Summary: James Wood wrote an op-ed in The New York Times, reflecting on the Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2010. I thought the op-ed deserved a response, so I wrote this. Disasters tend to evoke bad theology, especially when we assume a God who is too distant from the groans and struggles of our existence. In our desire to explain God and God’s motives, we risk banishing mystery from our theologies.
Read the full article on Working Preacher.
Summary: Advent stumbles into sentimentalism when it leads us to romanticize winter and pretty little white lights. Rather, in waiting for Jesus, we proclaim that God will drive away the night and the falsehoods enveloping our world—once and for all. The posture of Advent is a posture of protest.
Read the full article on Working Preacher.
Summary: In this video I offer reflections on the distinctive opportunities the season of Advent presents to preachers. My focus in the video is especially on the first chapters of Luke’s Gospel.
This video was prepared for those who preach or teach. Watch it at Working Preacher.
Summary: In this biblical passage, Jesus promises that “the truth” will set people free. People know the truth (which, in John’s Gospel, refers to the knowledge of God that Jesus reveals) when they dwell in his word—in him and his message. The lectionary assigns this text for Reformation Day (October 31).
I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.
Summary: In this biblical passage, two of Jesus’ followers, James and John, ask to be seated at Jesus’ right and left in his glory. Jesus responds by teaching about living as a servant, in contrast to the domination and tyranny perpetuated by those who seek power.
I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.
Summary: In this biblical passage, a rich man comes to Jesus with a question about eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell what he owns and distribute the money to the poor.
I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.
Summary: In this biblical passage, Jesus in response to a question put to him by a group of Pharisees teaches about divorce and remarriage.
I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.
Summary: New Testament Scholar Dale C. Allison Jr. wrote an accessible introduction to research concerning what we can know about Jesus of Nazareth (The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus). Allison’s theological reflections on this topic are refreshingly honest. I wrote this review in hopes that it would encourage pastors and congregations to reckon with the vital issues that he raises.
Read the full book review at Working Preacher.
Preaching During Lent
Summary: I confess, I don’t think much of Lent. Most people, I suspect, already live pretty aware of their brokenness and mortality all year long. I yearn for churches to spend more time talking about how this life matters and how we can encounter and even bear the Divine amid all our brokenness. Lent seems a good time to do that. I wrote this essay to help preachers think about preaching the gospel texts assigned by the lectionary during Lent (Year C in the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary).
Read the full article on Working Preacher.
Bible commentary: preachers & teachers
John 12:1-8 lent luke 13:1-9 luke 15:11b-32 luke 3 luke 9:51 preaching revised common lectionary year c