This Sunday we'll be digging into Charles Wesley's hymn Christ the Lord Is Risen Today. We will look at:

• some of the influences that caused Charles Wesley to write this hymn
• Bible verses and allusions that are used

We will also look at how certain hymns can be set to different hymn tunes. This experiment that we undertake this week has this week's message being a little longer than usual. :-)

On Trinity Sunday, I will be exploring 2 Corinthians 13:11-13. OK...it's in the Lectionary for Trinity Sunday because it mentions the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But, lest I, like many pastors, fall short of truly teaching the correct doctrine about the Trinity, I instead focus on Paul's final words of his second letter to the churches in Corinth. His call to unity was difficult for the churches to hear then, and it's hard for us to hear now!

The sermon was prepared for Pentecost Sunday and the focus text is Number 11:24-30. This would not be the usual text for Pentecost: Acts 2:1-21. After 18 years of ministry, I was looking for a different sermon preparation experience.

It turns out that this lesson is an excellent fit for Pentecost and it turned into what I think was a good sermon ;-).

It speaks of how we shouldn't (and can't) limit the Holy Spirit!

This is the fifth and final episode of a five-part series in which we examine The Lord's Prayer. This week we will focus on: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

I will also address the additional doxology that was added to The Lord's Prayer that is not found in either scripture reading (except the King James Version for Matthew).

Scripture readings to look at in advance are: Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-4.

This is the fourth of a five-part series in which we examine The Lord's Prayer. This week we will focus on: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Scripture readings to look at in advance are: Romans 3:21-26 and Matthew 18:21-35.

This is the third of a five-part series in which we examine The Lord's Prayer. This week we will focus on: "Give us this day our daily bread."

Scripture readings to look at in advance are: Exodus 16:13-21 and Isaiah 40:28-31.

This is the second of a five-part series in which we examine The Lord's Prayer. This week we will focus on: "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Scripture readings to look at in advance are: Matthew 6:25-33 and Matthew 13:31-35.

This is the first of a five-part series in which we examine The Lord's Prayer. This week we will focus on: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name."

Scripture readings to look at in advance are: Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-4.

It's Easter Sunday and I will be focusing on John 20:1-18!

The Parables of Jesus, Part 4: The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

We'll look at Matthew 25:1-13.

As has become a theme for this series, this parable also does not necessarily have a happy ending, but it has something to each us. How can we be prepared for the return of Jesus?

Let's dig in!