RoboPreacher

only at christmas time A sermon about Jesus' presentation at the Temple : Today we see past the edges of all those Christmas cards out there. And if you sent or received any Christmas cards at all this year, you know exactly what I mean. Christmas cards always portray the event as peaceful , warm , and well lit .   Now, we know moments such as that exist. And God bless them. But we also know moments such as that are far too few and far between, too. Don’t we? Yet , Christmas cards only depict the holy family as nestled in the manger and the animals crowding around them to lend their warmth. And o’er it all, the angels sing sweetly , as the Christmas star shines benevolently upon them.   However, Christmas cards rarely , if ever, show the inevitable moments that follow. Like when an ox shifted its weight and stepped on a lamb, causing it to bleat . And wake the infant Jesus. Causing him to cry ! And after the night they had, Mary and Joseph were by no means the pic...

in a baby's eye Christmas Eve sermon from  Luke 2:1-20 : There’s a Christmas sermon I’ve always wanted to preach, but never have. And I think this year, of all years, presents the perfect opportunity. So here goes… EVERY Christmas there is an irony .   Christmas is one of those times we can really pack ‘ em in the church. The paradox , though, is Scripture makes it abundantly clear that on Christmas , the church is the last place you want to be on Christmas! All the action is taking place out there! A million miles away from any respectable sanctuary! Here, I’ll show you, pretend this passage is a movie , AND you don’t already know what’s going to happen… The film opens in darkness , and the narrator tells us this is the account of the momentous birth of Jesus, the savior of the world . Next, the narrator tells us this happened during Emperor Augustus’ reign. The camera fades in on the Emperor in all his power and opulence , ordering a worldwide census.   Now, t...

no safety features to hold her down A sermon on the angel Gabriel's visit to Mary and her song : Have you ever noticed every Christmas movie is really about the disaster the season is? No Christmas movie that’s left its mark is about how effortlessly the holiday season goes!   Charlie Brown is really about how unhappy Charles is! It’s a Wonderful Life is all about how poor George Bailey can’t catch a break—even on Christmas! A Christmas Story is about the near psychic break young Ralphie has trying to get that red rider BB gun! And National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is… Well, a smorgasbord of disasters ! And even those movies that subvert this trope, like the Grinch and A Christmas Carol, are still about the disaster Christmas can be for people of all strips! No one is safe! Not even those bah-humbugs out there! Despite the best-laid plans of those scoundrels , the Grinch and Mr. Scrooge, the spirit of Christmas descends upon them nonetheless ! And we love these movies. Don’...

the day-to-day is like a whirlwind A sermon for the third week of Advent on Isaiah 61 It is now the third week of Advent. The season draws short . Christmas approaches .   …Are you ready ? Is the tree up? What about the lights? Have you got all your presents? And are they wrapped? If there was ever a year to assume all this was already done , this would be it. This year folks have been decorating earlier than usual. Amanda and I were no exception. Things have been so gloomy this year, we actually began setting up before Thanksgiving. But what about all the other stuff? The stuff that really matters. Have you made arrangements with your family for Christmas this year?   Saturday Night Live came out with a skit about parents losing it when their adult children told them they wouldn’t be coming home for Christmas. And the satirical newspaper, The Onion, beat them to the punch with the headline, “Mom Completely Understands That Coming To Thanksgiving Is Risky And That You ...

though i'm beginning to An Advent sermon on Joel 2:12-17; 26-32 : In today’s scripture, the prophet Joel asks you to bring something difficult to worship… And no , he’s not talking about money or spending that rare free evening on some joyless committee bickering about the color of the sanctuary carpet. No, Joel is talking about something much harder to bring to worship; your heart . Your heart as it really is. And all of it, too. Cracks and all … And we have no shortage of things that break our heart THESE days. Do we? Loved ones we can’t visit. Loved ones who have died . Trips that have been canceled . Holiday gatherings that have been called off. And that’s just the low hanging fruit. Isn’t it? I’m sure you could easily add to this list yourself … Tragically , those “broken hearts and dirty windows that make life difficult to see," to quote John Prine (RIP), are a fact of life. And yet , despite this fact, when it comes to worship, we think WE need to mend our hearts...