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“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” ~ Paul (author’s translation). For us who read from a context of relative ease, these words are jarring. Paul writes from prison (Philippians 1:7, (...)

In today’s reading Paul shares his own story as a paradigm. And readers today react to it in polarized ways. Paul’s grounds for boasting (Philippians 3:4b-6) Just beforehand, Paul asks the Philippians to beware of (...)

Today’s reading recaps several major themes of Philippians. In fact, readers today often prefer the recap portions over most of the preceding letter. Recapping earlier appeals (Philippians 4:1-3) Although distinctive statements of their own, Philippians (...)

Today’s lectionary passage belongs to the last chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. It features practical advice for a life centered in Christ. This means that, in terms of contents, the audience should not (...)

Matthew’s parable about a wedding banquet gone wrong is a challenge for preaching. We are rightly mystified by the behavior of the characters in this bizarre little story. An initial invitation to come to a (...)

“I really can’t say enough good about you!” So echoes Paul’s sentiment at the beginning of Thessalonians. He has ample reason to express thanks for them in his prayers. He has no doubt of God’s (...)

The concept of freedom is one of the most valued and debated ideas in Western democracies. It is central to contemporary debates surrounding voting rights, freedom of speech, a woman’s right to choose, gun laws (...)

John’s apocalyptic visions in Revelation 7:9-17 present challenges in two different ways.1 The first challenge has to do with inclusivity/exclusivity. The second has to do with the social setting of the Apocalypse and how that (...)

Writing to a congregation of Gentile converts not long after he introduced them to the faith, Paul clarifies his teachings on a few points where the Thessalonians still remained cloudy. These include issues of eschatology, (...)

The story of Jesus’ presentation in Jerusalem is one of the few stories in the canonical gospels that have to do with Jesus’ childhood. Along with the stories of the circumcision and naming of Jesus (...)