[RCL] Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 When reading the gospels, it is a good idea to pay close attention to the moments when Jesus withdraws to a deserted place by himself and what he does immediately afterward. We need only back up ten verses from today’s story from Matthew…

Sometimes today’s gospel lesson is interpreted along the lines of the title of a book by John Ortberg, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get out of the Boat.” The interpretation goes like this: Peter had the right idea when he got out of the boat, quite literally stepping out in…

If you ever decide to write a book about the gospels, here’s an idea for you. You might want to tackle the central role of the Sea of Galilee in the narrative of Jesus’ ministry. A great freshwater lake or inland sea about a third the size of Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border, it…

“And Joseph went looking for his brothers.” Seeking, searching, Joseph went looking for his brothers. In today’s reading from Genesis, the meaning in Hebrew of Jacob’s command to Joseph is, “See how your brothers are,” with the meaning of “Seek the peacefulness and integrity of your brothers.” Joseph’s search for his brothers, God’s search for…

Note: This sermon can conclude with the singing of a traditional 8-bar blues. If you or someone in your congregation plays guitar, or piano, or banjo (you get the idea), you could easily work this up. It’s a lot of fun, and helps to drive the message (kerygma) home. People internalize what they sing. Or,…

The voice of the Lord is over the waters…[Psalm 29] Pentecost is a time of explanation, a time of gradual but astounding revelation. The readings for this season try to explain to the people of God who have been redeemed by the death and resurrection of the Lord the vastness, the depth of the gift…