Common Lectionary

9th Sunday after Pentecost (A)August 1, 1993Rejecting the Promise(Romans 9:1-5)The greatest pain is usually caused by those we love the most, particularly family. Nothing can be more hurtful and leave more last... Continue Reading...

Trinity Sunday (A)June 6, 1993Three Ways of Knowing God(Matthew 28:16-20)These are the marching orders of the Christian Church: "Go into all the world -- teach and baptize." There is our Christian program. We h... Continue Reading...

Palm/Passion Sunday (A)April 4, 1992How Odd of GodTo Enter That Way(Matthew 21:8-11)Today is Palm Sunday, and all over Christendom in hundreds of thousands of churches, Christians are gathering to worship Jesus... Continue Reading...

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (A)February 7, 1993The Power of Salt(Matthew 5:13-20)In the ancient world salt was one of the most precious and valuable commodities around. In the climate of Palestine, a bag of sal... Continue Reading...

Second Sunday of AdventDecember 6, 1992A Reason to Hope(Romans 15:4-13)The Christmas season signals a period of hope in the world. Everett Harrison wrote in the Expositor's Bible Commentary: "The expression 'th... Continue Reading...

17th Sunday After PentecostOctober 4, 1992Tour of Duty(Luke 17:1-10)I don't know if I should mention a nasty little four letter word in the pulpit. If I do, I know it will seem strange. If I do, I know I probab... Continue Reading...

August 2, 1992Content with Mediocrity(2 Kings 13:14-20a)The old prophet was on his death-bed. His ministry of fifty years was now behind him. Only one more prophetic act lay ahead of him. Soon Joash the king of... Continue Reading...

June 7, 1992When Human Ingenuity is Too Much(Genesis 11:1-9; Ads 2:1-21)At Genesis 11:1 comes this: "the whole earth had one language and the same words." The balance of our lectionary text deals with this prom... Continue Reading...

April 5, 1992Hearing the Story Again(Isaiah 43:16-21)It is amazing how often people miss the very things they need most -- and these things are right under their noses. Perhaps this is why the Bible seems to te... Continue Reading...

February 2, 1992No Excuses!(Jeremiah 1:4-10)We are all skillful at offering excuses, aren't we? "I'm too busy." "I don't know how." "I didn't understand." "I couldn't find the right tools." Excuses have been pr... Continue Reading...