From the Archives: Further Up, Further In
Sermons, Lectionary, Old Testament, New Testament, Gospel, Christian Formation, Theology, Preaching Porter Taylor Sermons, Lectionary, Old Testament, New Testament, Gospel, Christian Formation, Theology, Preaching Porter Taylor

From the Archives: Further Up, Further In

The Christian life, the redeemed life of salvation, is not about resting on our laurels or sitting on our blessed assurance. It is not about counting our blessings while people suffer around the world or by sitting back and turning a blind eye, mute mouth, and deaf ear to the problems, wrongs, and evils of this world. The Christian life is not about believing that all of the right people already belong to this church or the Kingdom. 

The Christian life is a hope-filled, joy-filled, gratitude-laden response to the summons to go further up, further in.

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Sermon: Is the LORD Among Us or Not?
Sermons, Matthew, Exodus, Preaching, Homiletics, Old Testament, Gospel, Lectionary Porter Taylor Sermons, Matthew, Exodus, Preaching, Homiletics, Old Testament, Gospel, Lectionary Porter Taylor

Sermon: Is the LORD Among Us or Not?

Jesus tells them that tax collectors and prostitutes are getting into the kingdom of God ahead of them. His cousin, John the baptizer, came with the good news and the religious elite didn’t listen but the social outcasts did. Birthday parties for prostitutes, receptions for tax collectors, banquets for lepers and sinners and ragamuffins. The mercy of God has been on full display with all of the wrong sorts of people getting in like Flynn to the kingdom of God and it has not moved the religious crowd toward conversion, confession, or conviction. 

Instead, their hearts have calcified.
He says: And even after you saw it, you didn’t change your mind and believe.

Again, I ask, Is the LORD among us or not?

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Sermon: Gamblin' on Heaven
Homiletics, Lectionary, Liturgical Theologian, Porter C- Taylor, Sermon, Sermon Resources, Year A Homiletics, Lectionary, Liturgical Theologian, Porter C- Taylor, Sermon, Sermon Resources, Year A

Sermon: Gamblin' on Heaven

At its core, every wager is an act of faith. Every bet asks the same question: What, or whom, can I trust with my future? Christ followers are called to trust in something stronger.Something steadfast.Something surer.Our passages show us that the safest, surest bet is not a sports team, player, statistic, political party, stock, or a man-made work. Instead, our readings demonstrate what it looks like to train for the Kingdom by gamblin’ on heaven. In fact, these passages show us the false bet, the better bet, and the sure bet.

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Mere Catholicity
Everyday Ecumenism, Guest Contributor Everyday Ecumenism, Guest Contributor

Mere Catholicity

Genuine catholicity may require telling some brethren that the Kingdom is broader than they think. If God has welcomed people to His table what right have we to bar them? It may also require that we tell some brethren on the other side of the Tiber that the Kingdom is narrower than they think. What is certain is that we will never tell them if we don’t talk to them. But be careful if you do…you might just learn something.

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