Advent « St. Mark's Lutheran

What did you come to see? – Luke 7:18-28 – Advent 3

By Parson Brown, on 3:55 pm%

Full Text

Text: Luke 7:18-28

The middle two weeks of advent are the weeks of John the Baptist. He’s a forgotten figure in modern Christianity. He doesn’t seem to have much meaning or purpose. We continue to read the stories of the patriarchs. We will talk about the OT prophets. We will . . . → Read More: What did you come to see? – Luke 7:18-28 – Advent 3

Sermon – Luke 1:26-38 – Mary replied I am the slave of the Lord

By Parson Brown, on 11:18 am%

Underware. That is the term for too much sermon prep work actually making it into the sermon. That was what this one was. There is a really good 700 word meditation at the end, preceeded by 700 words that should not have made it into the final draft.

It is not that . . . → Read More: Sermon – Luke 1:26-38 – Mary replied I am the slave of the Lord

Advent Sermon – Symbols of Things – Zechariah 3:8

By Parson Brown, on 12:29 pm%

This was the last mid-week sermon. We had been roughly following a chain of OT promises of the messiah. The first grouping was about a savior/prophet. The second group were kingly predictions. The last group was priestly predictions. I didn’t start out with prophet, priest and king, but that was always latent and it became . . . → Read More: Advent Sermon – Symbols of Things – Zechariah 3:8

Sermon – Bad Coinage – 1 Thess 5:16-24

By Parson Brown, on 12:11 am%

After preaching in what is called a lectio continua (a continuous reading) for most of the summer, fall and early winter, the advent texts are herky jerky. One moment you are in Mark and the Next you are in John or Isaiah or Paul. Since I used the Markan text for John the baptist last . . . → Read More: Sermon – Bad Coinage – 1 Thess 5:16-24

Complexity of Tradition

By Parson Brown, on 6:25 pm%

Text: Luke 22:14-30

I’d like you to really read that text. Anything strike you as odd? See anything strange? Read it again.

Christmas is coming up. That is a time full of tradition. Families gather around tables and fireplaces and tell stories. Grandpa tells the kids about what mom did when she was your age. Mom tells . . . → Read More: Complexity of Tradition

Advent Mid-week Sermon – The Problems of a King

By Parson Brown, on 3:42 pm%

In the modern world Christians who are looking forward to a coming King have a problem. Christopher Hitchens goes right at that problem. The idea of a King is oppressive in a world of democracies.

Somewhat surprisingly the answer is part affirmation of what Hitchens says – a Holy King is a scary dictator. . . . → Read More: Advent Mid-week Sermon – The Problems of a King

Operation Christmas Child Picture

By Parson Brown, on 9:56 pm%

This link takes you to a blogger who helpd at one of the larger gathering places for Operation Christmas Child. If I remember my count we sent along about 20 shoeboxes. Nancy relayed on the moving van full of boxes as the church that was the drop off point. This picture comes . . . → Read More: Operation Christmas Child Picture

Society, the Church and Exile

By Parson Brown, on 3:54 pm%

Reading: Isaiah 3

Reading the OT can be very tricky, and this passage might be one of the trickiest of all. In the OT Isreal – the nation and the church – were the same thing. The people of Israel represented by the monarchy and the priests were the people of God. After . . . → Read More: Society, the Church and Exile

Wednesday – Advent Devotion

By Parson Brown, on 1:08 pm%

It is a very busy week, so I am cheating.

For the congregation I prepared an Advent devotional book:
Advent Devotion Book

The daily devotions, probably for this week will come from that printed source. Those who have the printed source, sorry for the duplication.

Genesis 49:10 – The scepter will not depart from Judah, . . . → Read More: Wednesday – Advent Devotion

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