All Things to All People

by Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany1 Corinthians 9:16-23 The apostle Paul is a master of the humble-brag. He seems to be constantly promoting himself while simultaneously insisting that he is doing nothing of the kind. He’s doing it here in the beginning of our passage from First Corinthians. … [Read more…]

I Know Who You Are

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Fourth Sunday after the EpiphanyMark 1:21-28 This is Jesus’s first public appearance in the Gospel of Mark. He has just called his first disciples—fishers from the Lake of Galilee—and now he leads them back to Capernaum, a small fishing village along the lake, with about 1500 residents. It … [Read more…]

Follow Me

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Third Sunday after the EpiphanyMark 1:14-20 A stranger comes to town. No reputation. No name recognition. He walks along where the fishers are working. He points to a couple of them, and he simply says, “Follow me.” That’s all. No introduction. No explanation. Just, “Follow me.” And they … [Read more…]

Not Everything Is Helpful

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Second Sunday after the Epiphany1 Corinthians 6:12-20 The passage that we read this morning from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians is all about sex. You could probably tell that even if I just read you two of the Greek words that are used over and over in … [Read more…]

Ripped Apart

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King Baptism of the LordMark 1:4-11 I wasn’t planning to preach at all today. Like last Sunday, our District Superintendent, the Rev. Wendy Woodworth, provided a sermon for those of us in the Cascadia District to use this Sunday. She preached and recorded it about three weeks ago. A lot … [Read more…]

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The First Sunday of ChristmasLuke 2:22-40 Eight days after Jesus is born, in accordance with the religious laws in Leviticus, Jesus is circumcised and named. Then, thirty-three days after Jesus is born, in accordance with the religious laws in Leviticus, the family goes to the Temple in Jerusalem to … [Read more…]

Quiltmaker God

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Fourth Sunday of AdventLuke 1:26-38, 1:47-55 Featuring The Quiltmaker’s Gift We’ve heard the stories of two women this morning: the story of Mary and the story of the Quiltmaker. And interestingly, they are both stories about wealth and poverty and the way we use and relate to our … [Read more…]

A Witness to Testify to the Light

Rev. Dr. David D. M. King The Third Sunday of AdventJohn 1:6-8, 19-28 We continue our journey through the season of Advent, as we watch and wait and prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ. In the first Sunday of Advent, we heard from the prophet Isaiah, “If only you would tear open the … [Read more…]