I’m a huge believer that simply paying attention is one of the most important things we can do if we seek to live meaningful lives in community with others. Of course it’s not just paying attention in general, it’s actually looking out for moments of grace and joy in particular. There are plenty of things out there that, if we pay attention exclusively to them, will induce us to lose confidence and hope and tempt us to believe there is little that is good and beautiful in the world. Not only are these elements before us, but there is an entire news/media industry that seeks to draw these things to our attention in order to create a...
John 18:24-27
posted by DJL
Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had...
Is Your Church Using Social Media…
posted by DJL
…well? And that matters. Because it’s not just about using social media, but using it well. That is, responding to the Digital Age isn’t just a matter of having a Facebook page or semi-lame (or even pretty good) website. Rather, it’s thinking with care about the variety of channels of communication that are available to us today in order to support our people in their Christian walk. Of course, the very thing that makes this moment so amazing in terms of our ability to share the Gospel and equip people for lives of faith – the nearly uncountable number of communication channels available to us – is precisely that which makes...
John 18:22-24
posted by DJL
When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to...
Lent 3 B: Igniting Centrifugal Force
posted by DJL
Dear Partner in Preaching, Any careful reader of John’s Gospel will notice that his account varies from his synoptic cousins at a variety of points, few more significant than in today’s reading. Rather than place Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple at the end of Jesus’ public ministry, as Matthew, Mark, and Luke do, John places it here at the beginning of the story. Why? Because of distinct theological agendas. Keep in mind that the Gospels are confessions of faith from the first century rather than historical accounts of the twenty-first century. So each difference provides us with a clue to the distinct confession of faith the...
John 18:19-21
posted by DJL
Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who...
John 18:17-18
posted by DJL
The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming...
John 18:15-16
posted by DJL
Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who...
Ministry in the Digital Age
posted by DJL
If you’ve read just about anything I’ve written over the last few years, you will know that I’m keenly interested in how the church responds to the challenges and opportunities presented by living in the digital age. What do I mean by “digital age”? Well, various authors and thinkers define it in slightly different ways, but suffice it to say that it’s a world where we receive and increasingly share most of our information – which of course includes our thoughts and beliefs about meaning and identity – via digital platforms. All of which is why I’m so excited to invite you to hear a...
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