Ken Kesselus
The Rev. Ken Kesselus, author of John E. Hines: Granite on Fire (Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, 1995), is retired from full-time, active ministry and lives with his wife, Toni, in his native home, Bastrop, Texas.
Sermons and Bible Studies
What’s Wrong?, Proper 15 (A) – 2020
[RCL]: Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 Do you remember the children’s puzzle game called What’s Wrong with This Picture? Hearing the odd confrontation between […]
Twelve, Pentecost 2 (A) – June 14, 2020
[RCL]: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7); Psalm 116:1, 10-17; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23) Twelve. Twelve is one of those rare numbers to which people have for centuries attributed special significance. We […]
Power and Control, Proper 16 (C) – 2019
[RCL]: Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17 Harvard Professor Hugh O’Doherty says that all conflict is about power and control, and in fact, a great deal of other […]
Lambs and Sheep, Easter 3 (C) – 2019
Today, it’s all about lambs and sheep. Don’t we like driving by a farm or ranch and seeing the cute, docile creatures in a field? Sometimes, wouldn’t we like to […]
Joining the Saints, Epiphany 6 (C) – 2019
Consider your condition in life. Are you relatively well off financially? Are you secure, with an abundance of material possessions? Do you often eat out, sometimes in expensive restaurants? Do […]
Possessions, Proper 23 (B) – 2018
In today’s Gospel, a man with many possessions encountered Jesus. His wealth of possessions is central to the message. Possessions – are they good or bad? Blessings or hindrances? Deficits […]
Look for the Commonality, Proper 21 (B) – 2018
In today’s gospel, we hear the intriguing story of Jesus’ disciples trying to stop a man who had been casting out demons in Jesus’ name. They seem to have become […]
Tribalism, Proper 19 (B) – 2018
The esteemed 20th-century theologian Karl Barth [pronounced “Bart”] reportedly advised preachers to prepare sermons with the Bible in one hand and a current newspaper in the other. Obviously, he wanted […]
To Work in the Vineyard, Proper 22 (A) – 2017
The easiest way for a preacher to deal with the challenging story in today’s Gospel reading might be to understand it as simply a metaphor for events we already know […]
Trust in God’s Love, Lent 3 (A) – 2017
What follows is largely based on the teachings of esteemed New Testament scholar John Knox, who wrote extensively about the context of today’s Epistle. Before examining the Romans passage, however, […]
Be Joyful, Proper 9 (C) – 2016
Many of us learned to sing these words at summer camp. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy Down in my heart (Where?) Down in my heart (Where?) Down in […]
Parts of the Whole, Epiphany 3 (C) – 2016
In many dioceses, this month marks an important time for annual meetings in congregations. At these times, we necessarily focus on “the Church” – how things have been going for […]
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sermons That Work podcast to hear this sermon and more on your favorite podcasting app! Recordings are released the Thursday before each liturgical date.
Receive Free Weekly Sermons That Work Resources!
