Mindful Leader

1st Thessalonians 1: 1-10 Reacting to External Pressures

This week the primary scripture is not part of the podcast.  The title shows the primary preaching text.  

Two scriptures make up the discussion/proclamation.  One is Acts 17: 1-9 and the other is 1st Thessalonians 1 with a primary emphasis on the elements of 1st Thessalonians that focuses on faith, hope, and love.  Interesting that at both services I didn't record the 1st Thessalonians reading.  Not sure what went on.  

Advent 1 -- Putting Scripture Front and Center

Text is from 2 Kings and Josiah's finding of the scripture.  Most of the "exegesis" (reading out) is during the reading itself.  Sermon contains elements of restatements from July ("Why") and earlier in November (David moving Ark to the center of political authority).  

Using suggested scriptures from Luther Seminary -- Narrative Lectionary.  

Finally, Why Hilltop?

This wraps up the four part series on Why?  Hilltop has a vision of being a place where all can belong, believe and become.  This sermon is drawn from Galatians 3 ... 

Then, Why the Wesleyan Understanding of "Church"?

The two readings were from Genesis and Hebrews -- with an attempt to focus on the idea of Grace.  This was not a particularly scripturally based exposition of God's word.  A little history and a lot of Wesleyan Theology.  

Second, why the church?

 Sermon is a conversation among the elements of last week (First, Why God?), Hosea 2: 16-20 with an emphasis on the last two of those verses, and Hebrews 10: 19-25 with a little other scripture thrown in for good measure.  

May 24, 2015 -- Pentecost and Confirmation Sunday

The reading is from Acts 2 (1-21).  That said, I focus more on the idea of 'what does this mean?'  The real "audience" (if one doesn't mind using that term here) is not everyone there, but the 12 youth being confirmed.  

April 5, 2015 -- Easter Sunday

The sermon is drawn from Mark 16: 1-8.  I like the short ending.  It is quite rich.  Jesus is not there?  Say what?  It works for me for some reason.  Big ideas were (1) Who will roll away the stone, (2) Who, me?  and (3) Who isn't a little afraid?  

Marilyn White helped me with some of the "order".  I had the ending illustration earlier in the service.  It clearly worked better here.  

March 8, 2015 -- Lent III

This sermon is drawn from Mark 9: 30-37.  Fear and humility seemed to me to be the two dominant themes in this text.  

February 22, 2015 -- Lent One

The sermon is from Mark 6: 6b to 13 but in reality, it is as much on Mark 6: 1 - 6a as it is 6b to 13.  

The Way frames the discussion to some degree.  Here we have "Jack from Ireland" that I play with a little ... the scene is about "the road" and his concern he may be on "the wrong road."  

January 18, 2015 -- "What would Jesus say about race relations ..."

The sermon here is more drawn from the idea of "listen for the pain" than the Acts 10: 34-43 that was read, but Peter and his carrying the Jesus story to the Gentiles does in part lead to the idea of "pain."  

The idea for this came from comments made to me from feedback in December when I lifted up some concerns over events in Ferguson, MO; Saratoga Springs, UT; West Valley, UT; Staten Island, NY, and Cleveland, NY.  The focus here was to suggest that listening to the pain being expressed was important.