What The Blues Teaches Us About Preaching
Why You Must Bleed in the Pulpit The congregation knows on some level the world cut you this week. The financial pressures of an economic system rushing towards economic challenges …
Why You Should Bleed In The Pulpit Read More
Isaiah 42:1–9 Introduction – The Toy That Wouldn’t Break There was a toy years ago called Stretch Armstrong. Now, most toys back then were stiff. If you had an action …
05 – A – RCL – You Won’t Break! Read More
Text: Matthew 1:18–25Season: Advent IV Introduction — Advent Means God Steps Into It Advent is the most honest season of the church year. Christmas, the world can handle: lights, carols, …
04 – A – RCL – God Takes Mess Read More
Text: Matthew 11:2–11 Introduction Have you ever wondered why the great God of the universe — the God who spoke and stars were born (Psalm 33:6), the God who split …
03 – A – RCL – What Do You See? Read More
Introduction – The Problem of a Stalled Sermon Not long ago I listened to a sermon that left me restless. The preacher had a strong voice, good content, even some …
You Must Be Going Somewhere: Sermons and the Groove of the Blues Read More
I. Opening Lyric – The Song as a Sermon “Lord, don’t move this mountain, but give me the strength to climb.<br>Lord, don’t take away my stumbling blocks, but guide me, …
Hope in a Minor Key Read More
Johnnie Taylor told a story in Last Two Dollars that sits right next to the story of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath. Both are women at the bottom. Both …
One for the Jukebox, One for the Bus Fare: A Gospel of Survival Read More
When I entered Vanderbilt Divinity School, a place outside my denomination, I carried a question with me: What happens when the theology I was raised in collides with the theology …
Sabbath in a Blues Key Read More
James Cone once declared that “Jesus is Black.” By this, he didn’t mean melanin; he meant that Jesus identifies with the oppressed, the disinherited, the crucified peoples of the world. …
Blues Christology: Jesus Did Not Sidestep the Blues Read More
Isaiah 11:1–10 (KJV) Opening — Naming the Old Rules There are some rules this world will hand you before you even know how to write your name. You learn them …
02 – A – RCL – The Rules Done Changed Read More
Too many sermons hang hope on two hooks. Some promise heaven tomorrow — a mansion over the hilltop, streets of gold, no more crying. Others promise a hookup tomorrow — …
The Blues and Eschatology: Hope in the Dirt Read More
Some preaching can holler loud, hit the right runs, and get folks on their feet… but when you sit down and really think about it, there ain’t much meat on …
How Blues Rescues Us From Hollow Celebration Read More
Some of you know that old gospel-blues number: Trouble in my way, I have to cry sometimes. Trouble in my way, I have to cry sometimes. I lay awake at …
Trouble in My Way: Preaching When the Answer Is Still “No” Read More
You ever notice the real note isn’t always the one on the page? In the blues, the right note is often in between the notes. Not the clean pitch the …
Blue Note Preaching Read More