James Liggett
The Rev. James Liggett is the retired rector of St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church in Midland, Texas. He is a native of Kansas and a graduate of the University of Houston and the Episcopal Divinity School. He has served parishes in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma and has been a contributor to Sermons That Work since the 1980’s.
Sermons and Bible Studies
Suffering, Pentecost 5 (B) – June 23, 2024
[RCL] Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 Note: During the 2024 Season after Pentecost, Sermons That Work will use Track 2 readings for sermons and Bible […]
Waiting, Easter 7 (B) – May 12, 2024
[RCL] Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 This morning, we hear that peculiar little story from Acts. It’s generally overlooked, but since it’s about anxiety, and […]
Death, Lent 5 (A) – 2023
[RCL] Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 These long readings from John’s Gospel during Lent have a depth and a power to them that can, if we take […]
Surrender, Lent 1 (A) – 2023
[RCL] Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Seldom does our lectionary give us such richness in Scripture—two of the most powerful and evocative stories in the Bible […]
Locked Doors, Easter 2 (C) – 2022
[RCL] Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31 Today’s sermon illustration is that odd picture that’s included. It’s an old Charles Addams cover from a 1981 […]
Behold My Servant, Good Friday – 2022
[RCL] Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42 At no time do we stand closer to the mystery, the hiddenness, the total otherness of God […]
Pearls and Grit, Easter 7 (B) – 2021
RCL: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 Everybody knows that oysters sometimes make pearls; that little tidbit has been used to illustrate many a point. But […]
Showing Up, Easter 2 (B) – 2021
RCL: Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31 Alleluia, Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia. The Second Sunday of Easter is very dependable. (Not just […]
Who Sinned?, Lent 4 (A) – March 22, 2020
[RCL]: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 That long reading from John about the man born blind is always very current. We only need to look at […]
The Same Story, Christmas 1 – 2019
[RCL]: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 147 or 147:13-21; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18 Have you ever noticed that when you get together with your family and start telling stories about when […]
Outstretched Arms, Easter Day – 2019
Note: This sermon includes references to an icon that can be downloaded via a link at the bottom of this page for distribution to the congregation. Alleluia, Christ is Risen! […]
How to Be Beloved, Epiphany 1 (C) – 2019
I want to talk a bit about the Baptism of Jesus, about what it means. The place to start, of course, is with the story we just heard. We heard […]
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