Encountering the text: In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus has had it with his critics. Nothing he says or does pleases them. At the same time, he blesses and gives thanks for… read more

Encountering the text: My colleague Ellen Davis has said that one of the functions of Israel’s Passover narrative is to guard against any sentimentalizing of God’s… read more

Jesus, returning to his hometown synagogue in Luke 4, unrolls an Isaiah scroll and preaches. We believe that the synagogue was born during Israel’s exile. What do you do… read more

Encountering the text: Because the RCL’s First Lesson gives us a series of readings this fall from the Exodus, let’s do a sermon series from the wonderfully crafted… read more

Encountering the text: Paul writes as someone who has awoken to a new reality, the reality of Christ and his resurrection. Now Paul must rethink everything he thought he knew. One … read more

Encountering the text: The parables of the mustard seed (13:31-32) and the leaven (13:33) go nicely together, making a similar point. Here, deep in summer, these parables about… read more