wonderful thoughts from the Pope, intellectually coherent and practically relevant and doable IMO
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
-
Shout It From The Rooftops
Read MORE: Shout It From The RooftopsMatthew 10: 26-31 Have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what…
-
Turn The Other Cheek
Read MORE: Turn The Other CheekThe temptation is to give a polished sermon that glosses over the meaning of all these basic but difficult texts. I am going to offer instead a rough Bible study that I hope will allow Jesus’ challenge to shine through.…
-
Stop Fooling Around
Read MORE: Stop Fooling AroundFor several years I have been trying to lead one of my favorite people into the ministry. I have been extremely sensitive to his needs, letting him work as slowly as he needs through all the obstacles and questions. I…
-
Karen and Jan’s Wedding
Read MORE: Karen and Jan’s WeddingRuth 1: 16-17 Ruth said, ‘Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my…
-
At the Mount of the Beatitudes
Read MORE: At the Mount of the BeatitudesI preached this sermon last January during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with people from Good Shepherd Lutheran in Gaithersburg, Maryland. We were on the spot at the the Sea of Galilee where many believe Jesus taught the Sermon…
-
Lesson 11: Creed
Read MORE: Lesson 11: CreedWe often forget creeds are ways to read the Bible. When the early Church disagreed on which parts were important and how to handle contradictions, one thing they did was to develop creeds. We sometimes see creeds as dividing people…
-
Lesson 10: Bible
Read MORE: Lesson 10: BibleLast week, I suggested the church of the future might well be a community of friends who gather face-to-face to share a lifestyle that suits following Jesus in our time. Every indication points to these groups engaging in more Bible…
-
Lesson 9: Community
Read MORE: Lesson 9: CommunityWhen I ask people why they come to church, the answer I almost always receive is “community.” If I continue with, “What about right doctrine?” I usually get laughter. That does not mean that people do not appreciate good theology;…
-
Lesson 8: Music
Read MORE: Lesson 8: MusicOne of the big topics in church circles is whether we should use “contemporary” music and liturgies. My ministry was pretty old-fashioned in that area. However, my sons-in-law have both “contemporary” and traditional services, so I have had over a…
-
Lesson 7: Church-State Relations
Read MORE: Lesson 7: Church-State RelationsLast week I suggested that, in a hundred years, pastors would not be regarded as agents of the state when officiating at weddings. I imagine the relationship between Church and State will be changed in many other ways by then…
Recent Comments
I absolutely love these ideas, especially paying attention to beauty and reducing your needs.
Fritz a wonderful lesson – and esp. reading has a flow I found encompassing. If only …….. yes we can…