When Christ is King, the lame walk, the mute talk, the deaf hear, the blind see, the sick are healed, the lepers are cleansed, the demons are cast out, the dead are raised, and broken lives are made new. Continue reading Sermon for Christ the King Sunday
Jesus is greater than the sacrifices of Israel
Jesus is greater than the angels
Jesus is greater than Moses, Abraham, Aaron, and Melchizedek
Jesus is greater than Israel’s high priests
One could argue, in contemporary language, that Jesus is the Greatest of All Time. Our image, painted by James Tissot, shows Israel’s “all stars” welcoming Jesus into heaven after the crucifixion. Jesus is the GOAT. Continue reading Jesus, Greatest Of All Time
nature of a covenant. No wonder Jesus is a priest in the line of Melchizedek forever and that he will reign on David’s throne, forever. Continue reading Stay Salty, My Friends
This sermon is from Sunday, September 5, 2021 and it was originally preached at St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Cocoa Beach, FL. where I serve as Rector. The lessons were Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, Psalm 125, James 2:1-17, and Mark 7:24-37. From the ages of 9-17, I attended a Christian summer camp … Continue reading Boasting of God’s Mercy
John isn’t here to simply immerse people in water…he’s here as a herald of the eschaton; he baptizes in the Jordan as a proclamation that YHWH is on the move once more. Continue reading The Baptism of our Lord – Sermon
There will be a time when darkness is replaced by light, when death is replaced by joy, when oppression is replaced by deliverance.
There will be a day when peace will reign over the throne of David and his kingdom.
There will be a day when the yoke of burden, the rod of the oppressor, and the bar across their shoulders are broken. Continue reading Christmas Eve Sermon: Questions and Answers
This was written and preached for the people of St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 13, 2020. The lectionary texts were Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, and John 1:6-8, 19-28. I’d like to begin with a quote from two great 20th century philosophers, Simon … Continue reading Advent 3 Sermon – Year B
This sermon was written and preached for Church of the Apostles, Kansas City where I serve as Theologian in Residence. You can watch the whole Maundy Thursday liturgy, including the sermon, here. Everything is different. There is no other way to describe our present reality: overarching, overwhelming, overactive change. We have had to change the … Continue reading Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation – A Maundy Thursday Sermon
We are not awaiting the thief to come in the night. While the second coming might be compared to a thief coming in the night, please remember that we are actually talking about the return of the King, the coming of the One who has a rightful claim to the throne and who will judge all things and put the world to rights. Jesus is coming, both King of kings and Lord of lords, and our call is to prepare our hearts for his return, even as we reflectively prepare to celebrate his birth once more. May we be found faithful and vigilant. Continue reading Constant Vigilance: A Sermon for Advent 1
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your body, and your mind, and your strength, and your soul, and your wallets, and you resources…and love your neighbor as yourself…Go and do likewise, friends. Continue reading Sermon for Pentecost 5 (2019)
Porter C. Taylor 