The Rev. Nick Lannon

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Luke 11, in which Jesus teaches the disciples about prayer. What kind of listener is God? What kind of gift-giver? The Good News is that God is not like us: we give reluctantly; God gives overflowingly. We give after being hounded; God gives immediately. We give to people we think deserve it; God gives to the undeserving. We give when there's something in...

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Luke 10, in which Jesus is a guest in Mary and Martha's home. Martha works, Mary sits, and Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better part. The Good News is that we already have Jesus for us and there is no more work to be done.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on 2 Kings 5 in which the leper Naaman is angry that instead of being commanded to do a difficult thing to procure his healing, he is asked to do an easy thing instead. We who are saved by the grace of God are the recipients of an easy thing--a free gift--but it was not easy nor free for our savior, Jesus Christ.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Galatians 5, in which Paul contrasts the fruit of the Spirit with the works of the flesh. Contrary to popular belief, Christianity isn't about doing. It's about being...dead. Dead, that is, and then raised to new life.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Galatians 3, in which Paul explains to Christians that they don't have to work anymore to get close to God. It is God's job, in Christ, to get close to them.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches on Trinity Sunday about the "demonic trinity": sin, death, and the devil. Christ's accomplishments on the cross (in the past) defeat all three, and make a life of peace possible in the present and in the future.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Pentecost Sunday about the Holy Spirit's deeds of power: first, he convicts us of our sin, then he participates in our redemption, and then he guarantees that it is really accomplished.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on John 17, in which Jesus prays that his disciples be one. That's bad news and Good News: the bad news is that the law makes us one in our sin, while the Good News is that the Gospel makes us one in our salvation.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on John 14, in which Jesus tell us that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. What kind of love is this? Is the truest love one that is connected to deeds or one that is separated from all deserving?

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Acts 11, in which Peter has a vision about the Good News being available to the Gentiles. This doesn't mean that you're okay no matter who you are, it means that, no matter who you are, Jesus is for you.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Revelation 7:9-17, in which John has a vision of the throne room of God. These worshiping saints have come out of a great ordeal, he's told, and have been washed white in the blood of the lamb. We are such saints.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on John 21:1-19, in which Peter, after Jesus' resurrection, proclaims his love for his savior three times. Jesus is about the business of fixing the broken things of the world. He is a redeemer.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on John 20:19-31, in which Jesus appears to Thomas, who doubted his resurrection. We are all like Thomas, and the Good News is that Jesus shows up to the faithless, offering us his wounds and thereby giving us the faith we lack.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches an Easter sermon on Mark 16, in which the resurrected Jesus leaves a message for his disciples, and Peter. It's a message filled with hope: despite our broken promises, Jesus is a promise-keeper.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon for Good Friday, when Jesus gave his life for the sins of the world. When he proclaimed his thirst, it was proof that he was really a human, really suffering and dying, and really accomplishing the salvation of sinners.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Philippians 3, in which Paul says that all of his many accomplishments are like garbage compared to the value of knowing Christ. All of our efforts to build ourselves up are for nothing; our accomplishments are given to us by Christ.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Luke 15, in which Jesus tells the famous parable of the prodigal son. What new thing can possibly be said about a story this old and well-known? Well, we don't look for new stories to tell, in fact. We tell--and retell--the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Luke 13:1-9, in which Jesus tells a parable about an unfruitful fig tree. How are we to react when Jesus tells stories about the righteous anger of God poured out in his judgment of sin? We are to cling to the Good News! We have an intercessor, a savior, who steps between our sin and an angry God. It is Jesus who redeems us.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Philippians 3:17-4:1, in which Paul tells his readers that they should imitate...him? The Good News that Paul proclaims to us is that we don't have to "live up" to our savior. Our savior comes down to us.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Romans 10:8-13, in which Paul says that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. That sounds like wonderful news, but can it possibly be true?

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon for Ash Wednesday, a day on which we make a mark on our foreheads...not to show how spiritual we are, but how deeply needy we are. The Good News is that Jesus Christ died for needy sinners...he died for us.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on 2 Corinthians 3, in which Paul says that we can now approach God with boldness. But how is that possible, as sinners? Going back to Moses and to the crucifixion, we see that sinful people have always had to fear a holy God...until the intervention of Jesus Christ.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Genesis 45, in which Joseph forgives his brothers, and Luke 6, in which Jesus commands a revolutionary love of neighbor. How is such a love possible? It can only exist in light of a prior love, the one-way love of God in Christ for a sinful person.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Jeremiah 17, in which the prophet says that wise people trust in the Lord, while fools trust in their own strength. That's all well and good, but where is the Good News for those of who are addicted to our own strength? Spoiler alert: it's in Jesus.

The Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Isaiah 6 and Luke 5, in which Isaiah and Peter (respectively) come into the presence of God. Both men, acknowledging their sinfulness, ask God to go away. And God, in his mercy, says "No."