Author: Administrador

Susan Hedahl Why healing services? And what makes preaching at healing services different? Worship services addressing illness and its corollary — the desire for possible healing — are a part of many churches’ routines. Healing services are one way that the parish can show it is taking seriously the following biblical observations and injunctions: “Are … Continue reading “Preaching on Illness: Healing Services (Part 2 of 2)”

David Lose Dear Working Preacher, One of the common elements of the resurrection stories across the gospels is that no one expects the resurrection. Even though Jesus predicted his death … and resurrection … several times across his ministry, no one greets the news that God has raised Jesus from the grave and defeated death … Continue reading “If It’s Not Hard to Believe, You’re Probably Not Paying Attention!”

Tom Teichmann Do you yearn to open up Scripture in a way that is both faithful to tradition and fresh in methodology? Here’s one. But, pranks? Wise fool? As Hans Luther is said to have put it, “Was ist das?” What is this? We begin with literature. Till Eulenspiegel is a fairly obscure, literary figure. … Continue reading “Preaching Pranks: A Wise Fool Proclaims the Gospel”

David Lose Dear Working Preacher, At our annual Celebration of Biblical Preaching in October 2011, Walter Brueggemann suggested that the primary challenge facing the Christian Church in North America in the 21st century is that for most of our people, God is no longer a primary actor in the story of their lives. Don’t get … Continue reading “The Never-Ending Story”

David Lose Dear Working Preacher, For years I’ve enjoyed calling John the “oddball gospel” because of its many idiosyncrasies. John’s preference of the “beloved disciple” over Peter is one clear example – I mean, goodness, but not only is he the beloved disciple (which makes the others what, exactly…?) – but he beats Peter in … Continue reading “Commissioned Yet Again”

Kae Evensen When I saw Pope Francis lean over and kiss that severely disabled man in the crowd at his inaugural mass, I was almost undone. What I saw was my sister’s face. My sister also bears the label “severely disabled.” She lives in a group home in the San Diego area and goes to … Continue reading “Ashamed of Me and Mine”

Nathan Aaseng I experienced an uncomfortable moment recently when someone expressed admiration for my chosen vocation, which was characterized as “saving souls.” The reason I was uncomfortable is that I don’t do that, and so I couldn’t take credit for it. No, this is not just a typical case of Midwestern modesty, like a firefighter … Continue reading “Saving Souls”

David Lose Before getting started, Working Preacher, a quick word of thanks: the response to both our new donor challenge and the Sermon Brainwave challenge (where Rolf, Karoline, and I put up our own money for the challenge) has been tremendous. Thank you very much. And if you haven’t yet given, this week we’ll start … Continue reading “On Loving – and Not Loving – One Another”

Patricia Tull God’s Spirit blows through most of the lectionary passages during this Pentecost month, from Psalm 104:30 (“When you send forth your spirit, they are created”) to the end of Revelation, in which the Spirit says “come.” This Spirit, the wind (ruah) which swept over the waters of the formless earth before it creation … Continue reading “The Mighty, Rushing Wind”

Jacob Myers How many of us preachers actually go to the Bible anymore? Now this question has nothing to do with Bible-based preaching. The question arises from a lack of attention I have noticed in my own sermon development to the materiality of the text. To be honest, most of my sermon development takes place … Continue reading “The $100 Guitar Project and Preaching”