RoboPreacher

you're the one to change my mind A sermon from chapter two of the books of Acts : Today’s scripture begins where a lot shows, books and movies start to wrap-up, after a setback . …The prefix in Pentecost is “pente,” as in five . In this case, fifty . Pentecost happens 50 days after Passover. That means the first christian Pentecost happened 50 days after the crucifixion … …50 days after Judas’ betrayal . 50 days after Peter’s denial . 50 days after they all cut and ran . Yes, since then, the resurrected Jesus has shown up. But truthfully, the stench of failures STILL clings to the disciples…   In fact, it’s what they've been preoccupied with since that morning Jesus wasn’t found in the tomb. They haven’t been celebrating Easter, they’ve been dealing with the fallout from their failure; regrouping and replacing… Which isn’t unusual. That’s how a lot of third-acts begin . Often what happens, though, is the characters dust themselves ...

but i can't resist The holy Gospel according to St. John the first chapter ! We’re all trying to prove our worth . Aren’t we? Last month I got a little reflection published on a website I’ve admired for years. It was exciting . The fulfillment of a goal I had for a couple of years, actually… Two summers ago, during a quiet week, I first tried to get something on their website… And it was probably one of the most discouraging things I’ve ever done!   It was harder than I anticipated! I couldn’t articulate what I wanted to say. I’d start, and then start over again. And, I’d get to the middle, only realize I was rambling! It was frustrating! Eventually, I threw in the towel. Convinced I didn’t have it in me. And that’s not that uncommon an experience. Is it? …What UN -accomplished goals do YOU have have? What achievements do you long to fulfill? We all have them. I’ll even give you 30 seconds for you to actually think of one or two. ...

i got a soul A sermon on the first   Pentecost  and what every subsequent one has in common with it In our communion liturgy we say an old Aramaic word, “ Maranatha .”   …Anyone remembers what that word means? Maranatha ?   …YES! “Come, Lord .” We're going to have that for our call and response throughout the sermon today. When I say, “ Maranatha ,” you respond with, “Come, Holy Spirit!”   *Let’s try: “ Maranatha !” (COME, HOLY SPIRIT!) Perfect! You’re like old, pros! Okay. Now I know, I said Maranatha (COME, HOLY SPIRIT!) means “Come, Lord.” And literally it does. But , when the likes of us say, “ Maranatha ,” (COME, HOLY SPIRIT!) we mean something specific … Many of us here today are something called “ Methodist .” Aren’t we? But, there are also many of us here today who are something called “ Lutheran .” BUT, here we all are, worshipping together ! This's because, regardless of whether you are called Lutheran or Me...

i hold out Romans Six sermon on Luther Luther’s story gets going when the one he’d been trying to live ended …   And it’s a story we all try and live out, the story of perfection . Luther tried to live this story out in the church . These days, though, we’re more likely to try and live it out as parents or spouses , in our careers or at the gym , on social-media or anywhere else we can measure progress…   It doesn’t matter where you try and live this story out, though, it always end in the same way; at a dead -end.   Which is how it went for Luther…   The thing, though , is God LOVES dead -end people! God took Luther’s dead-end, and made it into a new beginning . The beginning, not of Luther’s perfect life, but of Luther’s life lived in light of God’s perfect love! God’s love that get’s going , when we can’t ! And this was just as true for Luther, as it is for you , by the way!   If you’re at the end of your rope, ...