Sermon podcast from Sunday, 8-29-21 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. James 1:17-27
Showing posts with label James 1:17-27. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James 1:17-27. Show all posts
8/29/2021
Be the Church - James 1:17-27 - Pentecost 15 - 8-29-21
Sermon podcast from Sunday, 8-29-21 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. James 1:17-27
1/08/2018
Old Time Religion
Sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove. It's part of our Old Time Sunday as we begin to celebrate our 125th anniversary. James 1:17-27
"Old Time Religion" podcast
"Old Time Religion" podcast
8/31/2012
To Care
Well, this week's Bible reflection (Do) provides the beginning of, and probably has a better title than the Sunday sermon for this week at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"To Care" text
"To Care" podcast
Action Verbs site link
"To Care" text
"To Care" podcast
Action Verbs site link
8/27/2012
Do
There’s still a junior high kid living in my brain. I chuckle at phrases that use “do” twice. I chuckle when someone says “duties”
I admit it.
So I wanted to say, in this post, that folks ought to not only care about things, but to do things that relate directly to the things they care about. That is serious stuff.
And I know that somewhere in a conversation that ensues, someone’s going to say “do do” and I’ll probably chuckle.
Chuckle is a verb. Do is a verb.
And whether it’s as a junior higher, a toddler, a teenager, or any adult, the verbs are important. This week’s Bible reading from James 1:17-27 is full of good advice – and the advice all points to the things that folks do.
So you care about things. You laugh about things. You’re inspired by things. What are you gonna do?
I admit it.
So I wanted to say, in this post, that folks ought to not only care about things, but to do things that relate directly to the things they care about. That is serious stuff.
And I know that somewhere in a conversation that ensues, someone’s going to say “do do” and I’ll probably chuckle.
Chuckle is a verb. Do is a verb.
And whether it’s as a junior higher, a toddler, a teenager, or any adult, the verbs are important. This week’s Bible reading from James 1:17-27 is full of good advice – and the advice all points to the things that folks do.
So you care about things. You laugh about things. You’re inspired by things. What are you gonna do?
8/28/2009
Care
This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (Religion) started the ball rolling, but is only a small part of what is now Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL.
"Care" text
"Care podcast
"Care" text
"Care podcast
8/24/2009
Religion
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:
What religion are you?
In the name of religion, humankind has killed, injured, exploited, marginalized, rejected, enslaved and ridiculed God’s precious children.
We get it wrong far too often. But we do have a guide for how to do it right. It’s in this week's Bible passage from James 1:17-27. Verse 27 reads: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
Religion is something wonderful that we've abused and defiled and made into something undesirable. I look at the words "pure and undefiled before God" and see something genuine, deep and true.
That’s my religion – what 's yours?
9/02/2006
Religion
This week's blog entry is now expanded into a sermon for tomorrow morning. If you read it tonight you'll get to see how much the same and how much different it is than the post. The post is called "Useless." The sermon is called "Religion."
Update: If you want to hear the audio -- you can! (Oh -- click here.)
Update: If you want to hear the audio -- you can! (Oh -- click here.)
8/28/2006
Useless post
I've written a new blog entry for the "Opening the Bible" blog at i.ucc. It is born out of the practical advice for Christians from James 1:17-27. Unfortunately we don't often follow the advice and instead do and say things that are pretty useless. (That's the name of the post.)
I grew up in a time where we in the church made up catchy little slogans that really cheapened what was genuine. I think we're still doing it today.
Before everyone goes all "God is still speaking is not a catchy, Christianity cheapening phrase" on me, let me throw a few thoughts out there.
When I was growing up, I often heard the phrase, "I'm not religious -- I'm a Christian!" in response to questions that often were about church and church attendance. I think the response grew out of a disdain for the term "religious" because to many people it really meant "pompous."
In more recent times, I've seen that the word "Christian" is often seen as a synonym for "pompous" or even "hypocritical." In some ways we've come up with the phrase "Not religious but spiritual" as an answer to the newest problem. I've read books that attribute this new phrase to a generation of people who are turning away from the established church and into other postmodern-influenced ways of living and worshiping. However, I really think that it's the writers and church leaders that have come up with the phrase to create a generation of people who are "seeking more" There may be many who would fit into this category, but the latest, credible research I've seen says that statistically there are very few.
I'm not overly concerned with the "God is still speaking" catch phrase -- mostly because of the conversation that is underneath it. I believe that underneath the phrase is profound truth. I believe it moves people to ask for more and to dig deeper into what God is saying. Yet that phrase too could become meaningless if we don't continue to dig deeper.
In this week's Bible passage, James 1:17-27, I see practical advice for how to be a Christian. (in the not pompous or hypocritical way). A verse that stands out for me every time I read this passage is 27: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." When I read those words I think of "Religion" and "Christianity" as wonderful things that we've abused and defiled and made into something undesirable. I look at the words "pure and undefiled before God" and see something genuine, deep and true.
And next to something that genuine, deep and true, everything else seems useless.
I grew up in a time where we in the church made up catchy little slogans that really cheapened what was genuine. I think we're still doing it today.
Before everyone goes all "God is still speaking is not a catchy, Christianity cheapening phrase" on me, let me throw a few thoughts out there.
When I was growing up, I often heard the phrase, "I'm not religious -- I'm a Christian!" in response to questions that often were about church and church attendance. I think the response grew out of a disdain for the term "religious" because to many people it really meant "pompous."
In more recent times, I've seen that the word "Christian" is often seen as a synonym for "pompous" or even "hypocritical." In some ways we've come up with the phrase "Not religious but spiritual" as an answer to the newest problem. I've read books that attribute this new phrase to a generation of people who are turning away from the established church and into other postmodern-influenced ways of living and worshiping. However, I really think that it's the writers and church leaders that have come up with the phrase to create a generation of people who are "seeking more" There may be many who would fit into this category, but the latest, credible research I've seen says that statistically there are very few.
I'm not overly concerned with the "God is still speaking" catch phrase -- mostly because of the conversation that is underneath it. I believe that underneath the phrase is profound truth. I believe it moves people to ask for more and to dig deeper into what God is saying. Yet that phrase too could become meaningless if we don't continue to dig deeper.
In this week's Bible passage, James 1:17-27, I see practical advice for how to be a Christian. (in the not pompous or hypocritical way). A verse that stands out for me every time I read this passage is 27: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." When I read those words I think of "Religion" and "Christianity" as wonderful things that we've abused and defiled and made into something undesirable. I look at the words "pure and undefiled before God" and see something genuine, deep and true.
And next to something that genuine, deep and true, everything else seems useless.
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