By Parson Brown, on February 13th, 2013
Text: 2 Cor 5:20b-6:10; Psalm 51:1-12
“We implore you, on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God…we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain…behold, now is the favorable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Not to receive the grace of God in vain, isn’t that a strange . . . → Read More: Ash Wednesday Meditation
By Parson Brown, on January 16th, 2013
The picture above is of a modern sculpture installation that seems poignant. The article accompanying the picture further describes the work, how it came together and its multiple instalations…
…Three hundred and sixty five strollers later, Mr. Ward’s collection became the seminal work “Amazing Grace”: shabby vehicles arranged with lengths of fire hose . . . → Read More: An Artistic Moment (and a religious ghost?)
By Parson Brown, on January 15th, 2013 Take a look at 1 John 5:16-17
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life– to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for . . . → Read More: Prayer and Belief
By Parson Brown, on October 18th, 2012 Dr. Beck on the crossing of a milestone – 1 out of every 100 people in the US is in prison. (One of the reasons we have that petition ‘for all those in prison’ every week.)
The really horrible part:
This is an incarceration rate higher than what is found in repressive regimes such as . . . → Read More: An Appalling Stat
By Parson Brown, on September 18th, 2012
Text: Mark 9:14-29 Full Sermon Draft
This text itself is something of a paradox. It has two of the most memorable phrases from the gospels. “I believe, help my unbelief” which in the story context is this heart rending plea of desperation. And it has Jesus’ summary to the disciples, “This kind only comes . . . → Read More: Prayer Paradox
By Parson Brown, on July 17th, 2012 I grew up in Fulton, Il, which you can see is at least an hour away from anything resembling population. We would joke around that something that hit the culture took about 20 years to come to Fulton. When people in Chicago were doing the electric slide, Fulton was doing the Hustle. Hence as a . . . → Read More: Law, Gospel, Families and Dealing with the ’60s or Love among the Ruins
By Parson Brown, on July 16th, 2012 Text: Ephesians 1:3-14 Full Draft
The textual basis for this sermon is one long sentence. The English translations break it up because that is good English. But what it does is miss the catechism like effect as the clauses build up. The core sentence is short and clear – God be Praised. The rest . . . → Read More: Every Spiritual Blessing in the heavenly realms
By Parson Brown, on July 10th, 2012
Biblical Text: Mark 6:1-13 Full Draft
It is a truth of this world that the really important things are usually hidden right in our midst. Think “rosebud” from Citizen Kane. All the great stories are about going out and returning home. When we leave, we don’t know what we are leaving. Think the prodigal. . . . → Read More: Scandalized by the Word hidden in our Midst
By Parson Brown, on June 25th, 2012
Test: Luke 1:57-80 Full Draft of Sermon
With Christmas on the Sunday, some of the minor festival of the church year fall on a Sunday as well. This Sunday was the Nativity of John the Baptist. Hence some Advent Hymns and a biblical character who we normally see is December.
But read at the . . . → Read More: Commencement and Christmas in June
By Parson Brown, on May 14th, 2012 Biblical Text: John 15:9-17 Full Text of Sermon
Finding poignancy in pop songs is pretty tough. Lady GaGa flirts with it before retreating to camp and a great bass line. There are the ever so earnest indies. The ingenues like Adele whose combine the virtues of youth and a healthy supply of talent, but . . . → Read More: Christian Marriage
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