Sermons That Work

[RCL] Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 “When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Today is the celebration of the feast of the Ascension. The book of Acts tells us that after Jesus’s resurrection, he…

[RCL] Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:7-18, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 The Acts of the Apostles, or the Book of Acts, follows the work of the early Christian community in the years immediately following Christ’s death and resurrection. Thus readings from Acts are particularly appropriate in the weeks following Easter Day. In today’s reading, Saul, now…

[RCL] Acts 7:55-70; John 14:1-14 Books can and have been written about some of the bizarre things that have been said by well-meaning friends, family members, and even clergy at funerals.  In The Episcopal Church, what we say follows a four-part formula: we gather to remember our beloved, we give thanks to God for their…

[RCL] Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 Jesus often refers to his followers as sheep. Likely Jesus is picking up here on the familiar imagery of the twenty-third psalm, which describes God as a shepherd who guides us all the days of our lives.  Scriptural as the imagery may be, some people…

[RCL] Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-3,10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 There is a very short story Alan Dugan wrote for Poetry magazine called “April.” It unequivocally describes spring in a cold climate. April.  The old man in shining black, with the immense black umbrella, walked down the street like the younger brother of the shadow of…

[RCL] Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 There’s something wonderfully honest and fascinating about the story we hear today from Thomas. While the other disciples hid behind closed doors on that first Easter evening, Thomas was absent. When they found him, they told him everything they had seen, but he refused…