Preface for Pastors and Parents This Sunday is Advent 2 of Lectionary Year B, so I bring you a children’s sermon on Mark 1:1-8. I have long thought that it’s a cool text—at least ever since I started taking Mark’s Gospel more seriously. That was a change for me, sparked by a great theatrical performance. […]
A Children’s Sermon on Mathew 3:1-12 — Advent 2
Preface for Pastors and Parents For the Second Sunday of Advent I bring you a children’s sermon on Matthew 3:1-12. (You can find my regular Monday Meditation on this text through this link.) The lectionary gospel readings always take us on a backward journey to Bethlehem. I mean, we all know this is about preparing […]
A Children’s Sermon on Luke 3:1-6–Straight Paths
Preface for Pastors and Parents For the second Sunday of Advent in Year C of the lectionary, I bring you a children’s sermon on Luke 3:1-6. (You can find my regular Monday Meditation on this passage through this link.) In these lectionary readings we’re still nowhere near Bethlehem. The challenge is explaining to kids why […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Advent 2, Matthew 3:1-12
Locusts & Honey. Mmm… It’s easy to get sidetracked by the odd details about John the Baptist: He wore that stylish camel’s hair jacket with a nice leather belt. And he ate a high protein diet featuring insects — and like the kid’s poem about keeping peas on one’s knife, John improved their taste with […]
Advent 2: Thinking About John the Baptist (Heidelberg Catechism Q. 69)
On the second Sunday of Advent we continue to back our way toward Bethlehem. On Advent 1 we looked forward to the return of Christ. This week’s Gospel readings have us looking at our own experience: we remember our Baptism. John the Baptist greets us in the text, helping everyone prepare for Christ’s coming. He […]