September 16, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
Chapter nine of Mark sits right at the center of the gospel. Since Mark is structured chiastically...
September 9, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
by Mike Baughman
Epistle Reading: Mark 8:27-38
For Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 24
Chances are at some point in your life, you found yourself sucked into an episode or two of The Real World
September 9, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
by Mike Baughman
Epistle Reading: James 3:1-12
For Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 24
In this week’s lectionary text on leadership and tongues, the potential significance of the small and...
September 2, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
by Carl Gregg
Gospel Reading: Mark 7:24-37
For Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012: Year B — Ordinary 23
Letty Russell, in Church in the Round, described Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman as the case...
September 2, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
by Carl Gregg
Epistle Reading: James 2:1-14
For Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012: Year B — Ordinary 23
Martin Luther dismissively called The Book of James a “right strawy epistle.” Luther wanted to base the...
August 27, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
Psalm Reading: Psalm 45
For Sunday, Sept. 2 , 2012—Ordinary 22
How helpful is it to believe in a story which perpetually promises that God will make everything better in the...
August 27, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
Gospel Reading: Mark 7:1-8, 14-5, 21-23
For Sunday, Sept. 2 , 2012—Ordinary 22
How many of us will preach this text with the assumption that we and our congregations are the...
August 19, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
Gospel Reading: John 6:56-69
For Sunday, August 26, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 21
It bothers me that this pericope begins with Jesus talking about people eating his flesh and drinking...
August 19, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
by Nanette Sawyer
Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 8: 1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43
For Sunday, August 26, 2012: Year B—Ordinary 21
King Solomon is a good man. He is admired and admirable, for the most...
August 12, 2012 | by The Hardest Question
Gospel Reading: John 6:51-58
For Sunday, August 19, 2012—Ordinary 20
A friend of mine who studies traditional foods from tribal cultures told me that the notion that you are what...
