Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Epiphany 3A 1-26-20 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 United You should know this: these 1 st century churches were not large.   Paul writes most of his letters in the 50’s – not the 1950’s, the just 50’s – a mere twenty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Church was still brand new.   And so we’re not talking hundreds of people in congregation, probably more like a couple dozen.   We will have more people stay for the Parish Annual Meeting today than there were Christians in the city of Corinth during Paul’s life.   When Paul writes his letters to the Corinthians, he is writing to the Church is Corinth.   When he is writing to the Church is Corinth, he is really writing to a handful of people who are trying to figure out how to follow Jesus in the days before anyone had even transcribed a Gospel. It is important that you understand this.   Because if you do not, you will not be able to appreciate the a...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson John 1:29-42 What are you looking for? Something gave them away.   Perhaps it was the persistent crunch of the sand beneath their feet, the slap of their well-worn sandals, the untimely snap of a stick.   Today it would be because one of them forgot to silence their cell phone; but this story takes place in a much older world.   They stalked him like a pair of eager bounty hunters, tracking his every sanctified step, until something gave them away.   And Jesus turned and he saw them.   And they found themselves in the crosshairs of a question that turned them to stone before shattering them completely, a question that changed their lives for good: “What are you looking for?” Following Jesus was not exactly their idea.   They pursued this mysterious stranger at the prompting of their chosen master.   It was John, John the Baptist, who piqued their curiosity – a curiosity that set them on their quest.   I...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 2:1-12 The Journey I don’t really like the journey.   Don’t get me wrong: I like traveling, but I like traveling because I love the destination – arriving and exploring, seeing new places, immersing myself in the experience.   I love all of that stuff.   I just do not enjoy the getting there.   I don’t really enjoy driving.   I don’t really like air travel – especially having to arrive early and wait around at the airport.   My wife talked me into taking a train trip to New York once when we lived in Toledo; it was pretty, in parts, but a lot of the scenery was boring and overall that train was just too slow for my taste.   I don’t enjoy the journey – which I realize is one of the least Episcopalian things I could ever say.   We’re always talking about how it is all about the journey.   And, spiritually, I totally agree; practically, though, I’m all about checking off those boxes.   I make...