John’s sermon John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. … The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and…
Have you ever noticed the first sermon that Luke recorded in his gospel? John declares that repentance is necessary to prepare the way for Christ but when the people ask what to do Luke tells them that sharing their belongings is concrete evidence of repentance! John the Baptist went into all the region around the…
Story doesn’t just tell us something and leave it there; story invites our participation. A good storyteller gathers us into the story. We feel the emotions, get caught up in the drama, identify with the characters, see into nooks and crannies of life that we had overlooked, realize there is more to this business of…
You have wearied the Lord with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?” “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come…