In a series on “encountering Jesus,” no encounter is so important as the cross, where Jesus is laid bare and his deepest values and priorities are exposed. What do we see in this tragic encounter?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on February 4, 2024.)
Jesus’s confrontation with Judas in the garden has some of the most variation between gospel accounts of any story in his life. Nonetheless, there is a common theme underwriting each story. What should we learn from this momentous betrayal?
(Preaching through the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 28, 2024.)
In the garden we see Jesus at his most vulnerable and human. Why was he so troubled, what did he do about it, and what should we learn from this deeply emotional story?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 21, 2024.)
Jesus’s act of washing the disciples feet is a powerful example of service and love. What should we learn from this encounter with Jesus, and how should we put it into practice?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 14, 2024.)
The story of Zacchaeus is one of the more instantly recognizable stories in the Gospels. Why is that? What should we learn from Zacchaeus and Jesus in this story, and what about all the other people in the crowd?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on January 7, 2024.)
Jesus’s encounter with a rich young ruler can seem quite harsh, depending on the perspective of the reader. But the encounter should force the reader to reconsider their perspective: who exactly is Jesus talking about, and how does his teaching apply to each of us?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 31, 2023.)
The story of Jesus and Lazarus famously contains the shortest verse in the Bible: Jesus wept. What do we learn about Jesus’s priorities, heart, and desires in this story, and what should we do about it?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 24, 2023.)
Many of the stories of Jesus in the gospels teach us just as much by the people responding to (and either rejecting or accepting) Jesus. Why did the healing of the blind man elicit such strong reactions, and what should we learn from them?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 17, 2023.)
Jesus encountered many demons during his ministry, but what is often more interesting in these encounters is the people: how they react, what they say, and how Jesus responds to them. What can we learn from our encounter with Jesus and a demon in Mark 9?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 10, 2023.)
Jesus encounter with the Canaanite woman is one of the most unusual in the gospels. Why did Jesus treat the woman the way he did, and what should we learn from his behavior?
(Preaching on the life of Jesus. This sermon was preached at the Dewey Church of Christ on December 3, 2023.)
