Luke 1 :39-55 December 20, 2015 People say the strangest things to pregnant women. First comes the size comments: “Wow, you’re HUGE!” “Are you sure it’s not twins?” “How much weight have you gained?” You should put a sign on your back that says WIDE LOAD!” “I can’t imagine how that baby is going to … Continue reading Stupid Things People Say to Pregnant Women
Snake Charmers and Fire Walkers
This is the Sunday where we light the candle of joy and prepare to celebrate the great mystery of Emmanuel, God with us. It is also the Sunday we celebrate his cousin John the Baptist, who calls people a brood of vipers, and preaches about axes and fire coming down from heaven. Welcome to Paradox City! Joy to the world, you brood of vipers!
Advent Preaching Guide
Bloomingcactus is migrating to WordPress over the next few months. I will post new material in both blogs through the Spring, but I encourage you to bookmark my new address at bloomingcactus.me. You can go to my Advent sermons for this lectionary cycle. I wish you all a blessed Advent season! Todd
Advent 2015 Preaching Guide – Year C
Click on the Gospel Lessons for weekly thoughts on the lectionary for Year C. All the purple links to the Gospels got a sermon from 2012. I will post new material as Advent goes along. Advent Year C First reading Psalm Second reading Gospel First Sunday of Advent November 29, 2015 Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 … Continue reading Advent 2015 Preaching Guide – Year C
Pray for Paris, and pray for the world…
written by Karuna Ezara Parikh.
Mark 13:1-8 “Not a Stone Left”
(While I wrote this three years ago, it seems quite relevant this week. Andover Newton Theological School, my alma mater, announced it is selling its main campus and moving locations and changing its curriculum to be less physical classroom dominated. We will survive the loss of our prominent buildings. Since I pastor a huge (and expensive) … Continue reading Mark 13:1-8 “Not a Stone Left”
Springtime for Liberal Christianity: A Quick Response
I'm glad to see NY Times conservative columnist engaging liberal Christianity. But there are a couple things he misses: "Douthat's title, "Springtime for Liberal Christianity" is more correct than his column. Most of his critique was true of the progressive churches a decade ago, but decline has brought reform. The most read progressive Christian voices … Continue reading Springtime for Liberal Christianity: A Quick Response
“Who Plants Mustard Seed?”
I have preached on this passage many times over the years and I realized this week that I have often missed the real point. This is a great passage to run out to the Indian grocer, buy some mustard seed for the children’s sermon, and talk about what a wondrous plant comes from humble beginnings. … Continue reading “Who Plants Mustard Seed?”
John 3:14-21 “God So Loved the Cosmos”
If there was just one verse in the Bible you wanted everyone to know by heart, which one would it be? If you grew up as a Bible Belt Baptist like me, John 3:16 was that verse. I could recite it from 4th grade on, until it could be said in one breath, like … Continue reading John 3:14-21 “God So Loved the Cosmos”
John 3:14-21 “God So Loved the Cosmos”
If there was just one verse in the Bible you wanted everyone to know by heart, which one would it be? If you grew up as a Bible Belt Baptist like me, John 3:16 was that verse. I could recite it from 4th grade on, until it could be said in one breath, like … Continue reading John 3:14-21 “God So Loved the Cosmos”
With all my soul 