Sermons based on readings from the Gospel of Luke
Luke 9:51-62 As Jesus turns towards Jerusalem and begins to plough his furrow in that direction, he says to his would-be followers:No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God. One of the hardest things for Christians to grasp is what kind of leader it …
Luke 8:26-39 Possessions, indeed any sickness or any evil, affect not only an individual but whole communities. On the face of it the Gerasene demoniac is the victim of “Legion.” It is he who is tormented to the point of nakedness. It is he who has no home except among the dead. It is he …
Luke 24:1-12 The story of Easter begins in darkness. The women who, on Friday, and watched Jesus die, and who had seen him buried, travel to the tomb. They go with spices, and with a certain negative expectation based on an understanding of how life and the world and everything is. They expect to offer …
A Sermon for Easter Sunday (17/04/22): An Empty Tomb, The Sign of Resurrection Read More »
Luke 19:28-40 As Jesus takes the last few steps of the journey, which began some time ago, to Jerusalem, the crowd grasp what it is that he has being showing them all along. And they strike up the appropriate chant:Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and …
A Sermon for the Sixth Sunday in Lent, Palm Sunday (10/04/22): Jesus is in Command Read More »
Luke 15:11-32 The other day I heard a talk by someone. And one of the things they said was: “If your preaching of grace isn’t giving offence, then you’re not preaching grace hard enough” Grace: the idea of God’s free, unconditional love for everyone, God’s welcome for absolutely anyone who will turn to him, Grace: …
A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (27/03/22): Offensive Grace Read More »
Luke 13:1-9 In answer to his own question about whether some deserve to suffer more than others Jesus replies:No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did. Part of the crowd has come to Jesus with a bad news story. Jesus responds to their tale of state sponsored …
A Sermon for the Third Sunday in Lent (20/03/22): God’s Judgement – God’s Forbearance Read More »
Luke 13:31-35 Preaching the Gospel has its own agenda, and it creates its own relevance. This is true whether the Gospel is being preached from a pulpit, or being preached with the lives that are being lived by Christians. The announcement of the Kingdom of God, and living into that kingdom has its own timetable …
A Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent (13/03/22):The Gospel Has Its Own Agenda Read More »
Luke 4:1-13 Jesus was led by the Spirit in the wilderness where for forty days he was tempted by the devilThe most important thing to remember about the devil, in all circumstances, is that the devil is a liar. Albeit at times he is a very subtle one. The lies which the devil tells often …
A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent (06/03/22):The Devil’s Lies Read More »
Luke 9:28-36 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. How did they know? As readers of Luke’s account of the transfiguration, one of the questions that must surely occur to is: how did …
A Sermon for the Last Sunday after Epiphany (27/02/22): How Did They Know? Read More »
Luke 6:27-38 There is a basic level of kindness which is probably common to all people. It is a sort of shared concern for our fellow human beings which might be present everywhere. It is that sense that if a person’s needs are great enough, for example if they were drowning, and that if the …
A Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany (20/02/22): Love Your Enemies Read More »