Luke 24:36b-48 Dear Partner in Preaching, It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post. A combination of my own work as a pastor and preacher at Mount Olivet, trying to navigate re-opening as conditions improve (and then worsen again), and the fact that we have opted for a more narrative approach to the lectionary have all conspired against posting as regularly as I would like. I am hoping to resume this discipline and dialogue with you but will make no promises. 🙂 For today, a few thoughts on Luke’s continuing story of Jesus post-resurrection appearances. The plural is key, as it is “appearances.” Luke offers by...

Dear Partner in Preaching, There is no question that this Easter will be different. Very different. As in, unlike any Easter Sunday in the memory of any of our members. Our churches will be empty, not filled by the crowds we’d hoped for. Not even gatherings of any meaningful size. Our people will be feeling isolated, unsure even of when they might go out again. And many of them will be afraid – for their safety, for their lives, for their futures. And we may wonder what, if any, value our words will have, what comfort they may bring, whether it is worth bringing them at all. Yes, this Easter will be different. Very different, unlike...

John 11:32-44 Dear Partner in Preaching, Why this story of the raising of Lazarus for All Saints Sunday? While that was my question a week ago when I first looked at this text and began to think about preaching on this day, that question has taken on greater urgency in light of the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg over the weekend. And it’s given launch to other questions as well. Why does this passage matter? Does it matter? What does it say not just to this festival but to our life in this chaotic and violent world? Why this quaint festival at all, for that matter? How does what we do speak into, let alone help, in a...

Mark 3:20-35 Dear Partner in Preaching, How do you define “crazy”? Not what makes you crazy, mind you :), but what you think of as absolutely crazy. I ask because I think it’s really interesting that, just a few chapters into Mark’s story about Jesus, those around him are saying he’s crazy. Saying people are “Crazy” or, in this case the parallel, “out of his mind” is strong language. It’s a way of discrediting people, of dismissing their views and actions, of trying to limit, if not destroy, their credibility and influence. It’s the kind of thing that you either say in jest to a good friend (“Don’t be crazy, we...

Luke 24:36b-48 Dear Partner in Preaching, Late again; short again; sorry again. But here it is: I think the following is one of the most engaging, hopeful, and beautiful lines in Scripture: “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, Jesus said to them….” Why do I love this verse? Three reasons. First, wonder, disbelief, and joy. I have to imagine that one of these three words accurately describes just about everyone who will walk through the doors of our church this Sunday. Some come wondering what they may find, earnestly hoping for a word that makes sense not just to them, but of them. Some come for the sake of...