Two Minute Recap - 12/10/2017 Sermon

From time to time, Matt and I preach dialogue sermons together. I honestly found the idea sort of intimidating at first, and certainly outside the comfort zone afforded by following the traditional "seminary-approved" methods of preaching (were there to be such a thing). Instead, it has become one of the many reasons that I have so much joy serving alongside such a creative soul at St. Giles.

Most of the dialogue sermons we've preached together were written by Matt. For others, he left spaces for me to insert a story or two. Usually, the parts he wrote in my voice made me seem smart, and sometimes even brilliant. Still, I knew that there would come a day for me to take the lead in a dialogue sermon. Someday.

With Matt preparing for a new phase of his personal ministry ten hours away in Champaign, Illinois, that day has arrived, ready or not. Matt and I preached a dialogue sermon entitled "Prepare the Way" this morning in worship, based on passages from Isaiah 40 and Mark 1.

And, since the sermon this morning was written as a dialogue, the two minute recap video naturally had to be a dialogue, too. (The way the two of us can talk, I'm amazed we even managed to get remotely close to two minutes!).

Isaiah 40:1-11 (NRSV)

1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.


Mark 1:1-8 (NRSV)

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”