Sermons from St. John the Divine

For many years, this congregation has been well-led. You have been well-formed. You have been well-blessed. But this is a new day. And the question before us is how can we together carry forward all the best that makes St. John the Divine who she is – all of her unique strengths and charisms - carry that forth into a new and pioneering expression of the gospel for the sake of our family and friend...

God called his creation very good, but Adam and Eve’s rebellion plunged the world into moral chaos as they (and we) determined what is good and evil. Jesus came to redeem humanity that we might hear the voice of God calling us in Christ his beloved.

We all live in the shadow of the curse, but the light of the blessing is higher and brighter. Our pain, our fear, our brokenness can bring us down into despair, or it can draw us into the love of the God who calls us beloved. The truest and deepest thing about us is that we are God’s beloved children and that God’s presence is with us as we walk through our lives.

8 tidbits of biblical wisdom from Ephesians 1: #1: It’s Not All About You. It’s All About Jesus. #2: Location is Everything. We are Located in Christ #3: Remember You are Blessed by Being in Christ. #4: God Chose Us #5: You are Blessed to be Adopted #6: History is not Meaningless but Moving Toward a Glorious Goal #7: Worship Jesus at All Times and in All Places #8: Read your Bible this Year and Mi...

When the magnificent prose of the Prologue of John (1:1-18) does not work for you, turn to Luke and the nativity story with the infant Jesus. God became flesh and dwelt among us that we might be as innocent as the Christ child. Jesus died not only for our sins but the create a new humanity in himself freed from sin and the effects of sin. One day, at the resurrection of the dead, there will be no...

The son of God is an amazing gift. Do not be fooled by the humble wrappings of swaddled cloths and the animal manger. For the opener of the gift, glorious wonders are revealed.

The Lord has a good pleasing and perfect will for our lives. The blessed virgin Mary shows a godly response to the message and claim of the Gospel upon us. “Behold, I am your servant, let it be unto to me according to your word.” How will you respond to the good news?

God chose Mary for his purposes. Like Abraham, Moses, and David, I’m sure there were days Mary wished she hadn’t been chosen. Being chosen has its rewards, but it also comes with suffering. The Christian life always involves suffering. God chose Mary for his most important mission. Her work and her obedience stand head and shoulders above the men who preceded her.

Whatever your calling, your profession, your talent, your unique place in this world, live it out like a lamp reflecting the true light of Christ. The paradox is that what is important is you being you, but it is not about you! You are not the true light but the true light shines through you.

John the Baptist had the incredible privilege and awesome responsibility of being the first believer and witness to Jesus Christ. His testimony was true, and he laid the groundwork for the dawning of the light of the world. Believe and receive the good news and the free gift of God in his Son.

The prophets of the Bible, Isaiah and John the Baptist, challenge us to turn away from the small idols of this world. Let us turn our hearts and lives to greater horizons and make way for the advent of the Lord.

John invites the people to turn around and get ready to receive Jesus. The obstacles in the path are not for us to get over, but for us to clear away so Jesus can freely come to us. We are the destination and Jesus is the traveler.

Jesus calls us to wake up and notice him here and now. He knows our troubles and comes as quietly and gently as fresh new leaves on a tree in spring. This advent comes to us in a year of prolonged waiting. So much in our world has shaken the ground we stand on. The call of Jesus is to trust that he will always be our firm foundation. And to continue watching and waiting for him to break into our l...

The judgement of the Son of God, is the judgment of the one who identifies with our suffering and lifts us to the dignity we all have been given. Our calling as Christ followers is to pick up our crosses, deny ourselves and do the same. Jesus invites us to see each particular person we encounter as the beautiful image bearers of the God who created them and the Son who died for them. I pray that w...

The final sermon of Jesus challenges us to live in light of his first and second coming. As we look forward to the coming day of the Lord. Only two things will matter: that we love him and that we love those whom he loves.

The Lord absolutely delights in his people's stewardship of their entrusted wealth and abilities. May we live to hear the blessing of “well done good and faithful servant, come enter my joy”.

In the Lord’s prayer, we say: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” What is in heaven that needs to come to earth? The answer is the richness of Jesus and all he has done for us and taught us. At the cross he stood in as a substitute for us. The reason he died is found in what he taught consistently: Love God and love...

Christ knows us because we look like him. Loving God with all our minds allows Christ to transform us into his image. But the fuel that Jesus gives us, is not just for our own personal relationship with God. It has a much greater purpose. Lamps are meant to bring light to the darkness.

John’s vision of heaven reveals we are part of a great multitude of God-worshiping people from every tribe, language, and nation! We have come to the great tribulation and have received a great salvation.

Every commandment that comes from God is there to love him and to love our neighbor in some fashion. This is the divine work of the church, and we can do it because in Jesus, God has generously loved us. We have all the money we need for the divine work of the church. It just needs to be relocated from stocks, bonds, and bank accounts and devoted to the God we love with all our heart, mind, and so...

Political parties often wrestle with each other over the things of this world. Factionalism and party spirit often is accompanied with malice and contempt for the other. The Lord would have us be responsible in our civic responsibilities, without losing our souls in the process. Ultimately, true worth is in that which bears the image of God and not on the coins bearing the image of man.

If we want to know if we are willing to marry all that the Son stands for, we can look at our lives and see if we are living lives committed to justice, compassion, and love just like our groom. Are we willing to remove the garments of our self-centeredness. And put on the garments of self giving love of the Son?

In your life, do you put God first, your neighbor second, and yourself third? If God is first, you are keeping commandments 1-4. If your neighbor is second, you are keeping commandments 5-10. Keeping these commandments are vital to coming in third, picking up your cross daily, dying to self, and receiving the bronze medal crafted for you on the cross of Christ.

We live in a world right now full of separation, isolation, and fear. Much like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day we talk amongst ourselves and reason only with those who agree with us. Our isolation makes us feel threatened. We close out those who threaten our security and power. Jesus knows that the only way we can experience all the fruitfulness of the kingdom of God is if we work together to...

Politically motivated leadership gains its authority from the consent of the people. Jesus’ authority comes from God the Father. It’s not a question of whether he has it or not, it is a question of whether we will give our hearts to him.