Romans 13:1-7

A Sermon for the weekend of the Fourth of July

Today, as our country is celebrating its 250th anniversary, I propose that we take for our text Romans 13:1-7 about the state. This text raises the right questions about how we understand our relationship to the governing authorities of this world no matter where or when we lived.

It is important first of all to understand the perspective from which Paul writes, and also for that matter, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In short, they expected the end of the world to come in their generation.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:51-2: “Lo, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

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Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42

A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

The gospel text we have from Matthew is about discipleship and rewards. It says: “Whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” That’s in Matthew 10:42.

Many people assume this verse is a “take care of the poor” verse. But it’s really not. Rather, it’s a “take care of the Christian” verse. The “little ones” are the Christian disciples and Christian preachers.

This verse tells us the meaning of the famous parable in Matthew 25 about the sheep and the goats and the last judgment. When it says, whoever gives to “the least of these,” it means Christian preachers. “The least of these” are those who are spreading the gospel.

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Matthew 10:24-39

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

One day in a seminary class, a student asked the professor: “How can we be relevant and yet respect the belief systems of others?”

The professor answered: “I think you are asking: How can we proclaim the gospel without offending anyone?” Then he added: “It can’t be done.”

And that’s what the gospel text today is about.

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Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost

Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8

In the gospel text for today the twelve disciples are sent out into the world to announce the kingdom of heaven is at hand, to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons.

What about us? Twenty-first century disciples? What’s our mission?

Today there are church leaders who say something very different. For example, one prominent Christian leader recently said: “Everybody will be saved in the end. Jesus isn’t the only way. God is bigger than that. He can save through any means; it doesn’t have to be through Jesus.”

Really?

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Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost

What is worship? And what is it to be spiritual? We know that worship by itself is not in itself Christian. Worship is found in all religions, even so-called nature religions.

The question is: Are you worshipping the true God or other false gods?

Here the Bible can help us, particularly the Matthew text for today. It has the famous line: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13).

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