Dave Buerstetta on striving to do justice and love others while walking humbly with God
For most weeks this fall, we're following the Narrative Lectionary. Because the best narratives -- the best stories -- are powerful, moving, inspiring, and endlessly fascinating. (More on that in upcoming, non-sermon posts.) I usually chaff when the assigned readings skip over the difficult parts, so instead we read almost all of Exodus chapter 14. …
Our Ruth trilogy comes to an end this week as we look at the last two chapters of this fantastic and, as it turns out, fantastically relevant story. I feel like there is still so much to be said about the book of Ruth. Which, I suppose, is part of what makes it so great -- …
Genre matters. We know this. Almost instinctively, we know this. Genre helps determine what we expect from a story and how we understand that story. We read and react much differently to, say, an issue of National Geographic than we do to an issue of a superhero comic. Sometimes it only takes a few words …
Some day I will post something other than a sermon here. Really I will. I have a whole host of drafts and otherwise unfinished ideas. You'll see them...as soon as I access my inner Rocky Supinger. This past Sunday we kicked off a new sermon series on the book of Ruth -- by necessity, much …
Getting into good trouble by welcoming outsiders is the only faithful response to exclusion. That's my argument in this sermon, continuing the theme of the previous sermon by using John Lewis' beautiful phrase. Writing about my Acts 17 sermon, which took place the week before this one, I admitted I wasn't as bold as I …
Continue reading ‘Good Trouble around Asia Minor’: a sermon on Acts 18
In June, 2008, I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Representative John Lewis speak at a Sojourners conference in D.C. He is, it should go without saying, a real-life hero. A national treasure. An inspiration. Except, I'm ashamed to admit, at the time I didn't really know just how special he was, and thus I …
According to (what we've designated as) the 13th chapter of Acts of the Apostles, the leaders of the Way were diverse from the very beginning. Apparently, I hadn't previously read this part of Acts closely enough, because that revelation kind of shocked me. Those leaders weren't afraid to boldly confront evil, which can be inspiring. …
Continue reading ‘The First Dream Team’: a sermon on Acts 13
I don't always get to preach two weeks in a row, so when I do I try to connect them, to make them into a mini-series at least. This time however, we are doing a series on the book of The Acts of the Apostles. So the sermon I'm posting here from May 13th (Mother's …
Continue reading Busting Taboos, part 2: Sermons on Acts 10 & 11
The sermon series on Acts of the Apostles (which I first wrote about here) continues. I preached on May 6th and May 13th on chapters 10 and 11, respectively. Many others have said this many times, but the story told in Acts 10 & 11 is the most significant story the church has. As I …
While my job title is not Associate Pastor, that's what it would be in most church settings. Someone else is the Lead Pastor (she's awesome, by the way!). My responsibilities include youth ministry as well as our justice and outreach ministries. As you might expect, I help lead our two Sunday worship services. But what …
All That I Can't Leave Unsaid 