Summary: I love how certain books from the “juvenile fiction” shelf help young people think and speak about life’s biggest issues—meaning, hope, loss, love, and so on. Here I recommend a few books that pastors and families might want to know about, so adults can have conversations about these things with the children and tweens in their lives.
Read the full book review at Working Preacher.
Summary: In this biblical passage, Paul tells believers in Rome about God’s “righteousness,” which is God’s activity to bring about salvation and justice. Jesus reveals and accomplishes this righteousness in his death and resurrection, and Paul offers a pastiche of images to express as much.
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, Paul speaks of himself and his associates as “servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” We do not belong to ourselves but live seeking to be faithful to God. Only God can know our success and failure at doing so.
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, the Apostle Paul concludes a letter to the church in Corinth with a benediction that—among other things—names Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit. Paul speaks about God as deeply involved in the lives of the people of God. The lectionary assigns this passage for Trinity Sunday.
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, the Apostle Paul describes the Holy Spirit as the source of a variety of gifts given to support the ministry and corporate good of the people of God. The Revised Common Lectionary assigns this passage for the Day of Pentecost.
I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.
Summary: I don’t have any solutions for resolving the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians, but I was deeply moved and instructed by the book The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan.
Read the full book review at Working Preacher.
Summary: The Christian faith has a lot to say about bodies. It’s an embodied faith. Our bodies matter for how we encounter God, love our neighbors, and respect the image of God that we bare. I can’t stand theology that denies or deemphasizes the importance of embodiment and the lives we live. I can’t understand how Christians who believe that God cares about human flesh (and whose Savior died as a torture victim) would stand around idly when their government tortures people.
Read the full article on Working Preacher.
Summary: This is a quirky, wonderful movie about a disturbed man (Lars) who purchases an inflatable doll named Bianca to be his girlfriend. (No—trust me—it’s not what you think! This is a clean movie!) The way that his family and community care for Lars—and Bianca—offers a great image of what it looks like to love and support the vulnerable and wounded in our midst.
Read the full movie review at Working Preacher.
Summary: This biblical passage concludes the Pentecost story in the book of Acts. Once Peter’s sermon ends, the gift of the Holy Spirit creates a community of believers engaged in mutual care and worship.
I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.
Commentary on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Summary: In this biblical passage, Jesus warns against practicing piety in public, to gain the approval of others. The lectionary assigns this passage for Ash Wednesday.
I wrote this biblical commentary for those preparing to preach or teach on the passage. Read the commentary at Working Preacher.
Bible commentary: preachers & teachers workingpreacher.org commentary
almsgiving ash wednesday fasting gospel of matthew hypocrisy matthew 6:1-6 matthew 6:16-21 prayer