RoboPreacher

anybody want to swallow me A sermon on communion based on  1 Corinthians 11:17-34 : The congregation in Corinth was such a wreck that Paul couldn’t even bring himself to call what they were doing there each week the Lord’s supper. The temptation, of course, is to imagine that the members of First Lutheran in Corinth must have been engaged in some seriously illicit behavior to call down Paul’s ire like that. But , as it turns out, what they really did wrong , was trying to do everything right . …A strange thing happens we set foot in the church, we think that once we’ve gotten ourselves through the doors, it’s our task to keep ourselves there. Which is a surefire blueprint for disaster . As the great southern writer, Flannery O’Conner, once said to a friend, “…the operation of the church is entirely set up for the sinner ; which creates much misunderstanding among the smug .” This is a classic O’Conner kind of insight. But, it does get human na...

so take my eyes to borrow A sermon on baptism from Romans 6:1-11 This would be the point in the sermon when I would ask folks who’ve seen the Netflix makeover series “Queer Eye” to raise their hands. …Have you seen it? It’s not bad. It’s more Amanda’s thing. But sometimes I would catch episodes.   In fact, one episode last season was about a music teacher from Quincy ! So I saw that one. This season, though, Lutheran social-media was abuzz . An ELCA pastor from Philadelphia, whose regular attire was baggy cargo shorts and loose -fitting t-shirts, was going to get the fab-five’s makeover.   So of course, I watched that one, too.   I’ve caught a few more episodes since thing. And while I probably couldn’t win any trivia contests, I think I have a handle on the show.   The reason I’m thinking about Queer Eye is, aside from the ways we could follow their lead about how to spruce up a sanctuary, is the show’s formula . Now, I’m guessi...

~Buzz Lightyear A sermon about baptism & Toy Story 4 from Acts 2:37-42 To better grasp baptism, that  momentous , life- altering  initiation rite of the Christian Church, I would have you look no further than Toy Story 4 . Yes, Toy Story 4… When the movie first came out, I grumbled. Why can't Disney just let a money-making franchise  rest  in peace? Eventually, though, I saw the movie. And I have to admit, Toy Story 4 is a  good   movie.   In fact, Toy Story 4 is to the rest of the franchise, what Acts is to the rest of the gospels; the story of what happens  after  the last foe has been rendered   toothless . In Acts, it's because Jesus has destroyed the power of Death on the  cross . In Toy Story 4 it's because "their" child, Andy, has given all his  old  toys to a  new  child, Bonnie. Toy Story 4 opens on the toys'  new  life with Bonnie. Just like in the  firs...