September 27, 2026 Matthew 21:23-32, Philippians 2:1-11 Progressive Insurance says it can save you money when you bundle your coverage, but it
Sermon Texts
September 13th, 2026 – Deacon Ordination Matthew 18:21-35, Romans 14: 1-3 & 7-12 In our Gospel lesson today, Peter clears his throat
Matthew 18:15-20, Romans 13:8-14 In the 1980 hit movie, Nine to Five, Doralee Rhodes, played by Dolly Parton, discovers that the whole office believes she is having an affair with the boss, Franklin Hart. “Well that explains it. No wonder all these people treat me like a dime-store floozy…” Mr. Hart is a “sexist, egostical, lying, hypocritical bigot” and would be skewered in the #metoo movement that cast corporate sexual harassment into the spotlight a few years ago. In 9 to 5, the women’s accomplishments are credited to the men in the office and their complaints against Mr. Hart are ignored over and over again, and so Doralee, Violet (Jane Fonda) and Judy (Lily Tomlin) take matters into their own hands. The boss is secretly hog-tied, presumed away on business, while the ladies institute workplace reforms that actually improve morale and productivity. It’s a wildly exaggerated comedy, of course, of what can happen when HR doesn’t respond appropriately to conflict in the office. And it’s a good movie (for adults) to watch on this Labor Day weekend and especially in memory of the dearly departed Dolly Parton. Matthew’s 18th chapter is not intended for corporate conflict, but for those living together as the family of God. “Jesus is describing what life looks like in a community committed to protecting the vulnerable, telling the truth, and pursuing reconciliation.”1 The passage we have before us today has been used by many
Matthew 16:13-20, Romans 12:1-8 When Allan and I began at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, VA, Tom Graves was the president. He led the procession of faculty members in the first convocation we attended in the fall of 1996 (30 yrs ago) as he did every year with a white hand towel draped over his left arm. Dr. Graves had made the servant’s towel a symbol the seminary adopted from its very first convocation. And every student received one upon their graduation embroidered with our names. It was a symbol of calling to a world that needed servant-leaders. Dr. Graves set the example from the start. Three years ago this month, Tom Graves passed away, after years of living with MS. At the time, one of our professors, Dr. Linda McKinnish Bridges, wrote a tribute to him. It reminded me so clearly of something he said (asked, really) at every convocation: Students would hear his polished, public speaking voice, which had been shaped by years of collegiate debate, at the beginning of every fall term, when he welcomed the new and old students to campus. The cadence and timbre of his voice still rings in my ears to this day. He would pause from the traditional presidential welcome speech, stand on his heels and lean into the pulpit, and then boldly and loudly ask, “WHY are YOU here?” The inquiry was not condescending judgment but an honest invitation to engage in self-reflection, to begin an open dialogue about commitment to ministry, to the
Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28, Romans Neighborhood Watch programs started as a cooperative relationship between law enforcement and average citizens. Have you seen the Neighborhood Watch signs? They show a red circle with a line through it over the dark silhouette of someone wearing a trench coat and fedora. Who are we watching out for? The Blues Brothers? Is this what crooks and suspicious characters wear these days? Today, I would like for us to imagine the kind of Neighborhood Watch program God would design. What would God tell us to watch out for? Who would God want us to keep an eye on? Matthew 15:21-28 is problematic. This story paints a picture of Jesus that is almost unrecognizable. This is not the Jesus we know and love. In fact, this Jesus is one I don’t even particularly like. 1 But let me back up for a moment. After walking on the water with Peter, he and the disciples beached the boat at Gennesaret. The crowds catch wind of his return. And in the Message it says, “They sent out word through the neighborhood and rounded up all the sick, who asked for permission to touch the edge of his coat. And whoever touched him was healed.”2 This is what the neighborhood God is building is going to look like – personal ministry among those who need healing the most. Here is what it’s NOT going to look like… While in Gennesaret, as if on Neighborhood Watch, the Pharisees and scribes arrive from
Matthew 14:22-33, Romans 10:5-15 A man appears before the pearly gates. “Have you ever done anything of particular merit?” St. Peter asks. “Well, I can think of one thing,” the man offers. “Once I came upon a rough looking biker gang who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn’t listen. So I approached the largest and meanest looking biker. I smacked him on the head, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring and threw it on the ground, and told him, ‘Leave her alone now or you’ll answer to me.’” St. Peter was impressed. “When did this happen?” “A couple minutes ago.” 1 I suspect Peter knows a little bit about this. Impulse control was never his strong-suit either. In today’s story, there are lessons to be learned from this disciple who jumps out of the boat in a raging storm— lessons on courage and faith, and most of all recognizing that resilience doesn’t come from single human will-power. In Matthew’s gospel, this episode follows the death of John and then the feeding of the five thousand. Hearing about his cousin, and predecessor in this movement, Jesus is reminded of the risk he and all his followers are assuming. When the miraculous meal was finished, Jesus insisted the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the people. After the crowd dispersed, Jesus took himself up