Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 Complaints and Miracles I know this is more of a rock concert thing than a Sunday morning pulpit thing, but I want to dedicate this sermon to our Bible Study groups – groups that are this week wrapping up a ten-week study of the book of Numbers.   It has been quite a ride.   We've witnessed the liberated slaves, the Israelites, come to the edge of the promised land.   As they journeyed through the desert an entire generation died – some from disease, some in battle, some were killed by snakes, some were swallowed by the ground and others consumed by fire.   The bodies really pile up in Numbers.   We heard divine instructions come from the mouth of a donkey and a pagan.   We've read stories both enlightening and terrible. And, we have heard many, many, many complaints; I should be clear, many complaints from the people in Numbers not from members of the parish – at least not during Bible Study.   So man

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Mark 9:30-37 Last Today's Gospel gives us that iconic image of Jesus holding a little child, surrounded by his earnest, attentive disciples.   It is an image often depicted by artists and by whoever designs those resin figurines in Roman Catholic bookstores: a serene child, a kind Jesus, the disciples gazing in rapt attention.   It is a beautiful image – beautifully imagined, I assume, by those who have never before met a human child. I have two children, and so, in my mind, I picture this scene a little differently.   I imagine Jesus and he is really excited.   He has this perfect sermon illustration, an object lesson for his guys.   He is going to teach them about life and love and status in the kingdom of God.   It's gonna be so good.   So he calls the Twelve over and he takes a little child – who, for some reason, is hanging out with Jesus and his disciples.   And that little child goes completely limp.   And Jesus starts to