Abstinence: 99.999999% Effective
Matthew 1.18-25 Many Christmases ago, after singing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night” service after service after service and after having a distracted parent spill hot wax on my hand,...
View ArticleNot Empty Away Forever
Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35.1-10 I spent one Advent a few years ago in Guatemala with a mission team from my previous congregation, in a poor community near the mountains called Chicutama....
View ArticleAt-onement Apart from the Cross
At-One-Ment It was the Council of Chalcedon in the mid-5th century that hammered out the Christology (‘speech about Christ’) that became orthodox for Christians everywhere. According to the Chalcedon...
View ArticleWas Jesus Wrong?
Having kicked off our Advent Begins in the Dark daily devotional series over at www.crackersandgrapejuice.com, I’ve received a number of questions from readers, listeners, and congregants. I thought...
View ArticleEpisode #181: Fleming Rutledge- Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus...
“Forgiveness alone cannot make right.” I sat down with fan favorite, Reverend Fleming Rutledge, to talk about her latest book, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ. To dig more into her...
View ArticleMissing from the Manger
A nativity is up already in the narthex, strewn with artful straw and friendly beasts, shepherds and the maker of the world, measuring in inches and ounces, laying in a manger. It’s a testament to St....
View ArticleChristians Come First
Crackers and Grape Juice will be doing a daily devotional all through Advent and Christmas. Go to www.adventbeginsinthedark.com to subscribe. Here’s the second offering: Every year I try to remind...
View ArticleAdvent: Being Present with the Absent God
My podcast posse at Crackers and Grape Juice are launching a daily devotional for the season called Advent Begins in the Dark: Reflections to Ready Us for the Not Yet. We’ve invited guest contributors...
View ArticleLinus was Wrong, Tim Keller is Correct: Why Jesus Came
Elf on the Shelf and Krampus and crass consumerism are easy targets come Christmastime, but too often even overtly Christian fare misses being Gospel this season. Take the ubiquitous Charlie Brown...
View ArticleHearing the News from Mary’s Vantage
Save a fanciful excursus on the magi that disappeared forever when my son sucked on the thumb drive, this narrative on the annunciation remains my least popular most hated sermon ever. I like it very...
View ArticleKeep the Cross in Christmas
Where is the promised peace? Should we preach political sermons on Christmas Eve? Why does the victory feel so fragile? When was the last time we trembled in church? Our special guest and my former...
View ArticleA Waste of Wood
It’s just a few bricks shy of brimstone- my 3rd Sunday of Advent sermon on Isaiah 61. I spent one Advent a few years ago in Guatemala with a mission team from Aldersgate, in a poor community near the...
View ArticleI am the Highway, the Truth, and the Life
Second Sunday of Advent – Isaiah 40.1-11 We listen to a lot of music in my house. Even though I can’t carry a tune, strum a chord or eyeball a flat from a sharp, that doesn’t stop me from being a...
View ArticleSin Isn’t Our Only Problem: Christmas Without the Cross
It was the Council of Chalcedon in the mid-5th century that hammered out the Christology (‘speech about Christ’) that became orthodox for Christians everywhere. According to the Chalcedon formula, the...
View ArticleRags for Riches
First Sunday in Advent – Isaiah 64.1-6 Due to heavily sourced and corroborated claims of misconduct, the role of Santa Claus this Christmas will be played by Christopher Plummer. Just kidding. But...
View ArticleEpisode 65: Fridays with Fleming – Preaching in a Post-Truth Culture
In Episode 65, our latest installment of Fridays with Fleming, I talk with Fleming Rutledge about the message of Advent and preaching the word of Truth in a post-truth culture. Just a reminder: The...
View ArticleYou ARE Worthy of Salvation
When it comes to Christ’s cradle and cross, we typically use words like ‘goodness’ and ‘worthiness’ in a very specific way. In a very particular direction. Jesus is the (only) one who is good. Jesus...
View ArticleEpisodes 60 & 61: Advent & Standing Rock
We never tire of working for you at Crackers & Grape Juice, and before you complain about the audio quality in #60 just remember we do this for you gratis in our spare time. We’ve got two episodes...
View ArticleAt-onement Apart from the Cross
At-One-Ment It was the Council of Chalcedon in the mid-5th century that hammered out the Christology (‘speech about Christ’) that became orthodox for Christians everywhere. According to the Chalcedon...
View ArticleThe Incarnation Isn’t Accidental
When we say that Jesus comes in order to suffer for our Sin- that he’s born to die- we suggest that suggest that Jesus might not have come. The incarnation then is ‘accidental’ in the way the...
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