Sermons

In Mark 11, Jesus enters into Jerusalem and overturns the tables of the money-changers in the Temple. The people spread out palm branches upon his arrival, and Jesus curses a fig tree in the process. What does this all mean? How does Zechariah 14 and the revolution of the Maccabees factor in?

Paul mentions the empty tomb in passing. It’s there. It’s part of the “first importance” teaching. But it wasn’t the empty tomb that produced hope in the heart of believers; it was their encounter with the risen Christ. The sight of the empty tomb brought fear and panic; but visions or appearances of Jesus brought hope and joy.

Questions and doubts are not opposite faith…they are part of a life of faith. But questions and doubts can either drive us to or drive us away from exploring the Christian story. In this first lesson, I share why I believe in “a faith worthy of our questions.” First in a 4-part series titled “A Worthy Faith.”

Mark 8-10 appears to be a hodgepodge of stories and sayings. But is there a method to Mark’s madness? There is! All of these stories revolve around two basic callings of discipleship: (1) total humility, and (2) total surrender. Mark is asking his readers to start first with these two principles

Faith is necessary for Christian doctrine; love is essential for Christian practice. But hope–genuine hope in the reality to which all doctrine points and all practice imitates–is why we chose the Christian way in the first place…and why we hold to our faith and practice our love in the long wait between the times. The story is not over yet. The new day will dawn, in which the mere echoes of goodness, beauty, and truth which we have witnessed this side of His coming will give way to the fullness for which our hearts are longing.

The dictionary defines “metamorphosis” as “a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.” Did you hear what that phrase could mean: “a change of the nature of a person into a completely different person, by supernatural means.”

Jesus speaks harshly about traditions over people, then he offers healing to outsiders. Finally, he offers a “double touch healing” to make a point for the disciples…and for us. Mark 7 & 8.

Christianity has been around a long time, and we have had every chance to tell the story differently. We could have removed the cross and talked about a good man who taught pleasant things intended to help us think better thoughts about ourselves and others. But Christians have always–and continue–to preach Christ crucified. What appeared to be the world’s greatest tragedy was, in fact, our salvation. So…why is the cross good news?

It was St. Athanasius who said the cross was the only form of death he knew where you did with arms outstretched. See the cross as the story of a God who looks at you as he stretches his arms upon the cross and declares, “Want to know how much I love you? I love you this much!”