In the Gospel of John, we meet Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jews, who comes to Jesus “by night.” For centuries, readers have wondered why he came under…
Matthew 4:1–11 The great hymn text by George Herbert, Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life offers a helpful way into today’s scripture passage. The text of the hymn comes…
Matthew 17:1–9 There are moments in life when clarity breaks in like sudden light. Matthew 17:1–9 is a story of such a moment. Jesus takes his inner circle of disciples—Peter,…
“You are Light” Youth and Scout Sunday Matthew 5:13–20 Jesus tells his followers, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” These words from…
In Matthew 4:12–23, Jesus steps onto the shoreline of ordinary life and issues an invitation. Calling disciples is a very rabbinic thing to do in the first century. Disciples would…
In John 1:29–42, we witness a remarkable moment of spiritual intuition. John the Baptist sees Jesus approaching and declares, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin…
Matthew’s account of Jesus’s baptism is brief and direct. Jesus comes to the Jordan to be baptized by John, an act John hesitates to perform because it seems reversed. Yet…
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration welcoming Jesus into our lives again. This season produces some of my favorite scripture readings, and today’s lesson is no exception. Luke…
Luke 1:26–38, 46–55 As we continue our Advent at the Art Museum sermon series, we turn our attention to one of the most intimate and courageous moments in scripture: Mary’s…
Luke 1:5–25 As we begin the Advent season, Luke introduces us to a couple who knew disappointment. Zechariah and Elizabeth are righteous, faithful, and steady. They seem to do everything…