This Sunday will be my final day as the Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Arlington, Texas. Over the last fourteen months I have preached more than 50 sermons in this congregation. The top ten, based on YouTube views are (sermon titles link to videos) Top Series Organizing the top sermons by the sermon series they were a part of reveals that five different series appeared in the top ten list. The top series, as reflected by most sermons in the top ten, Read More …
I Wanna Try to Get to Heaven, if Possible (#2253)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) we continued the Discovering Joy series. Sermon My message, “Do You Know?” is based on Philippians 3:1-14 & Matthew 16:24-25. You can watch below or read the manuscript. Excerpt This week, during a Tuesday morning television interview, President Donald Trump said, "I wanna try and get to heaven if possible. I'm hearing I'm not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole.”[1] To repeat, the Read More …
Slow Fade: A New Look at Mainline Protestant Decline (#2252)
The 2024 PRRI Census of American Religion provides an overview of the American religious landscape based on the data PRRI collected from 40,000 survey respondents. Context Since launching this blog in 2009, I've been calling attention to the decline in traditional metrics surrounding American religious belief, behavior, and belonging. This survey included many questions, including about religious identity or lack thereof. Generational Realities For those familiar with how Read More …
Giving Thanks: 14 Months of Worship in the ELCA (#2251)
In June 2024, I announced that I was returning to parish ministry after having stepped away almost a decade earlier. As an ordained United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor, I was invited to serve a congregation affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This is possible thanks to the full communion agreement in place between these denominations, which provides recognition of each tradition's clergy and allows them to serve across denominational lines. Advent Read More …
Partners in Christ’s Service (#2250)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) we started a new sermon series: Discovering Joy. Additionally, we celebrated the Blessing of the Backpacks in preparation for a new school year. Sermon My message, “Partners in Faith,” is based on Philippians 1:1-18a and John 15:12-17. You can watch below (note this recording is missing the first 45 seconds or so of the message due to technical issues) or read the manuscript. Excerpt Everywhere we turn everyone Read More …
Great New Books for August 2025 (#2249)
The best new books I’ve read in the last month are A Change of Habit While I'm not generally a fan of memoir or one to heap praise on debut authors, I'm thankful I picked up a copy of Sister Monica Claire's A Change of Habit: Leaving Behind My Husband, Career, and Everything I Owned to Become a Nun. I was drawn in by her storytelling then captivated by her story. With a voice that’s authentic, candid, and deeply reflective, Sister Monica Claire takes us on an extraordinary journey Read More …
Invite Everyone! (Parable of the Great Banquet) (#2248)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) we concluded a summer sermon series: Stories That Shape Us: How Jesus’ Parables Transform the Way We See God, Ourselves, and the World. And, we celebrated the sacrament of baptism. Sermon My message, “Invite Everyone,” is based on Luke 14:15-24. You can watch below (note this recording is missing the first 45 seconds or so of the message due to technical issues) or read the manuscript. Excerpt Throwing a good party Read More …
Do You Follow Jesus This Closely? (#2247)
Last week I found myself second in line at a stoplight behind a blue Prius with a bumper sticker that reads. " Do you follow Jesus this closely?" Of course, I snapped a picture and quickly shared it on social media. I posted it on numerous platforms with a version of the following remark: Today's question comes in the form of a bumper sticker: Do you follow Jesus this closely? So What? I wonder how you would answer. Feel free to reply to share your thoughts. Personally, I Read More …
My Visit to St. Paul’s Lutheran in Oklahoma City (#2246)
This morning I worshipped for the third time this year and seventh time overall in Oklahoma. My prior experiences include: About St. Paul's Lutheran St. Paul's Lutheran Church (ELCA) has been part of the Oklahoma City community since its founding in 1945. The congregation moved to its current location in 1978 and has expanded this campus through multiple building campaigns. St. Paul's currently offers a single weekly worship service on Sunday at 9:30am. Welcome My wife and I Read More …
Southern Baptist Membership Drops Every Year Since 2006 (#2245)
I am not a Southern Baptist and have never been part of that Protestant denomination. I am, however, someone who has lived most of my life in Texas and who has followed the macro changes within American Protestantism. Since the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting was held in Dallas this summer, I've been drawn into more conversations than usual about what is happening in this denomination. Finally, as the largest Protestant denomination in America, long-term changes in membership in Read More …