Luke 4:21-30 When John, rather than Luke recounts the story of Jesus’ life and ministry he says:“He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.” (John 1:11)To begin with, when Jesus goes to those who were most his own, in the place where he had grown up, to begin …
A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (30/01/22): Is Not This Joseph’s Son Read More »
Luke 4:14-21 At the synagogue in Nazareth Jesus reads a passage from Isaiah and then preaches a one sentence sermon:Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” We could think of Jesus’ life and career in conventional terms, in the way we would any other historical figure, …
A Sermon for the Third Sunday after Epiphany (23/01/22): Manifesto at Nazareth Read More »
John 2:1-12 Jesus did this, the first of his signs in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.One of the characteristics of John’s telling of Jesus’ story are the “signs.” At key moments in his ministry Jesus does something, a miracle, a sign, which reveals, in action, some aspect …
A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Epiphany (16/01/22): His First Sign Read More »
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Now when the people were baptised and Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened , and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”Luke’s report of …
Matthew 2:1-12 The wise men are some of the oddest characters in the Bible. They are almost out of place. They are from a culture that is alien to the Bible. They are in possession of knowledge, of a kind and a quality that makes them seem, to ordinary folk, like magicians. Their careful study …
A Sermon for the Epiphany (06/01/22): Following the Star and the Scriptures Read More »
Luke 2:1-7 There is no denying that the circumstances of Jesus’ birth are difficult. Months into her pregnancy, which in itself was as much a source of unkind gossip as it was of joy and anticipation, months into her pregnancy, Mary is required to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. On the whim of some different …
A Sermon for Christmas day (25/12/21): The Birth of Jesus: Where and With Whom Read More »
Luke 1:39-45 In those days Mary set out and went with haste. . .Gabriel has not long left Mary, and she sets out on a journey. Not for the last time, will someone set out in joy and haste after receiving news from an angel. Very soon Shepherds will leave their flocks where they had …
A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (19/12/21): Elizabeth and Mary Read More »
Luke 3:7-18 John the Baptist’s preaching is harsh! He launches into an attack on his hearers:“You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come”He pictures the crowd who are standing in front of him, the ones who have come out into the middle of nowhere to listen to him, he …
A Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent (12/12/21): John’s Message to Snakes Read More »
Luke 3:1-6 Luke sets the scene. Having completed his prologue, events that took place 30 years ago, with a brief reference to a slightly more recent incident, he now turns to the main event, the substance of the story he wants to tell. Luke situates his account of the Good News very carefully in history. …
A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent (05/12/21): Dramatis Personae Read More »
Jeremiah 33:14-16 Behold the days are coming declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of JudahJeremiah is a prophet. He is someone who has been given insight about God. And so he is able to speak for God. The words he speaks are …
A Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent (28/11/21): Not When But What Read More »