In his latest essay, Bishop John Shelby Spong explores how it is one can know God: The fact is that I do believe in God deeply and profoundly, but I cannot tell you either who God is or what God is. Nor do I think that anyone else can do so either. All any of us can ever do is to tell others how we believe we have experienced God. God and our experience of God are not the same. So What? The only way one can know God is to experience God. This understanding can be refined in many ways, Read More …
Discipleship
Fort Myers Congregational UCC (#1458)
This summer continues to be marked by new opportunities. I am currently spending four Sundays (July 20, July 27, August 3, and August 10) as the guest preacher at Fort Myers Congregational UCC (Fort Myers, FL). Check out last Sunday's message: "A Holy Invitation." Read More …
Vital Christianity (#1453)
David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life Mercer University, recently shared his vision of vital Christianity. It is this sort of Christianity to which Gushee himself is drawn, and it is the type of Christianity he believes will be attractive in a post-Christian America. In short, vital Christianity as I see it is Christ-centered and wholly committed, passionate, loving and just, personally and socially Read More …
How Long is Long Enough? (#1452)
While one may rightly argue that worship should last a lifetime, corporate worship gatherings/services/experiences typically have specified start times along with relatively fixed end times. In my experience the most common length has been 60 minutes. I have, however, been a part of a congregation that tended toward 65-75 minutes. Recently, I read an article about Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church's decision to begin offering a new 30-minute-or-less worship service. This new addition Read More …
Sermon: The Next Chapter (#1450)
Ephesians 2:14-22 (The Message) Sermon Excerpt A few weeks ago, Susan and I participated in Hodges University’s annual commencement ceremony. As professors, we know quite well how much the graduating class and their families look forward to that special occasion. This year we listened to remarks from a member of the graduating class and from a faculty member. While those short addresses were interesting, the one speech this year’s graduates are most likely to remember is the Read More …
Sermon: Be A Quitter (#1448)
Sermon Text: I Corinthians 1:10-17 (The Message) Sermon Excerpt Churchy Christians often say, “Wherever two or three are gathered in God’s name, God is present.” While they are likely right, practical Christians recognize that wherever two or three are gathered, many perspectives are present. And somehow, more often than we care to admit, extended conversations that highlight our differences turn into arguments. Good Christian people have been known to argue about nearly Read More …
Challenging Classism (#1445)
Cynthia Rigby, Professor of Theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, recently proposed that churches develop "concrete ways of challenging classism and promoting economic justice." She recommends that they accomplish this by honestly reflecting on the ways they themselves are complicit in fostering classism, and repenting of their own classist ways and re-committing themselves to being communities that do not privilege those who are richer over those who are Read More …
Monday Morning Sermon Quarterbacking (#1442)
Monday morning quarterbacking happens around the brunch/lunch table on Sunday, at the watercooler on Monday, and in so many other social gatherings throughout the week. Many sports fans engage in conversation about how they, in hindsight, would have done things differently in the big game (assuming they had been the coach). Likewise, many worship participants like to critique their minister's sermons in some form of post-worship conversation that often suggests a different preaching Read More …
Sermon: An Open Invitation (#1434)
Sermon Text: I Corinthians 11:17-34a (The Message) Sermon Excerpt What is it about kitchens that turn them into places for memorable conversations? Before I share what is perhaps my most memorable kitchen encounter, let me give you a little context. I had traveled with a rather large church group to another state to do mission work. We were quite a diverse bunch. The teenagers and college students represented many different Christian traditions, and also included a good Read More …
Sermon: Another Opportunity (#1427)
Sermon Text: Luke 13:1-9 Sermon Excerpt I can assure you that the saying “everything is bigger in Texas” is true when it comes to Christianity. A Christianity Today cover story concluded, “Dallas . . . has more megachurches, megaseminaries, and mega-Christian activity than any other American city.” Travel back with me to my world in the 1990s. I was living in Arlington, Texas – just outside of Dallas and Fort Worth. The area was very much as Christian as I am making it Read More …