Start Play Matthew 20:1–16 | Second Sunday in Lent | March 1, 2015 | First Christian Church | Mahtomedi, MN"Grace, God’s generosity is beyond human imagining. We want God to show love to us and those like us, but not to them. Not to that guy over there. Not to that poor person. Not to... Continue Reading →
What Are We Being Inclusive For?
There has been something that has been bothering me for a while. Usually when people start talking about gay ordination or same-sex marriage, someone on the pro side will say something to the effect: "Jesus was inclusive," or "Jesus welcomed everybody." Now, I'm all for welcoming people into our churches in the way that Jesus... Continue Reading →
Sermon: I’m Still Learning to Forgive.
Start Play Matthew 18:15-35 | First Sunday in Lent | February 22, 2015 | Dennis Sanders, preaching "In preparing for this sermon, I heard somewhere that forgiveness is about dealing the past to be open to the future. "
Sermon: All That.
Start Play Matthew 18:1–9 | Ash Wednesday | February 18, 2015 | First Christian Church | Dennis Sanders, preaching "Ash Wednesday is a “feel bad” day. We are reminded that we are limited and imperfect. When we receive the ashes, we are reminded of our humanity, our frailty. We are reminded that our quest... Continue Reading →
Praying for Revival (I Think)…
A few years ago, I was at a local gathering of Disciples (my denomination) in Minnesota. It was a good event overall, a time when our small tribe could gather to worship and fellowship. Somewhere early in the event, there was a slide that showed all of the Disciple congregations in Minnesota that no longer... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Follow the Leader
Start Play “Follow the Leader” | Work of Christmas Series | Matthew 16:24-17:8 | Transfiguration Sunday | February 15, 2014 | Dennis Sanders, preaching "The late German theologian Dietrich Bonheoffer is rumored to have said that when Jesus calls us to follow him, bids us to come and die." Read the sermon text.
With A Heavy Heart…
On January 31, I got the phone call that you always dread, at the what I've been dreading for nearly 10 years- that call at 4 in the morning. Long story short, I learned that my father had died. As Daniel and I got ready to fly from Minnesota to Michigan, I left a text... Continue Reading →
Sermon: It Could Be Worse.
First Christian Church Sermon Podcast for February 8, 2015.
Sermon: Out of the Saltshaker
Those of us who follow Jesus are called to leave the saltshakers of our own making and do good works for the glory of God in the wider world.
Marching for Sandwiches, Marcus Borg and Civility
How do we encounter and deal with people who have different beliefs? We all give lip service to being able to listen and welcoming opposing views, but in reality, we don't have much patience in our modern society for those that don't conform to whatever is the status quo in our world.
The Clockwork Pastor 