Common Lectionary

Truth Or Consequences I Corinthians 15:12-20 There is a town in New Mexico called Truth or Consequences. Being a western history buff, I imagined an old fashioned shootout at the OK corral as the background for this moniker. However, a quick search on the Internet revealed the truth. It wa

When Jesus Calls You Luke 5:1-11 I have had some interesting phone calls through the years. Prank phone calls annoy me for two reasons: one, because they are usually offensive and, two, because they wake me up in the middle of the night. I receive at least one wrong number each week. Telem

The Preacher's Kid Who Was Called Jeremiah 1: 4-10 I am a preacher's kid as are some of you. I have heard all the jokes about our particular subculture. If preacher's kids are the meanest kids in town it is simply because they run with the deacon's kids. I was six weeks old before my sin na

When The Word Reads You Nehemiah 8: 1-10 What pastor or evangelist has not preached from the first six chapters of Nehemiah using the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem to launch into the deep with the necessity of rebuilding life, character, church or society? But, when the last stone was

The Purpose Of A Gift I Corinthians 12:1-12 What's the best gift you have ever received? Something tangible? Something non-tangible? Who gave the best gift to you that you have ever received? Your spouse? A child? Parent? A friend? A relative? When was the best gift given to you that you hav

The Rugged Demands of Baptism Luke 3:15-17; 21-22 He is a student at my denomination's seminary and I got acquainted with him at his wedding to one of my co-workers. The last two years he has lived in the United States and enjoyed the freedoms we have come to take for granted. Prior to his

The Powerful Word of God John 1:1-9 In the midst of negativism John's message of good news impacts the world with hope. He uses the word that his ethnically mixed audience of Greeks and Jews would understa... Continue Reading...

First Sunday After Christmas (C), December 28, 2003 The Family Business Luke 2:41-52 The story of Jesus as a boy in the Jerusalem temple is unique to the gospel of Luke. As with Luke's other special material, we might understand this story more if we ask the question, "Why did Luk

Fourth Sunday of Advent (C), December 21, 2003 The Gospel According to Mary Luke 1:39-55 Luke 1:46-55 in the Latin Bible reads, "Magnifcat anima mea, Dominum." "My soul magnifies the Lord." The Magnifcat, a Way Point in the Gospel journey. Astrophysicist Robt J. Meniroff explains that

Third Sunday of Advent (C), December 14, 2003 Making JOY a Part of Life Philippians 4:4-7 Many people misunderstand the significance of joy. They think it frivolous and unnecessary to life . . . at least that is how they act and look. I heard about a little girl who asked her grandmoth