RoboPreacher

if you take cover or abandon it A sermon on Jesus' great Sermon on the Mount : Here you are, doing your best to keep your spiritual house in order .   And let me say this is no small thing! Being here this morning makes you a rare bird, indeed. Plus, it’s not like you’re here because you’ve got nothing else to do. Is it? No, we’ve all got a lot on our plates. Too much, in fact.   But, despite all the hindrances, here you are. And for all that, Christ sallies up the great mountain and delivers the most consequential sermon in all human history. And he tells you , NOT good on you. And he tells you , NOT keep at it. No, he tells you , in effect, don’t bother! Don’t bother?!? I mean, here you are, defying odds and the obstacles, and Jesus just shrugs ! He climbs the mountain, parts his lips, and pronounces his blessings. Pronounces his blessings not upon the prayer warriors but rather the prayer weary .   “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus declares. The poor in sp...

down to the river / my baby & i A sermon on the Lord's superfluous baptism Welcome , Isaiah Alejandro! You know, I was baptized at about the age you are now, too . And I can’t help but wonder what’s in store for you , Isaiah. Perhaps you , too, will be called to the church .   I must say, in my own experience, it has been an honor . The pastorate is a good calling. And it provides a good life, too. I pray you will consider it as the years go on, Isaiah.   No matter what, though, I beseech you, Isaiah, keep the church as a part of your life. You will need the church as the years go on. You will need to hear over and over again that God , in Jesus Christ, has opened the future to you by his grace, mercy, and love.   Plus , it’s good to know people in the church. The folks who sit next to you in the pew week-in and week-out may be potential life-long friends . Or they might be the person who helps you get your foot in the door at that job where you discover a calling ...