Sermons written for a variety of occasions, mostly following the Revised Common Lectionary
Light in Darkness Isaiah 9:2b-7 Perhaps our reading should have started a few verses earlier: They will look to the earth, but will see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be thrust into thick darkness. This is is the experience of the people of whom Isaiah speaks at the …
A Sermon for Christmas Eve (24/12/20): Light in Darkness Read More »
And Will Call His Name Immanuel Isaiah 7:10-17 As so often happens, Judah is in the midst of a crisis. The place where God’s people live is not only a land which has been promised to them, it is also a cross roads. Trade routes to the north and south, to east and west meet here. So the land …
A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (20/12/20): And Will Call His Name Immanuel Read More »
Rejoice! Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD says the prophet. In some traditions of the church the third Sunday in Advent (today) is referred to as “Gaudete Sunday ,”that is “Rejoice Sunday.” Which, I guess is why this passage from Isaiah is set for today. That is why in some advent rings one …
A Sermon for the Third Sunday in Advent (13/12/20): Rejoice! Read More »
Your God is Here! Isaiah 40:1-11 Isaiah is given access to the heavenly council. He is allowed to overhear a conversation between the heavenly beings. He doesn’t hear God speak directly, but what he does hear comes with the authority of God. After they have spoken one of the Heavenly beings turns to him and commands: “Cry out!” …
A Sermon fo the Second Sunday in Advent (06/12/20): Your God Is Here! Read More »
An Isaiah Advent Isaiah 64:1-9 The other day I was watching a webinar by my favourite contemporary theologians: Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon.They were discussing how preachers should approach Advent. In particular, in view of everything that has been happening in this last year, how preachers should approach this Advent. They said that in Advent we are …
A Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent (29/11/20): An Isaiah Advent Read More »
When the Son of Man Comes Matthew 25:31-46 This is the end of Jesus’ teaching ministry. Three years of wandering and three years of speaking to everyone who would listen reaches its climax here. This is the completion of everything he has tried to reveal. Jesus pictures “the Son of Man” coming in glory. He takes up the …
A Sermon for the Last Sunday before Advent (22/11/20): When the Son of Man Comes Read More »
Theology Matters! Matthew 25:14-30 The Parables of the Talents is an odd parable. It is something of an outlier in Jesus’ story telling. It seems out of place. It is odd because it appears to run counter to most of what Jesus teaches elsewhere. The conclusion seems particularly troublesome: For to those who have more will be given and …
A Sermon for the Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (15/11/20): Theology Matters! Read More »
Keep awake! You foolish bridesmaids Matthew 25:1-13 Christianity is a religion of looking forward! Perhaps it is hard for people sometimes to recognise that. Much of our talk is, of course, about event that took place 2000 years and more ago. But all of those events, in fact, have a bearing on the future. …
White in the Blood of the Lamb Revelation 7:9-17 These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. On All Saints Day we might ask: “Who are the saints?” Perhaps a slightly facetious answer might be: “Someone …
A Sermon for All Saints Day (01/11/20): White in the Blood of the Lamb Read More »
The Last Two Questions Matthew 22:34-46 Something is happening in Jerusalem. It is one of those moments when everyone knows that a crisis is coming. Like one of those hot heavy afternoons, when the air feels thick, close and dense, that can only end in a thunderstorm before evening. Jesus arrived in the city on …
A Sermon for the Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost (25/10/20): The Last Two Questions Read More »