The Word at Shalom

April 28, 2024, Easter 5B: "Don't Take This the Wrong Way..."

No book has been as misunderstood as the Bible. And our gospel reading for this Sunday is no exception. When Jesus likens his disciples to branches on a vine, we often take that as a threat: “Be fruitful or else!” However, Jesus is not threatening, but truth-telling. What truth is Jesus telling about us, himself, and his Father? And how can we avoid misunderstanding not just this text but every text? Pastor David preaches “Don’t Take This the Wrong Way…” based on Acts 8:26-40 and John 15:1-8. 

April 21, 2024, Easter 4B: "The Shepherd Who Dies"

The image of the Good Shepherd is one of the most beloved in scripture. We may conjure a sweet, bucolic image when we think of it. But the shepherding image was often used as propaganda to legitimate a particular king or conqueror, portraying that person as a benefactor and protector of the people. How is Jesus a different kind of shepherd than any human leader? In an age of propaganda, how can we trust Jesus to be our Good Shepherd? Pastor David preaches “The Shepherd Who Dies” based on John 10:11-18. 

April 7, 2024, Easter 2B: "Breaking through Fear"

In terror, the disciples barricaded themselves behind locked doors. They had reason for their fear. Not only were they still in danger from the authorities, but a few of them had reported an empty tomb with folded-up graveclothes. Was Jesus back? And if he was, what did that mean for them? Would Jesus accuse them of having betrayed and abandoned him? Yet, when Jesus appears to them, he doesn’t give a word of judgment, but one of peace. How does this word of peace reach us today? How does Jesus break through our fears? Pastor David preaches “Breaking through Fear” based on John 20:19-31. 

March 31, 2024, Easter Sunday B: "The Beginning"

Mark’s Gospel has a strange ending, with an empty tomb, a man in white, and terrified women. There is no appearance of the risen Jesus. None of the women say anything to anyone. On the surface, this is a deeply unsatisfying ending to Jesus’s story. But what if Mark’s Gospel has no ending? What if, instead of ending the story of Jesus, Mark shows us a new beginning? Pastor David preaches “The Beginning” based on Mark 16:1-8.

March 29, 2024, Good Friday: "The End"

Preaching text: John 18:1-19:42

March 28, 2024, Maundy Thursday: "Welcome Home"

Preaching text: John 13:1-17, 31b-35

March 24, 2024, Palm Sunday: "Which Lord?"

When Jesus enters Jerusalem, he doesn’t do it like a typical king would. He doesn’t ride on a horse. He doesn’t bring an army. And most notably in Mark’s Gospel, no one comes out from the city to meet him. Rather, he comes with his own rag-tag group of followers. How does Jesus’ ironic procession undercut the various idols we give allegiance to? How does the kingdom of Jesus differ from all human kingdoms? And how does Jesus’ procession confront us today? Pastor David preaches “Which Lord?” based on Mark 11:1-11 and 14:1-15:47. 

March 17, 2024, Lent 5B: "Strange Glory"

The request of some Greeks to see Jesus is more than just a mere request; it functions as a signal that the time has come for Jesus to enter his glory. But what kind of strange glory awaits Jesus? What can he possibly mean when he says, “Whoever hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life?” And how can an itinerant preacher and healer from a no-account town in Galilee possibly draw all people to himself? Pastor David preaches “Strange Glory” based on John 12:20-33.

March 10, 2024, Lent 4B: "Have No Faith in Unfaith!"

The story of Moses fashioning a bronze serpent on a pole is a strange one. It’s also ironic, considering we just heard God forbid such a thing in the Ten Commandments! But there’s a huge insight in this story—and in Jesus’s comparison of himself to the serpent in John’s Gospel: the triumph of faith over unfaith. So, how does this story show the power of faith? How is this faith different from the “name-it-and-claim-it”, prosperity gospel kind of faith? How is this faith good news for hurting human beings, at odds with God and neighbor? Pastor David preaches, “Have No Faith in Unfaith!” based on Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-21.

March 3, 2024, Lent 3B: "Back to Basics"

Organizations and institutions begin with such high hopes. The sense of purpose is clear, and morale is high. Over time, however, the mission drifts. The people of Israel fall into idolatry. The Temple becomes a marketplace. Congregational and denominational purpose fits into a business model. What does this do to our relationships with God and our neighbors? How does God respond when we fall away from our purpose? What does it mean to be faithful in the religious marketplace? Pastor David preaches “Back to Basics” based on Exodus 20:1-21 and John 2:13-22.