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Psalm 121 is one of the Songs of Ascent, Psalms 120-134, as indicated by its opening words. In general these psalms focus on Jerusalem, the journey to Jerusalem — always categorized as “going up,” and (...)

Fifteen psalms in the Psalter, Psalms 120-134, share a common superscription, “Songs of Ascents. The root meaning of the word “ascents” is ‘alah–”to go up.” The frequent references to Jerusalem and Zion in this collection (...)

Were anyone to quiz congregants filing in to worship about the content of the little book of Joel, chances are good that few could cogently respond. Why then, preach from Joel? Several considerations might lead (...)

Joel 2 is, perhaps, most well known from its quotation in Acts 2:14 and following. In Acts, Peter calls upon Joel’s words to help the festival crowds in Jerusalem understand the powerful in-rushing of the (...)

On September 30, 2015, the state of Georgia executed Kelly Gissendaner, who plotted the 1997 murder of her husband, Douglas. While in prison Kelly converted to Christianity and demonstrated that hers was a genuine conversion. (...)

Often, there is no sermon on Good Friday. The reading of Luke’s Passion story from Jesus’ prayer in the garden to his burial (22:39-23:56) is the focus of the service. Perhaps the story is read (...)

When a psalm is divided up, like the one for this Sunday (verses 1-7, 17-19), the integrity of the psalm is lost.1 Then the beautifully intertwined words of lament to God and praise of God (...)

This rich passage comprises four subscenes as the Gospel positions Jesus in Galilee (Matthew 4:12-16) and narrates the opening acts of Jesus’ public activity (Matthew 4:17-23). Jesus in Galilee Herod the tetrarch’s silencing of John (...)

As much as any psalm in the Psalter, Psalm 27 expresses trust in the lord and claims absolute dependence on God. This is apparent in verse 1, which begins the lectionary reading: “The Lord is (...)

The lectionary selection from Psalm 40 includes ten verses that express thanksgiving (verses 1-10) and one verse of petition for help (verse 11). The shift from thanks to plea represents a major problem of interpretation (...)