RoboPreacher

now you know A sermon on the Ten Commandments Well, I’m up against it here. Aren’t I? I barely had your attention to begin with, and I’m losing it by the second with scripture like todays.   After all, you’ve all already heard this , haven’t you? “The Ten Commandments.” You’re familiar , thank you very much. You’ve seen the movie. You know the sweep, that no sooner does Moses go up the mountain, than the people start breaking the commands.   AND , you all already know that’s why Jesus came.   We’re Lutheran, after all. That’s our bag. Our deal isn’t keeping the commands, it’s Jesus forgiving us when we’ve failed to do so! What’s more, you’re sophisticated Lutherans . You know that once Jesus forgives us, we’re freed . And freed from sins power, we can live by the commandments. Not to try and prove our worth, but to serve our neighbor. We already know all this. As Jerry & Elaine once said, “Yada, yada, yada.” We get it. …W...

& came to ruin A Sermon on the Sabbath : Perhaps you’re wondering why , exactly, our first lesson is the one we just heard. After all, it sounds… well… just a little… familiar, doesn’t it? Don’t be fooled, though, the lessons is not a repeat of last week’s… Well… Not exactly, anyway. Last week we heard the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai ; right after the Israelites had been freed. Today , though, we hear the reiteration of these Ten Commands; 40 years later. Right before the Israelites leave the wilderness for the Promised Land.  Here, Moses is giving his final sermon. All he can come up with though, is that old refrain again. “ Second verse , same as the first ; a little bit louder , a little bit worse !” Moses’ uncertainty about how well those commands took the first time, is betrayed. Apparently Moses isn’t exactly confident in the mettle of those who are about to inhabit the property promised to Abraham long ago… Appa...

& you've just gotta keep on keeping on A Sermon on the Sabbath Commandment : As is the case with most adages, the old saying is true; ‘there’s no rest for the wicked.’ There’s the law you’ve always got to stay a step ahead of. Then, there’s the constant looking over your shoulder to make sure your past doesn’t find you.  Nope, once the wicked go on the lamb, their guard can never come down. You’ve always got to be looking ahead and watching behind. It’s exhausting sure, but there’s no alternative.  You can’t just stop and catch your breath, lest the sins of your past catch up to you.  It’s true . There is no rest for the wicked… Which is probably why this Third Commandment is so notorious. Think about it, it’s one of only two commandments that aren’t prohibitions. Yet, this positive command seems impossible for the wicked like us to actually obey . To stop and rest. Not once in a while. Not when we think we have the time. But ever...