05/19/2026
What just missed the cut for Sunday’s Sermon
Naaman’s servants may actually become one of the hidden gems of the sermon. They say, essentially: “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.” That’s a brilliant line/idea. People often distrust grace because it seems too accessible.
We think:
“Surely it can’t be this simple.”
“Surely God requires something bigger.”
“Surely transformation must be more dramatic.”
But grace continually comes through small obediences.
John Wesley talked about God’s primary means of grace—baptism and communion. But he would also add holy scripture or the gathered body of Christ. Think it through with me…
Baptism is just water…
until grace meets us there.
Communion is just bread and cup…
until grace meets us there.
Scripture is just ink on paper…
until grace meets us there.
Worship is just people singing in a room…
until grace meets us there.
We are probably more like Naaman than his servants until we are captured by the grace of small things—the divine mixed with the ordinary stuff of life. We don’t need to climb a mountain, swim the sea, or run the marathon in order to receive what God wants to give us. We only have to listen to God’s word and follow the simple directions he offers. Directions like: ‘get out of the boat and walk on the water,’ ‘love one another,’ or ‘follow me.’
Archived Posts
What just missed the cut for Sunday’s Sermon
Naaman’s servants may actually become one of the hidden gems of the sermon. They say, essentially: “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.”
One of the Longest Benedictions I Ran Out of Time to Share
Maybe you know the story of how Joseph and Mary accidentally left Jesus at the gas station on their way home from Jerusalem. Well, not the gas station bathroom in Jesus’ case. Joe and Mary are far down the road before they realize Jesus isn’t with them...
So many quips and quotes...
So little time to preach
I wonder what Mary and Martha’s phones might look like:
* Martha = the open browser with 27 tabs
* Mary = the single window that matters
* Psalm 46 = God saying, “Close the tabs.”
Quotable Outtakes That Didn’t Make the Sermon This Week
“When you try to control everything, you don’t just exhaust yourself—you quietly replace trust in God with trust in you.” & more
There is a challenge when it comes to preaching the Word of God.
Preachers are called to open up and interpret the word—inspired and written down thousands of years ago—and make it relevant to a very different world. On top of that there’s a degree of persuasion that goes along with the process.
What Jessica Really Meant to Say in Her Sermon…
When Jessica or Rick or a guest preacher takes the pulpit it’s hard for me to write a One More Thing Blog. I can’t share with you what didn’t make it into the sermon because I have no idea, not having written or delivered it.
Jesus Keeps On Ruining Funerals!
I didn’t have anything this last week that didn’t end up in the sermon. No catchy illustrations that didn’t make the cut. No theological insights that slowed down the main point. No one can ruin a funeral like Jesus. Told as I saw it and that was it. So I did some quick research and I thought I’d share just a reminder of what Easter is all about.