Sermons from April 2017

Sermons from April 2017

Doubting like a Disciple

A Sermon for April 23, 2017 on John 20:18-31 Listen to Doubting Thomas by Nickel Creek Wasn’t that song that Greg sang powerful? It’s not surprisingly called “Doubting Thomas,” and it was written by Chris Thile, the mandolin player for the bluegrass group Nickel Creek. I’ve listened to the album version of the song quite a few times in the past week, and found it to be a…

Why are you crying?

A Sermon for Easter, April 16, 2017 on John 20:1-18 “Why are you crying?” Mary Magdalene was asked. It’s a question that gets asked twice in the Gospel reading– once by the angels in the tomb, and once by Jesus himself. Mary Magdalene, why are you crying? Don’t you know it’s Easter Sunday? Let’s put ourselves in her shoes. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Mary…

Humble Awareness

A Sermon for Maundy Thursday, April 13, 2017 on John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Visual: https://goo.gl/images/C8vaJ0 Think about your tongue, and it feels all puffed up in your mouth. It’s pretty odd. But do you know what the Christian version of being aware of your tongue is? Being aware of your own humility. If you become aware that you’re humble, then you immediately start being…

Donkey Duty

A Sermon for Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017 on Matthew 21:1-11 Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of two of Jesus’ disciples: let’s call them James and John. Let me tell you about your experience. In the years that you’ve followed Jesus, you’ve been amazed by Jesus’ compassion. He would see people that the society considered untouchable– people…

Why are there bones?

A Sermon for April 2, 2017 on Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 Katie and I moved to Catonsville just as she was starting medical school. There were a couple of precocious children in our new neighborhood whose houses shared the alley with ours. They had started a newspaper called “The Alley Times” that they would put out monthly featuring news and stories that…