In the beginning…. You gotta love John’s chutzpah. I mean, there’s absolutely no question what line he’s imitating when he starts his Gospel. “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth….” That’s right — Genesis 1:1. It’s as if I were going to...
The Second Coming
posted by DJL
The Gospel readings for Advent begin not by anticipating the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem but instead by looking forward to the end of time and Jesus’ “second coming” in glory. Given that the church year moves toward its end with several weeks of parables looking toward judgment and then...
Thanksgiving Links
posted by DJL
As we approach one of my favorite holidays of the year, I thought I’d share a few of the links I’ve found interesting about Thanksgiving Day. Have a blessed celebration with whomever is near you! Interested in learning more about the Pilgrims? Check out this article over at...
Advent 1 B: Preaching a Participatory Advent
posted by DJL
Dear Partner in Preaching, There are times when I wish Mark would just make up his mind! Okay, so maybe I should back up a bit and explain. The brief apocalyptic sections of Mark, and later of Matthew and Luke who clearly follow him, have always been something of a puzzle to me because they are so out of character with the rest of the Gospel. I assume that these traditions were so prevalent in the early church that Mark simply couldn’t ignore them. Note, however, that I use the plural – apocalyptic traditions – because it seems there were at least two. Some, perhaps including the Apostle Paul, expected Jesus’ return very soon. We...
From Matthew to John
posted by DJL
Today’s Daily Bread devotional, on the (in)famous parable of the sheep and the goats, brings us to the end of our devotional tour through the Gospel According to Matthew. It’s not quite the end of Matthew, of course, as there are still three more chapters. But we began while we...