Craft of Preaching

“Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household ... This …

So, how are we doing taking care of that vineyard these days? Before we start casting shame and blame on the easy targets in this story and on those around …

I was a writer before I was a preacher. A colleague of mine, whose newspaper beat I stole, once said: “… of course I can’t turn a phrase …

“By what authority?”

Well, there’s a good question.

Authority is the question of the day. Or, is it a question of the past?

We live …

Whoa.

Has it really been a year since my last contribution?

Good thing not much has happened in the past year :-)

For me these past months have been …

This past week I presented at an amazing conference held in Waco, Texas, called “Nevertheless SHE Preached.”

A grassroots event, dreamt by …

During my years of active ministry in the parish, I had many opportunities to preach on Matthew 18, the Gospel for last week (Matthew 18:15-20) and for …

“How often should I forgive, Jesus?” Of course, Jesus’ response to Peter’s question doesn’t really provide an answer but rather …

What does durable faith mean in times like these?

The Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 7, “we walk by faith, not by sight,” come …

For many churches, this coming Sunday is the start of the fall schedule, a return to the programming and activities that create the hum of the church which …

Before the cross became equated with salvation and a symbol for a religion, it denoted something too often overlooked in our theological machinations. It …

Saying “I love you!” to a crowd does not make any individual feel loved. Most assume it is meant more for others in the group rather than for …

The tension between, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" and "But who do you say that I am?" is the homiletical tension of this Gospel text. It …

Everyone knows, practically every day, the cost of a gallon of gasoline at the local pump. What we may not recognize so constantly are its hidden costs, …

It’s good to be back, Dear Working Preachers. Yes, it is always good to come home after an extended trip, but it’s good to be back writing this …