Dear Partner in Preaching, A lot rides on how you interpret Jesus’ surprising reaction to the request of the Syrophoenician woman. Okay, “surprising” is an understatement. How about down right rude? After all, she comes to him bowed down, in the posture of worship, begging that he cure her daughter of an unclean spirit, something we already know he can easily do. And yet he brushes her off, refusing her request and casting her aside, throwing in an ethnic slur just for good measure. And the haunting question is, why? Here’s the traditional answer to this question: He is not actually refusing her but rather testing her. That is,...
John 3:18-21
posted by DJL
Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds...
John 21:9-14
posted by DJL
So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew...
John 20:26-29
posted by DJL
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not...
Faith Is Action
posted by DJL
I’m at our Lutheran World Relief Board meeting in Baltimore and during one our discussions about the future of LWR, it was noted that we consistently have high appeal to members of the emerging generation who want to see faith put into action. Except, as one of our Board members, a president...