Sermons on Luke (Page 2)

Sermons on Luke (Page 2)

Devil’s Kitchen (SUMMER SERIES)

Luke 12:13-21 Some time in the early 1800’s, the peace and serenity of Sedona was disturbed by the sound of a thunderous crash and the sight of a great plume of orange-red dust billowing up into the air, as if spewed from the bowels of hell itself. Further investigation led to the discovery of a large sinkhole, which was aptly named Devil’s Kitchen. Then, in 1989, a second unexpected collapse event occurred which widened the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole even further.…

Foxtail (SUMMER SERIES)

Luke 11:1-13 It was on the Soldier Pass Trail, near the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole, but not quite as far as Sphinx Rock, that we came upon Foxtail. A half dozen of us were hiking with yoga bags slung over our shoulders, following our trail guide/yoga instructor Cherlita. Our destination was a level rock shelf near the Seven Sacred Pools, where we would drop our mats for a yoga class beneath a clear blue sky and surrounded by the grandeur of…

Palo Verde (SUMMER SERIES)

Luke 10:38-42 Today’s message marks the halfway point in our sermon series on “Stuff I Learned from My Summer Vacation.” The focus of the series has been how lessons about God can be found in the natural world all around us, if we are perceptive enough to notice them. And this Summer, some of my most memorable lessons about God have come during my vacation in Sedona, Arizona. In fact, the focal point of this morning’s sermon is Arizona’s official…

Devil’s Bridge (SUMMER SERIES)

Luke 10:25-37 Devil’s Bridge is one of the most popular hiking trails in all of Sedona.  As is often the case, this trail gets its name from the destination to which it leads. At the endpoint of Devil’s Bridge Trail lies a 50-foot-high natural stone arch called Devil’s Bridge. Great numbers of people start out on Devil’s Bridge Trail, but not all of them end up crossing Devil’s Bridge itself. As the Devil’s Bridge Trail nears the Devil’s Bridge arch,…

What to Take with You, What to Leave Behind (SUMMER SERIES)

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 The difference between an enjoyable hike and a miserable hike often comes down to what you take with you, and what you leave behind. Ideally, your backpack will be light enough to not be a burden. So, you don’t want to pack it with non-essentials that could have been left behind. On the other hand, you want to make sure that you take with you those supplies that you might regret not having if a situation arose…

Century Plant (SUMMER SERIES)

Luke 9:51-61 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25 The agave americana is a succulent plant commonly found in the deserts of Sedona. With its enormous leaves, capable of storing large amounts of water and sharp spikes along the edges of those leaves for discouraging thirsty animals from preying upon it, it is clear that evolution has given the agave americana the right tools for living a long and healthy life in the desert. Which is why the agave americana’s non-scientific name is,…

Cryptobiotic (SUMMER SERIES)

Luke 8:26-39 and Galatians 3:23-39 While the plants and trees that grow in Sedona’s desert landscape appear to be rugged and just about indestructible, something I learned on my Summer vacation is that it is actually an extremely fragile ecosystem. At most trailheads there are signs emphasizing the importance of not wandering from established trails just to get a better look at a scenic vista or to take a selfie beside a prickly-pear cactus. “Don’t Bust the Crust” is a…

The Exception to the Rule

Preached FCCW, April 21 2019 (Easter Sunday) Luke 24:1-12 I subscribe to a news magazine that, week after week delivers a pretty comprehensive summary of current events from around the globe. In every issue of this magazine, you will find a section named, “It Wasn’t All Bad.” As the name implies, this section is devoted to showcasing positive and upbeat stories about people acting courageously, kindly and selflessly. It is also the smallest section of every issue. Never taking up…

Some Secrets Are Made for Shouting

Preached Palm Sunday (April 14) 2019 Luke 19:28-40 and 23:13-25, 44-47 Secrets generally fall into two distinct categories. There are secrets that we guard with our very life because they are connected to some deep personal shame within us. We may carry these secrets for a lifetime and never come close to revealing them to another living soul. Because we can’t bear the thought of the rejection that would follow. Ironically, the only way to break the power that such…

The Parable of the Dishonored Father

Preached FCCW, March 31, 2019 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32   Some of the religious folks began to take notice that many people who were coming to hear Jesus teach were not like the audiences other rabbis attracted. And not in a good way. They said, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them!” So, Jesus told them this parable… In other words, this was how Jesus responded to their criticism about the company he kept and what it said about his…

Bodily Temptations

Preached FCCW, March 10, 2019 Lent 1C Luke 4:1-13 It’s not what it sounds like. The sermon title I mean. Whether this comes as a relief or a letdown, you’re not about to hear a racy message about temptations of the flesh. The Apostle Paul often referred to the Church as the Body of Christ. It’s the temptations that we face as part of that Body – as a community of believers – that we’ll be looking at this morning.

Veils

Preached FCCW March 3. 2019 Transfiguration Sunday 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 and Luke 9:28-43a The quote for meditation on the cover of your bulletin comes from a prominent leader in the early days of the Christian Church, named Irenaeus. It begins with these words, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” But, what does it mean to be fully alive? For some it might involve some kind of thrill-seeking adventure. Maybe bungee jumping, climbing Mt. Everest, or booking…

Blessed Be

Preached FCCW on February 17, 2019 Jeremiah 17:5-10 and Luke 6:17-26 When I was a kid, my parents gave me a subscription to Highlights for Children, a monthly magazine for kids. Other than the grown-up feeling I got from having magazines delivered in the mail just for me, there’s not a lot else I can recall about the magazine’s content. Except for Goofus and Gallant. Goofus and Gallant were the names of two characters who appeared in a comic strip…

Go Deep

Preached FCCW, February 10, 2019 Luke 5:1-11 At staff meeting on Tuesday morning – which coincided with the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory parade — someone inferred that this morning’s sermon title had something to do with that game. Since “go deep” is something that a quarterback typically tells a receiver before he throws a long bomb in his direction – like the one Tom Brady threw to Rob Gronkowski to set up the game winning touchdown – it was suggested…

Star Child

Preached FCCW             December 23, 2018    Advent 4C Luke 1:39-56 Like many of you, lately I have been spending more time in shopping malls than I typically do other times of the year. Since everybody else seems to have been doing the same thing, I have also been spending more time waiting in check-out lines. I’m not complaining though, because it turns out to have been time well spent. It has in fact, made me pause and pay attention to some…

The Other (Not Quite As) Immaculate Conception

Preached FCCW. December 9, 2018 Luke 1:68-79   Improbable pregnancies are a recurring theme in the Bible. None more so than the one we celebrate every 25th of December. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was found to be with child even though she was a virgin. What has come to be known as “The Immaculate Conception.” While the Immaculate Conception is the one and only perfect 10 on the scale of miraculous births, highly unlikely pregnancies can be found scattered…

Signs

Preached FCCW, December 2, 2018 (Advent 1C) Luke 21:25-36   Jesus once told a parable about signs. He said. “Look at a fig tree. As soon as it sprouts leaves you know it is a sign that a change of seasons is just around the corner.” With the season of Advent, comes the many signs that Christmas is coming soon. There are signs in homes and public places, in the form of Christmas trees and bright lights. Even Black Friday…
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