Theologybird's Adiaphora

Counting the Cost, Sept 2022

I love the image of a person figuring out how high their tower can be or the king sorting out the costs of war. They are so real, as I discuss. And they aren’t the point. Jesus is talking about Discipleship. I worked most closely with Luke 14.25-33 (link).

God’s Shaggy Dog Story, August 2022

Between some vacation, a guest preacher, and some other schedule oddities, writing and preaching meant finding some old habits. So we have a classic sci-fi reference and a story from Genesis. Which makes perfect sense when the text is the Epistle to the Hebrews. I am preaching from Hebrews 13. 1-8 15-16, but reference Genesis 18.1-15 heavily. (Both available here.)

Problems and Prophets, July 2022

The story of Naaman’s healing is so many things. It’s a moment where Elisha proves he’s equal to his mentor, where the geopolitics in the region ramp up to a near crisis, there’s a bit of humour around who is worthy of honour. But most of all it’s about the faith of an unnamed slave girl from Israel. I worked most closely with 2 Kings 5.1-14

Patience in the Wilderness, June 2022

I have loved this story of Elijah in the mountain cave since I first heard it. Not only do I think the prophets of 1 &2 Kings have wisdom for the modern Church, but it’s so human to want to be intimidated in the face of building or rebuilding. Also, God does a lot of carework with little oatcakes. Here’s what I said. I worked with 1 Kings 19.1-15a.

Rushing, Creating, Sending Pentecost 2022

Pentecost is hard to preach because what I don’t want to do is take the overwhelmingness of the Holy Spirit and shrink her into my sermon. Instead, I hope that what I preach orients us all (including me!) to the ongoing work of God the Holy Spirit around and through us. I worked most closely with Acts 2.1-21.

Singing Upheaval, Easter 2022

In Eastertide I miss the readings from the First Testament, but I also love the story of Acts and how many fascinating sections like todays we get to spend time with. Paul and Silas in jail, singing. Which is both inspiring and dangerous to the same system that incarcerated them. Here’s what I said: I worked with Acts 16.16-34

Fiery Advocate, Easter 2022

I joined the lovely people at St Thomas’s Anglican Church this morning. I worked most closely with Acts 16.6-15. The Lectionary starts at verse 9. Here’s what I said:

I love this passage. I think many preachers do. “Love one another as I have loved you” is rich in theology and potential sermon directions. I got hung up on the first bit, “When he had gone out…” Which points to how much else is going on.Here’s what I said: I worked most closely with John 13.31-35 but I’m going to link you to all of John 13, because it is relevant.

St Paul, Easter 2022

Today we get St Paul’s call story, so we talked a bit about who St Paul was and what having him as our patronal saint might mean. I worked most closely Acts 9.1-19a. The shield is from our activity with the kids

We have so few of the stories of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. This story, this resurrection appearance, hints at such a rich history. They knew each other so well. I worked with John 20.1-18.

Vulnerable to Death, Good Friday 2022

I love preaching today. It’s also possibly the hardest sermon to preach. Today the vulnerability of Jesus, of God, of the creator of the universe, is on display. The lessons for Good Friday are here. At our ecumenical service, the reading was Luke 22.54-23-56. I was blessed with local ecumenical colleagues to collaborate with on our Good Friday service, all of which is available here on YouTube.…

Feet, tensions in the Holy Land, questions of power, vulnerability. Listen to what I said: Here are the lessons for tonight: link.

Between life and death, Lent 2022

As I say in the sermon, a mentor used to say that in every group someone is coming from a wedding and someone from a funeral. This meal Jesus has in Bethany with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha is exactly like that, so very human. I worked most closely with John 12.1-6.

Buy without money, Lent 2022

This was a weird Sunday. For what I’m fairly certain is the second time in my life, the weather meant that driving to church was a bad idea–something that became clearer as the day went on. I’m blessed with lay people who are good about stepping up and helping out, but the sermon is a hard last minute pitch. As I’d prepared to preach, I recorded this in the early morning so the audio could get to…

To Protect?, Lent 2022

Jesus, hungry, in the desert. Hearing this weeks episode from The First Reading Podcast really changed how I heard the exchanges between Jesus and the devil. Here’s what I said: I worked most closely with Luke 4.1-13.

Here’s what I said: I worked most closely with Isaiah 58.1-12.

Mountaintops and Mess, February 2022

I normally really enjoy where these readings fall. A last glorious moment before the hard questions of Lent. But as we watch various regions drop their health measures and as we watch the horrors of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfold, glory seems far away. Here’s what I said: I worked most closely with Luke 9.28-43a.