Sermons do not usually have subtitles. But if today’s sermon had to have a subtitle, it likely would be “The Power and the Point: How to Read the Bible”. We all know, of course, that reading the Bible is key to the Christian life, and is […]
Happy Thanksgiving. My wife Lesley and I have a dilemma. Since she is a Permanent Resident of Canada but still an American citizen, we approach the festivities of this weekend with an unresolved question — that is, does the real Thanksgiving fall on the second Monday in the month of […]
There are times when the juxtaposition of two seemingly disconnected, unrelated sections in a single passage work together in remarkable ways. Today’s suggested passage from the Gospel of Luke is such a text. A careful reading clearly reveals that the passage can be divided into two separate sections. Both of those smaller subsections have […]
It has been quite a week. But more about that in a moment. Over the past few weeks, the lectionary has been inviting us to read passages drawn from the prophecies of Jeremiah. We have read Jeremiah’s often gloomy and dire observations about his people, about the circumstances of his time, and about […]
“Ah, well played. Well played, indeed.” This little phrase has become increasingly common in our culture. We hear it in movies, in conversation, even in social media memes and soundbites. From time to time, we might see it posted in the midst of some online debate or discussion taking place between […]
Most of us have not been out on the hills lately looking for lost sheep. Perhaps there is someone here this morning who has had that experience but it is just not the usual thing that Torontonians do in their day to day lives. In fact it is a rare experience […]
It has often been said that faith can be a great source of comfort and of consolation as we make our journey through life. Which is indeed true. But what ii equally true is that faith, the biblical tradition and the mature spiritual life is also meant to offer great challenges to us, […]
The Book of Jeremiah is not easy to just sit down and read. Often poetic, sometimes confusing, regularly dense and complicated, the Book of Jeremiah cannot be read in the same way that we might skim through a novel or pore over a straightforward passage of prose. One commentator, in fact, has […]
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The story of Easter is the most single most important story in the Christian faith. The resurrection story invites us into a different vision of reality – a vision that assures us that life triumphs over death, love triumphs over hatred, comfort triumphs over suffering, hope triumphs over despair, faith triumphs over fear, and grace […]
