Sermons (Page 14)
From the Mountain
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Corinthians 3:16, 18; 4:2, Good News Translation Exodus 34:29-35 29 When Moses went down from Mount Sinai carrying the Ten Commandments, his face was shining because he had been speaking with YAHWEH; but he did not know it. 30 Aaron and all the people looked at Moses and saw that his face was shining, and they were afraid to go near him. 31 But Moses called them, …and Moses spoke with them. 32 …Moses…
Bad-Hair Day
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:27-38, The Voice & Young’s Literal Translation [Brackets indicate change for gender neutrality][Brackets plus italics indicate a complete addition to the text]Italics alone are part of the translation. 27 [Jesus said to his closest followers:] To you who are hearing here’s My message: Keep loving your enemies no matter what they do. Keep doing good toward those hating you. 28 Keep speaking blessings on those who are cursing you. Keep praying for those accusing you falsely. 29 If…
Roots & Wings
Luke 6:17-26, The Voice and The Tree of Life Version 17 The whole crowd of disciples (including the 12 now designated as His emissaries) came down together, and they stood on a level area nearby. They were joined by an even greater crowd of people who had come from across the whole region – from all of Judea, from Jerusalem, and more from the coastal areas of [Lebanon]. 18 All of them had come to hear Him and to be…
Guess Who’s Coming to Supper
SCRIPTURE: Malachi 3:1-3, New Living Translation The prophet Malachi speaks: The Lord of Heaven’s Armies declares, “I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. The Savior Messiah you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming.” 2 “Who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he…
Don’t Make Me Take My Earrings Off
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13, The Passion Translation The use of italics are part of this translation, not added. If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if…
All Y’all Are the Body, or It Takes a Village
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Common English Bible & The Message 12 Christ is just like the human body—a body is a unit and has many parts; and all the parts of the body are one body, even though there are many. 13 We are all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jew or Greek, or slave or free, and we all are given one Spirit to drink. 14 Certainly the body isn’t one part but many. 15 If…
“The Drum Major Instinct,” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:35-45 New International Version Italics indicated a word is changed for clarity or gender neutrality. 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus…
About Love & Fear & the New Year
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 43:1-3, 5-7 Living BibleBut now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. 3a For I…
Spoiler Alert: Unto Us a Child is Born
SCRIPTURE: Shining Light Tells The Good Story 3:7-18 (Luke 3:7-18)First Nations Version, an Indigenous Translation of the New Testament 7 Large crowds of people were coming out to hear Gift of Goodwill (John) and have him perform the purification ceremony. He noticed some of the spiritual leaders in the crowd and warned them, “You nest of poisonous snakes!… 8 Prove to others by the way you live that you have returned to the good road. Do not think you can…
The Wild Man in the River
SCRIPTURE: Shining Light Tells The Good Story 3:1-6 (Luke 3:1-6)First Nations Version, an Indigenous Translation of the New Testament The People of Iron (Romans) had many new rulers and governors, and the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) had a new chief holy man for the sacred lodge. It was now the fifteenth year of the rule of Son of the Great River (Tiberius Caesar). Under him was Spear of the Great Waters (Pontius Pilate), the governor ruling over the…