This is where our gospel begins, with an innocent question pointing to the deep divisions we create between ourselves and our neighbors. There is nothing inherently wrong with the man born blind, as Jesus proclaims, yet the entire community-and all of the disciples-can only define him by the sin they perceive. Even after Jesus demonstrates that there is no separation between the man and God, still, the people cannot see him. They see only their reaction to him. The man born blind can be a reflection of the countless we are willing to banish from our communities because we see them as "other" or separate from God. Though, Jesus reminds that he will continually leave the community to be with God's people. Whether racism, ageism, economic policies or LGBTQ+ youth and adults, we as God's people have a history of casting God's own off. Yet Jesus leads us out of ourselves and leads us to where mercy and grace are needed, on the margins outside of town.

Our gospel this week takes us to the troubled lands of Samaria, where Jesus crosses a few lines to hang out with a woman at a well. She does not receive him well, and her reasoning is sound. It is right for her to be skeptical. As she and Jesus dig into a conversation, our opinion of her begins to change and suddenly we realize we're the ones creating the skepticism, not her.  She is moved in faith as soon as she is seen by Christ. We are called by Christ to see our neighbors before we see what we expect of them. #lent #WordofGod #exvangelical #speakgrace #ReadtheBible

No one likes to be manipulated or told what to do. And yet, every single one of us is shaped and crafted by our families, cultures, and communities. How we encounter another person is oriented by our stereotypes, assumptions, stories, and experiences. Is it even possible to meet a person without our own biases? Jesus hangs out with a guy who shows up at night (that's bad) and by most other measures, is a person not to be trusted. Rightly. Instead of following the assumptions Jesus no doubt lived in, he sits with them man and hears him out. And out of that moment comes one of the most important verses in the Christian writings. #sermon #biases #stereotypes #crossofChrist #vision #GodsWord

Jesus gathers a small group to follow him up a mountain, where he hangs out with some famous people. Its all going splendid until God appears (through a cloud) and commands the disciples to listen to Jesus. In one breath, Jesus's identity is transformed from a cool guy with some wild skills and ideas to the Son of God. As in, everything he has been saying is directly from God. No wonder the disciples are terrified. No wonder we often find ways to ignore Jesus, too. #sermon #transfiguration #listen #GodsWord #takeupthecross

Jubilee is a biblical command from God rarely mentioned in worship, or just about anywhere. And yet, it is vital to our vision of God's generosity and our responsibility to our fellow humans. In one year, we are called on by God to redistribute the land (which we value more than human life) in order to demonstrate our dependence on God. Gone are the barriers, fences, constraints, and need to categorize a person's worth based on land, wealth, food, or race. Jubilee is liberation provided by God and lived out by us for the sake of Creation. If we are able on our own to let go. #shapesofholyrest #sermon #leviticus25 #jubilee #endracism #liberation #justice 

Our gospel reading tells of Jesus coming to the baptismal waters in order to be washed by John. John, like us, assumes Jesus doesn't need to be there. John, like us, sees baptism as a solution to a problem. A change of heart and life as he says earlier in Matthew chapter 3. We go looking for solutions to problems and Jesus shows up with a different point of view. Jump into the baptismal waters, Jesus will jump in with you. #baptism #youareloved #childofGod #righteousness

Our reading leaps from the middle of a story between God and a king who wants to do his own thing. Its an opportunity for us to consider what we would need from God to believe that God is actually with us in the moment. We ask for signs and evidence of God often in faith; how do we know that God is listening? God gives the king a sign, even after the king refuses it, because God needs the king, and us, to know one simple word that speaks of every divine promise. #Advent #lament #hope #kings #signsofgrace #youareloved

Our reading this week, Isaiah 54.1-8, seems unique in that God is talking to women. Exclusively women. Directly to women. God even declares that the fate of the nation of Israel is connected to the lives of the women within it. For those of us who grow up in a male dominated culture, church, and reading of the Bible, God is centering women for the sake of creation. We might describe God instinctively as a man, yet in this reading from Isaiah, God is a woman. #Advent #hope #lament #humanity #equity #womenoffaith #womenoftheBible

We already know how it feels to be out of control. We don't really need Jesus's help picturing or imagining what it might be like for our lives. Yet, our reading this week is Jesus telling us about the end of the world. Certainly that's what it sounds like, and we don't need more of that in our lives. Yet, Jesus is of this world and typically speaks in a way that we can understand God's Word in our world. If all the doom and gloom isn't about devastation and chaos to come, what in this world is he talking about? #grace #theologyofthecross #lutheran #hereandnow #Godwithus

Jesus is preaching to the disciples this week, we the gathered who are seeking wisdom and hope for our walk in the world. He is also naming some of the ways that we categorize each other, and how easily we assume that life is a binary (black/white, good/bad, rich/poor). Binaries are part of our world, and create a perception that in order for our world to work, there must be both (rich/poor, hungry/full, sad/laughing). And yet, we disciples know God's kingdom and we know what Christ has done and will do through us. The cross destroys our binaries and opens our vision to see our neighbors through compassion, justice, and equity. #lifeisnotbinary #sermon #AllSaints #lutheran #grace #sermonsoutofruralministry