Sacrament Church

Sunday, September 10, 2023 Exodus 12:1-14 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 John Goldingay, Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone (Louisville: Westminster, 2010). Terence E. Fretheim, Exodus (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010). N.T. Wright,  Matthew for Everyone: Part Two,  (Louisville: John Knox Press, 2002). Dietrich Bonhoeffer,  The Cost of Discipleship,  (New York: Touchsto...

Sunday, September 3, 2023 Resources: Terence E. Fretheim, Exodus, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010). John Goldingay, Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone, (Louisville: Westminster, 2010). Fr. David Harvey is a biblical scholar on the New Testament. He pastors at Westside King’s Church in Calgary, Alberta ( https://www.wkc.org/ ), and is on a great podcast found here:  https://www.twotext...

Sunday, August 27, 2023 On the Nokia 3310:  https://www.androidauthority.com/nokia-3310-900425/ Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). Terence E. Fretheim, Exodus, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010). N.T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone: Part Two, Chapters 16-28 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002). Stanley Hauerwas,&nbsp...

Readings: Genesis 45:1-15 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:21-28 Resources:  Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). Ambrose, “on Joseph 12.68-69.” Lynn H. Cohick, “The Canaanite Woman of Matthew 15,” Zondervan Academic, October 21, 2008, Accessed on August 14, 2023, https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/the-canaanite-w . Amy-Jill Levine, “Matthew’s Advice to a Di...

Readings: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33 Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). N.T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone: Part One, Chapters 1-15 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002). Wright, Surprised By Hope (New York: HarperCollins, 2008).

Sunday, August 6, 2023 Readings:

Sunday, July 30, 2023 Scripture Readings: Genesis 29:15-29 Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Sunday, July 23, 2023 Readings:  Genesis 28:10-19a Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 This week, we hear of God’s presence in the places of weakness and vulnerability. We discuss the difference between “fixing” and “healing,” and the significance of patience in the story of God and his people. Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). Jerome, Homilies on the P...

Sunday, July 16, 2023 Today we are honored to hear from Bishop Ed Gungor.

Sunday, July 9, 2023 This week, we look at the burdens each of us carry, specifically those of which we need to let go. Resources: Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). John Goldingay, Genesis, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2020). Stanley Hauerwas, Matthew, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007). Augustine, Sermon 69.2

Sunday, July 2, 2023 This week we hear one of the most challenging stories in all of scripture: God’s command for Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. What is up with this story? And what could it possibly tell us about the nature of God?  Resources: A great book which explores the Old Testament reading is The Art of Reading Scripture, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).  See specificall...

Sunday, June 25, 2023 This week, we look at two challenging passages: Abraham’s releasing of Ishmael, and Jesus’ imperative “Do not be afraid.” Each speak to us about the things which are central in our lives and how we hold our identities, our stuff, and our families. Resources: Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). Paul Sabatier, The Road to Assisi: The Essentia...

Sunday, June 18, 2023 Today, we hear the story of Abraham and the three visitors, and the radical generosity of the kingdom of God. Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). Ralph C. Wood, “God Repentance-Enabling Forgiveness,” The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor, (Waco: Baylor, 2001). Stanley Hauerwas, Matthew, (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007). Herbert Butterfield,...

Sunday, June 11, 2023 Today, we hear stories of faith: of following God, of listening, of journeying. Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1982). Eugene Peterson, As Kingfishers Catch Fire: A Conversation on the Ways of God Formed by the Words of God, (New York: Crown, 2019). Antony the Great, “Letter 1.”  Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel (Sisters, Ore.: Muln...

Sunday, June 6, 2023 Trinity Sunday

Sunday, May 28, 2023 This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, when God’s Spirit was poured out on all flesh. Pentecost is also the birth of the church as the Spirit dwells in and through the community of Jesus. On this day, we celebrate the God who is always giving, sharing, loving, pouring out himself for the world. Resources: Dennis R. Cole, Numbers: An Exegetical and Theological Expositi...

Sunday, May 21, 2023 Today, we hear the story of Christ’s ascension into heaven and how it demonstrates God’s character and the nature of humanity. We also look at the church's calling to be “witnesses” in the world. Resources: Tom Wright, Acts for Everyone (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Rowan Williams, “‘A sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Ascension Day Sung Eucharist.” Gl...

Sunday, May 14, 2023 This week we hear the Good News that God is always “turning toward” his world in love.  Resources: Tom Wright, Acts for Everyone (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Willie James Jennings, Acts (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2017). Wright, Paul: A Biography, (New York: HarperCollins, 2018). Scot McKnight, 1 Peter, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996). Wright, John f...

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Sunday, April 16, 2023 As we continue in the Easter season, we hear the good news in times of doubt.  N.T. Wright, Surprised By Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, (New York: HarperCollins, 2008),   Brian Rohan, “AP Explains: Who are Egypt’s Coptic Christians?” AP News, April 10, 2017, https://apnews.com/article/579769f1c074476089cf21593732a5b2 . “Fo...

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Sunday, April 2, 2023 On Palm Sunday, we hear the story of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry and Passion. We reflect on the way of suffering and how it contrasts with our expectations. Fleming Rutledge, The Undoing of Death (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002). Karl Barth, Dogmatics in Outline, (New York: Harper, 1959). N.T. Wright,  Matthew for Everyone: Part 2, (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002). Jam...

Sunday, March 26, 2023 This week, we look at the reality of grief and loss, how God enters our pain and, in doing so, reveals the promise. I gleaned a lot on the Ezekiel reading from a sermon given by Rev. Fleming Rutledge at the Washington National Cathedral in 2008. Unfortunately, the sermon appears to no longer be available. But here is the link where I originally found it. https://generousorth...

Sunday, March 19, 2023 This Sunday, our readings challenge us to consider our perspective. In what ways might we be too confident in our ability to see things clearly? Resources: Eugene H. Peterson, First and Second Samuel (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1999). Peter J. Leithart, A Son to Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel (Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 2003). Tim Keller, “David’s Anointing,” Re...

Sunday, March 12, 2023 Each of our readings this week are about thirst. We explore the idea of dependence, and the choices made in the context of need, suffering, and pain. Lynn Cohick, “Session 6: The Samaritan Woman,” YouVersion, Accessed on March 7, 2023, https://www.bible.com/videos/40738-session-6-the-samaritan-woman . Lynn Cohick, Women in the World of the Earliest Christians: Illuminating A...