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August 2019

August 07, 2019

Throwing Your Bag on the Train: Heart Follows Treasure

Jesus teaches us that heart follows treasure, not the other way around. What does this...

August 04, 2019

Blackjewel and the Rich Fool: A Parable for Our Time

Blackjewel is a coal company that abruptly filed for bankruptcy leaving hundreds of miners in...

August 03, 2019

Dialogical Lens for Preaching Luke 12:13-21, the Rich Fool

Using a dialogical lens in a sermon on the Parable of the Rich Fool in...

August 01, 2019

Owning Stuff or Stuff Owning Us? The Rich Fool in Luke Chapter 12

Here's an example of how the 'dialogical lens' for preaching about the parable of the...

July 2019

July 31, 2019

Applying the Dialogical Lens to the Parable of the Rich Fool

Using the 'dialogical lens' for the Parable of the Rich Fool shows us ways to...

July 30, 2019

Using a ‘Dialogical Lens’ for Scripture and Preaching

Using a 'dialogical lens' for scripture and preaching can open new options for "Purple Zone"...

June 2019

June 16, 2019

Fierce Lambs! Sermon for a Seminary Graduation

Jesus is sending out fierce lambs with a cross-shaped love to face the wolves. Lexington Theological Seminary...

May 2019

May 20, 2019

When God Breaks the Law: Immigration, Asylum & Pastor Betty Rendón

The ICE arrest of Pastor Betty Rendón has created a polarizing debate about immigration laws....

May 08, 2019

April 2019

April 21, 2019

The Proximity of Hope: An Easter Sermon

In the midst of black holes, burning churches, and political corruption, how can Easter put...

April 12, 2019

The Making of a Preacher by Marvin A. McMickle: Book Review

Marvin A. McMickle has gifted preachers with a volume that will serve both early-career ministers...

March 2019

March 21, 2019

Iraq War Sermon – 16 Years Later

It's been 16 years since the start of the Iraq War. For the record - some...

January 2019

January 27, 2019

What is ‘Good Preaching’? A Sermon about Sermons

What makes for 'good preaching'? This is a sermon about sermons, about what it means...

December 2018

December 20, 2018

Preaching in the Purple Zone: Sneak Preview, Pre-Order Today!

Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide is now available for pre-order...

November 2018

November 27, 2018

The Climate Crisis is Coming and is Already Here. So is Jesus.

The climate crisis is upon us. This is an 'all hands on deck' moment for...

November 11, 2018

The Widow’s Mite? No, MIGHT! – Justice, Power, and the Widow

It’s time to rethink the story about 'the widow’s mite' in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke...

November 07, 2018

How to be a Christian (and a Pastor) After the Midterm Elections

How are we supposed to be the church in a time like this? Here are...

October 2018

October 18, 2018

Is Your Sermon In “The Purple Zone”? – Backstory Preaching Webinar

If you’re sensing the rising political tension in your church and wondering how to navigate...

October 10, 2018

I Want Jesus to Let Me Off the Hook: The Rich Young Man and Me

I want Jesus to let me off the hook. Me and the rich young man. ...

October 05, 2018

Preaching as Resistance: Encountering Pharaoh—and Climate Change

This sermon is part of Phil Snider's important new anthology of 30 sermons entitled "Preaching...

September 2018

September 09, 2018

Calling People Dogs: Juxtaposing Jesus and Trump

Calling people dogs seems to be common these days. But Jesus called a woman a...

September 02, 2018

Climb that Holy Hill! Legacy Lessons from Aretha Franklin and John McCain

A sermon on what Aretha Franklin and John McCain have taught us about what it...

July 2018

July 05, 2018

Preaching Trees: Healthy Trees, Healthy People, Healthy Faith, Wk. 5

In this week's devotional , 'Preaching Trees,' we learn that the trees are, in a...

June 2018

June 12, 2018

Cedar Trees and Mustard Seeds – The Bible’s Arboretum

Let's take a walk through the arboretum of the Bible. From cedar trees to mustard...

April 2018

April 14, 2018

A Dozen Bible Passages for Preaching a Creation-Care Sermon

You’d like to preach a sermon about caring for God’s Creation in your congregation. But...

March 2018

March 27, 2018

The Last Rhino, Good Friday, and the Preachers’ Silence

It was a Tuesday when 'Sudan,' the last male northern white rhino on the planet,...

March 17, 2018

More than Eco-Palms: Ecojustice and Palm Sunday

On Palm Sunday, thousands of churches will use sustainably-harvested palms in their worship services marking...

December 2017

December 10, 2017

Conspiracy of the Christian Kind: Advent 3

For Christians, the word conspiracy takes on a different meaning when we understand how the...

November 2017

November 23, 2017

Learning to Welcome the Dark: Advent 1

This Advent season, spend some time with darkness, even if it scares you a little....

November 09, 2017

Creation-Care Preaching and the Theology of Sallie McFague

An excerpt from my article 'Preaching the Body of God: Exploring the Work of Sallie...