Alms from the Poor?
Richard A. Kauffman
We know what this story is about, correct? A poor widow comes to the Temple. She’s dependent on the kindness of others, since widows in that socio-economic context didn’t get to control their husband’s estate. She has two small coins, which she put into the Temple treasury. She could have saved one for herself, but […]
Did Job Get a Passing Grade?
Richard A. Kauffman
“Have you considered my servant Job?” That’s a question God asks twice in the book of Job. Yes, for the last 3 Sundays, and yet again this morning we are considering God’s servant, Job. I remind you what this Job story is about. Job is put to the test: Satan—not the devil but one of […]
The Why’s God
Mark Schloneger
You know, before Monday, running had never been an activity that provoked deep emotions in me. Yet, on Monday, running the Boston Marathon, I found myself fighting back tears and failing. It was at mile 17. That was the mile where my family was watching. I stopped to hug them, and I was so happy […]
Job’s Bitter Complaint
Richard A. Kauffman
Mark did a terrific job last week launching our 4-Sunday series on Job. He used his law background to good advantage. I wouldn’t want to oppose Mark in a court of law! Job asks the really big questions of life: Who is God? Where is God? Who are we as humans? Why is there suffering […]
In the Case of Job
Mark Schloneger
Thank you, your honor. May it please the court, I’ve prepared an opening statement in this civil action brought by Job, resident of 2924 Maple Street, the Land of Uz, zip 56655, against the defendant, God, also known as The LORD, Yahweh, the Most High, the Holy One of Israel, and many other names.
Cure or Healing?
Richard A. Kauffman
Duane Beck, a retired Mennonite pastor, says that when he started his first pastorate right out of seminary, he preached repeatedly on the theme of discipleship. He discovered that the members of his congregation were committed Christians who had every intention of deepening their life of discipleship, but they didn’t or couldn’t for some reason. […]
The Long Walk to Irrelevance
Mark Schloneger
In fourth grade, I beat Vance Campbell to win my age group at the Wauseon Parks and Recreation Department’s ping-pong tournament. My age group covered fourth through seventh grade, and Vance was in seventh grade. So . . . yeah. I mean, if you wanted to say David beats Goliath, I wouldn’t object. A few […]
Living Faith
Mark Schloneger
To begin my sermon, I’m going to need four volunteers. Now, I have two requirements for these volunteers: the first is, you need to be able to catch a middle-aged body; specifically, my body; and the second is, you need to be trustworthy. My physical safety depends on you meeting both of these requirements. That’s […]
Reorientation
Richard A. Kauffman
Some of you may know the name John Dear—no, not the green tractors that used to go put-put—but John Dear [D-e-a-r], a Catholic priest and peace activist from CA. Early in his career John Dear felt obligated to support an inmate on death row, since he opposed the death penalty. He contacted an inmate in […]
Wonder Bread
Mark Schloneger
I want you to imagine that all of us who have gathered here this morning represent the entire world’s population. Now, I need fourteen people to stand up. If our attendance today is similar to previous Sundays, the people standing up represent the people who went to bed hungry last night. According to the World […]
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