Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 4:12-23 Called Together Before even one person was healed, before a disease was cured, before the ministry commenced, there was a community.   Before Jesus went about proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, Jesus said, “Follow me.”   And they did.   This is basically the opposite of the Field of Dreams.   The Field of Dreams was, “If you build it, they will come.”   But Jesus hadn't built anything – not yet.   But they did come.   Simon Peter dropped the nets.   Andrew, a favorite around these parts, dropped his nets too.   James left his dad.   John vacated the boat.   And they followed Jesus.   They formed a community – around the one who called them.   They were together before they were anything else. What always strikes me about this story is just how spontaneous it is.   As most you know, I am a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.   Just as I was finishing this sermon, the Browns became the final NFL team to f

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Flaws and All Oh, mirrors.   Every day they tempt us with us.   We give in and there staring back at us are all our flaws.   In the mirror is that one white hair in a sea of brown.   There's the solitary blemish surrounded by beautiful clear skin.   And that one tooth that doesn't quite fall in line with the others.   Amidst such great beauty, God’s own handiwork, we have this tendency to see only the flaws.   It's not that they are not there, it's just that the flaws are such a small part of who we are; they not certainly the whole story.   They are true, but they are not the truth. Most days I look right past my sparkling green eyes, and see only the bags under them.   I miss these full, pink lips, because of the little lines around them – these lines earned by age and stress.   It’s all part of the picture but no one detail is the whole truth.   There is more to me, and to you, than the mirror will ever show.   Lara Biyut