Pondering Our Death
What do you do with the body?
Proper 24 • Luke 18:1–8 • October 16, 2016
By Kent Burreson The Persistent Church and the Long-suffering Lord O Spirit, who didst once restore Thy Church that it might be again The bringer of good news to men, Breathe on Thy cloven Church once more, That in these gray and latter days There may be those whose life is praise, Each life a ..
Palm Sunday • Luke 22:1–23:56 • March 20, 2016
By Kent Burreson Passing from one divine feast to another, from palms and branches, let us now make haste, O faithful, to the solemn and saving celebration of Christ’s passion Let us behold him undergo voluntary suffering for our sake, And let us sing to him with thanksgiving a fitting hymn: “Fountain of tender mercy ..
Pentecost • Acts 2:1–21 • May 24, 2015
By Kent Burreson The Feast Day of Pentecost is the fiftieth day of the Easter season, the eighth day beyond the seven weeks of seven days. It is the culmination of the joyous, uninterrupted feast of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. It is the end of the beginning (the celebration of the risen Christ among his people) and ..
Proper 21 • Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32 • September 28, 2014
By Kent Burreson The Just Way of God “The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” This phrase leads Yahweh through Ezekiel to address Israel’s whining as they blame Yahweh for their woe and suffering in the destruction of the land and in the exile under Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar. The preacher is encouraged ..
All Saints’ Day • 1 John 3:1–3 • November 3, 2013
By Kent Burreson Looking Forward to the Family Reunion Certain feast days in the church calendar have a decidedly baptismal focus: Epiphany, the Baptism of our Lord, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday, Pentecost, the Presentation of our Lord, and . . . All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day focuses upon the lives of all ..
The Preacher’s Studio: Kent Burreson
Preacher’s Studio is a chance to take a step back and talk about the art and craft of preaching. Today’s preacher: KENT BURRESON, on preaching JOHN 13:16-38
A People Called to Love: Christian Charity in North American Society
A Bible study to enable Christians to reflect on and live out their daily vocations for the good of the public square and for the life of the world. Free, downloadable videos, Bible studies, and leader essays all available here
Proper 9 • Ezekiel 2:1–5 • July 8, 2012
“Thus says the Lord God” (Ez 2:4). Notice what is missing? (Ex 3:13–15; Ex 20:2) The Lord Yahweh does not identify himself as the God of Israel, “your God.” What the Lord will say through Ezekiel will not be easy for the people of Israel to hear. The Lord God’s words are intended to kill ..
Bach’s Oratorio on a Sunday Morning
Should we fear that high art, like the music of Bach, might die within the church?
Reformation Day • Matthew 11:12–19 • October 30, 2011
By Kent Burreson What have you come here to see? (Mt 11:7–9). This is one of the questions Jesus puts to the crowds at this turning point in Matthew’s Gospel as opposition to Jesus grows. Perhaps more appropriately, on Reformation Sunday the question should be: “What did you come here to do?” This alternate Gospel reading ..
All Saints’ Day • Revelation 7:(2–8) 9–17 • November 7, 2010
by Kent Burreson Getting to Know the White-Clad Relatives The central question of chapter 7 in John’s vision, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” reminds me of the family gatherings of my youth. Even with the name Burreson—a small Norwegian clan, few in number—at the bi-annual reunion in ..
Epiphany 5 · Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) · February 7, 2010
By Kent Burreson The Theophany of God, Cleansing, and Call of Isaiah The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany offers the opportunity to preach on a liturgical text: the Sanctus. Since the biblical narrative informs the liturgical text and action, it would be appropriate to preach from within the purpose and movement of the Sanctus (and Benedictus) ..
Ascension · Luke 24:44-53 · May 21, 2009
By Kent Burreson A Journey for the Ages This homiletical help provides reflections on central themes for the Ascension in light of the liturgical context and hymnography for the feast. The Gospel reading for the Ascension of Our Lord is the Lukan account of Jesus’ final teaching and his return to his Father. It is ..