RoboPreacher

On May 30 I will be preaching at Luther Memorial in Des Moines, Iowa. This particular Sunday of the church year is focused on the Holy Trinity. On this post I am inviting any and all thoughts about the Trinity. What does it mean to you? How do you describe the Trinity? How does the Trinity relate to your faith? Does the doctrine of the Trinity matter? What do you understand about the Trinity? What don't you understand about the Trinity? What resources have you used to help understand the Trinity? Are the helpful, or confusing? I invite you all to share, and help me reflect about preaching at Luther Memorial. I am particularly interested in what any members at Luther Memorial might be thinking. Preaching is a communal activity, and I am excited to utilize the internet to strengthen our bond as sisters and brothers in Christ. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

John 16:12-15 (Then Jesus said) “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Good morning everyone. Today is Holy Trinity Sunday, a day of the church year set apart to focus on the mystery of God. So the temptation for a person in the pulpit would be to try to explain this mystery away. And in doing so commit a heresy or two… So rather than explaining the Trinity, I thought I’d take a few digs at those people who came up with this doctrine. At first I figured it was probably some theologian with a hard name to pronounce coming up with all these co...

I've gathered a few images to help consider the Trinity: This first image captures a logical description of the Trinity. This second image is a famous icon depicting the Trinity. This third image captures how one person can be defined multiple ways (mother/grandmother/daughter). This last image draws specific attention to the relational aspect of the Trinity.

The sermon is coming along. My sermon centers on John 16:12-15 and the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. (I won't make a link to the trinity, because the trinity is a mystery) I've got a rough outline: Intro: 1) How did this idea of the Trinity come about? a) Probably some theologian in seminary. b) Doesn't seem to be the case. Ordinary Christians making a confession of their faith. 2) So how does this ancient confession affect our "here and now?" a) This obsession with the here and now is a little obnoxious to me. Afterall, why must everything relate to my experience right here and now? b) In fact, Jesus says, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." 3) could it be that there are truths we just can't bear to hear now? a) The disciples hearing completely how Jesus will end up leaving them; hearing about the fear they will experience; hearing about their deaths. Could they bear all that? Could they bear to completely unders...

Right now I am choosing to focus on John's witness . The lectionary text alone is a little obscure, just Jesus talking about the Spirit's coming and work. Jesus explains why the Spirit must come (we cannot bear to hear everything Jesus would say), and what the Spirit will confer (guide us to the truth, declare what is to come). Of course, Jesus didn't just say this out of the blue. The context of this is Jesus washing the disciple's feet. Afterward he launches into one of this looooooong Johannine monologues, which this is from. After that Jesus prays for the disciples and heads for the cross. The resources I am using right now include: The ELCA's prayer of the day: Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory, eternal Three-in-One, and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three. Keep us steadfast in this faith, defend us in all adversity, and bring us at last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, o...

Scripture for Sunday May 30; Holy Trinity Sunday: Psalm 8 Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 May 30th is a few weeks after Lutheran Theological Seminary's spring semester. By this time I will be back in Iowa and preaching at my home congregation Luther Memorial , in Des Moines, IA. For the next few days (and months!) I will be reflecting on these scripture readings as I work to faithfully engage the scripture and the life of my home congregation. Feel free to comment, offer suggestions, questions and links!