Sermons by Lisa Bowersock (Page 15)

August 16, 2020

August 16, 2020 “Do the Right Thing” Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:10-20    In our Old Testament passage for today, God instructs the people, through the prophet Isaiah, to “maintain justice” and “do what is right.” When I read those words my mind immediately went to a movie my children and I recently watched. Over the course of these past months of sheltering in place I have been very grateful to have my children with me. And…

July 26, 2020

July 26, 2020 “A Wise and Discerning Mind” 1 Kings 3:5-12  Romans 8:26-39  Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52    I love the Old Testament passage for today from 1 Kings.  When given the chance to ask God for absolutely anything, King Solomon asks God for wisdom.  So, here’s the thing about Solomon asking God for wisdom. It takes a certain degree of wisdom in the first place in order to understand the need for gaining more wisdom. Does that make sense? Just as…

July 12, 2020

July 12, 2020 “What Do We Sow?” Isaiah 55:10-13 Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23   I am guessing that most of us grew up knowing this childhood rhyme: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. I looked up this expression, and there are varying accounts as to where it originated, as well as its intended purpose and meaning. But I think even as a child I understood it had a much deeper meaning than…

June 21, 2020

June 21, 2020 “The Cost of Discipleship” Quarantine Sermon #7  Jeremiah 20:7-13  Romans 6:1b-11  Matthew 10:24-39   So, we just heard some pretty disturbing words in our Gospel passage for today – words that do not sound like the kind and gentle Jesus we know and love.  What does Jesus mean when he says he has not come to bring peace but a sword? And why does he say that he has come to set a man against his father and…

The Way – May 10, 2020

The Way, May 10, 2020, Quarantine Sermon #4 1 Peter 2:2-10, Acts 7:55-60, John 14:1-14 So, in our Gospel passage for today from John, Jesus speaks some very familiar words – he says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus speaks these words in response to a very direct question from Thomas. Thomas asks Jesus, “How can we know the way? I think that is a question people continue to ask, especially in these very uncertain and…

“Dry Bones” – March 29, 2020

“Dry Bones” March 29, 2020, Quarantine Sermon #1 Ezekiel 37:1-14 (1-6, 11, 14), John 11:1-45 The scripture passages for today that Rev. Tussing just shared run the whole gamut of human emotion – from hopelessness and despair, to restoration and new life. I am especially drawn to the very human Jesus that we experience in the Gospel lesson from John. I’ll come back to that in just a moment. It feels truly timely that our lectionary passages – which were…