Pulpit Resource for Christmas Sunday

Ministry Matters published my sermon resource for the upcoming Christmas Sunday. In a world all-too-full of sad chidings, let us join the heavenly hosts in proclaiming good tidings: “Rejoice! For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior—Christ the Lord.” “The good news is that Jesus wants more than aContinue reading “Pulpit Resource for Christmas Sunday”

Covenanting Service for Dr. Jason Byassee

It was a joy to preach at the Covenanting Service for Dr. Jason Byassee at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in Toronto. After a distinguished career teaching at Vancouver School of Theology, Jason has come to this historic Canadian congregation to give them leadership into the future. Taking John 3 as my text, I reflected aboutContinue reading “Covenanting Service for Dr. Jason Byassee”

Worship Attendance as Countercultural

How often do we hear the pastor congratulate us on Sunday morning for being in church and participating in worship? In this sermon, I try and walk us through how this psalm explicitly defines God’s character and how it can make a difference in our lives by participating in the countercultural activity of attending worship eachContinue reading “Worship Attendance as Countercultural”

Don’t Look Back Webinar Series

Over the next couple weeks, and beginning tonight at 7pm EST, I’ll be joining my friends at Crackers&Grape Juice for a three-part conversation on my book “Don’t Look Back: Methodist Hope for What Comes Next.” My hope for these conversations and for the book is that they are constructive, moving-forward talks in a time whereContinue reading “Don’t Look Back Webinar Series”

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C

Luke 14:25-33 is, well, a daunting passage. We encounter Jesus’ searing words about hating family–even our own lives. Some might read this as too much of a cross to bear, but perhaps we can read this as “a gracious invitation to count the cost…to sign up for discipleship, to take up the cross and followContinue reading “The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C”