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The Greek meaning of “epiphany” means to reveal or uncover.1 Yet every season, Jesus is “uncovered” or “revealed” twice.  Luke “reveals” the identity of the Baby in the songs of the angels, so we celebrated (...)

We read Isaiah 60 at Epiphany in part because of the connection between the three gifts of the Magi— gold, frankincense and myrrh—and the promises of favors of gold and frankincense for Israel brought from (...)

Although it is not entirely unique in the Psalter, the most striking thing about Psalm 91 is that it ends with a divine speech in verses 14-16.1 Usually when God speaks in the Psalms, it (...)

Does God pick favorites? Most of us would like to say, “no.” Such an idea would seem to go against foundational democratic values like equality and fairness and we have come to associate these principles (...)

We live in a world where suffering abounds. From the lingering impacts of COVID-19, to ongoing wars and forced displacement of children and families, to devastating wildfires, earthquakes and hurricanes, people from across the U.S. (...)

Brother, afar from your Savior today, Risking your soul for the things that decay, Oh, if today God should call you away, What would you give in exchange for your soul? – J. Berry / (...)

Mark has juxtaposed stories in 7:24-30 and 7:31-37 as mirror images of each other. Both focus on unfortunate people suffering infirmities that isolate them from society (verses 25a, 32a). Something from within the daughter and (...)

Editor’s Note: Each week in August Working Preacher will publish commentaries that correspond with the readings for Season of Creation 2021: Series B (The Word Series). A full listing of worship resources (including liturgies to accompany the (...)

Last Sunday’s Psalm lection (34:1-8) contained some of the typical features of individual Psalms of Thanksgiving, where a worshiper invites others to praise God (verses 1-3) for an act of personal deliverance (verses 4, 6).1 (...)

Notes for a five-week preaching series on Sacraments. The sacraments are sometimes called the “means of grace,” the ways through which God works to promise, to free, to forgive, and to claim people, to make (...)