Luke

Sermons based on readings from the Gospel of Luke

A Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany (13/02/22): God speaks from among the poor

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Luke 6:17-26 Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God.This is a familiar line from Jesus’ teaching.It is the first of the Beatitudes.But woe to you who are rich for you have received you consolation.It is followed by a somewhat less familiar line from Jesus’ teaching. Luke recalls that for …

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A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (30/01/22): Is Not This Joseph’s Son

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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 …

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A Sermon for the Third Sunday after Epiphany (23/01/22): Manifesto at Nazareth

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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, …

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A Sermon for the First Sunday after Epiphany (09/01/22): Jesus Christ fully human though never less than God

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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 …

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A Sermon for Christmas day (25/12/21): The Birth of Jesus: Where and With Whom

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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 …

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A Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent (12/12/21): John’s Message to Snakes

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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 …

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A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent (05/12/21): Dramatis Personae

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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. …

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A Sermon for Harvest Festival: What to do with an abundant harvest

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I’m taking another break from the lectionary this week, to celebrate Harvest Festival. Even in those congregations whose connection with rural life is very remote this seems to remain one of the more important occasions which we celebrate. I once attempted to lead a Harvest Festival in which I failed to include the “We plough …

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