Sermons from Sunday Worship at Falls Church Presbyterian Church in Falls Church, VA.  Also sermons from my previous position in Columbus, OH.

James Sledge

Christmas and lights go hand in hand, and it is easy to see why. There's the light of the star the Wise Men followed and the light that shines in the darkness from John's gospel. Along with Christmas lights, the electric lights of the modern world have all but vanquished natural darkness. Night is scarcely night any longer. But the darkness in John's gospel is still abundant, and it still prefers to hide in the shadows. This darkness has little use for the light, for Jesus. That is true even of some who call themselves Christians. But John reminds us that the darkness cannot overcome this light. And we who would follow Jesus are called to embrace the ways of light. We are called to make the world a brighter place.

Into the Light (John 1:1-5, 9-10; 3:19-21)

The 5th in a 6 part sermon series on Sabbath as Resistance drawn from Walter Brueggemann's book, this one is on resistance to "multitasking." The prophet Amos blasts wealthy Israelites who outwardly observe the faith, but are busy planning shady business deals while they observe the Sabbath. Like people who never quite join conversations because they are always checking their smartphone, these wealthy always have one eye on their profit margins, and so they never give their full attention to God or God's ways. Multitasking of this sort, and of many others, is quite hazardous to a deep relationship with God and with others, and it toxic to the neighborly community of love God seeks to create.

Divided Attention and Cluelessness (Amos 8:4-8)

Memories and remembering give us much of our identity. The closing scene in the movie, Saving Private Ryan,reveals something of his identity and character when the now elderly Ryan finds the Normandy grave of the captain who led the mission that saved him and says to wife, "Tell me I've lived a good life." Clearly he hoped that his life sufficiently appreciated the gift he had been given. His vivid memories of being rescued shaped who he was. But our modern society and our prosperity cultivate an amnesia that forgets all the gifts we have received, that forgets we did not make it on our own. Such forgetting gives us misshapened identities. That is why Moses gives a different motivation for Sabbath keeping when he addresses the Israelites about to enter the land of promise. At Sinai, sabbath rest was tied to God's rest following creation, but for Israelites a generation removed from Sinai and slavery in Egypt, sabbath rest is about remembering who they are and where they came from. It can be for us as well.

Memories and remembering give us much of our identity. The closing scene in the movie, Saving Private Ryan,reveals something of his identity and character when the now elderly Ryan finds the Normandy grave of the captain who led the mission that saved him and says to wife, "Tell me I've lived a good life." Clearly he hoped that his life sufficiently appreciated the gift he had been given. His vivid memories of being rescued shaped who he was. But our modern society and our prosperity cultivate an amnesia that forgets all the gifts we have received, that forgets we did not make it on our own. Such forgetting gives us misshapened identities. That is why Moses gives a different motivation for Sabbath keeping when he addresses the Israelites about to enter the land of promise. At Sinai, sabbath rest was tied to God's rest following creation, but for Israelites a generation removed from Sinai and slavery in Egypt, sabbath rest is about remembering who they are and where they came from. It c

Remembering, Amnesia, and Salvation (Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Matthew 19:23-26)D

As a seminary student, I had the opportunity to visit the Middle East. While there, I missed the chance to experience a young Jordanian boy's biblical-like hospitality, all because I was in a hurry. I wonder how often I miss the risen Christ for the same reason, even though I know the promise that he will be made known in the breaking of the bread.

Able to See the Risen One (Luke 24:14-35)

It is surprisingly easy to wear the label "Christian" without actually doing what Jesus tells us to do. The Sermon on the Mount is replete with hard commands and difficult teachings, and when, after his resurrection, Jesus commissions his first followers to go out and make disciples by "teaching the obey everything I have commanded you."<br />
In today's verses, Jesus calls us to be "perfect" as God is perfect. That is not unlike God's command at Mt. Sinai "to be holy for the Lord your God is holy." But neither "perfect" nor "holy" may mean quite what we assume they do.

It is surprisingly easy to wear the label "Christian" without actually doing what Jesus tells us to do. The Sermon on the Mount is replete with hard commands and difficult teachings, and when, after his resurrection, Jesus commissions his first followers to go out and make disciples by "teaching the obey everything I have commanded you."
In today's verses, Jesus calls us to be "perfect" as God is perfect. That is not unlike God's command at Mt. Sinai "to be holy for the Lord your God is holy." But neither "perfect" nor "holy" may mean quite what we assume they do.

Odd Like God (Matthew 5:38-48; Leviticus 19:1-2)

Many people do not want any intrusions into a Christmas of unadulterated joy, but Matthew refuses to cooperate. What passes for a "Christmas story" in his gospel features the slaughter of children in Bethlehem. Christmas hope in Matthew is not about light and joy that blots our winter's dreariness or the world's despair. It is about a God who enters into the world's suffering and brokenness, who weeps with Rachel and who calls us to join in that weeping and in the difficult and costly work of birthing something new.

Weeping with Rachel... and God (Matthew 2:13-23)

John the Baptist is in prison. Even though he had not wanted to baptize Jesus, saying, "I need to be baptized by you," now he asks about Jesus. "Are you the one?" We all have had hopes, plans, and dreams go awry, and John seems to be having second thoughts about Jesus.<br />
In Advent, we need to embrace John's question, and to hear Jesus' answer. Only then can we celebrate the birth of the Messiah Jesus says he is rather than the one we want him to be.

John the Baptist is in prison. Even though he had not wanted to baptize Jesus, saying, "I need to be baptized by you," now he asks about Jesus. "Are you the one?" We all have had hopes, plans, and dreams go awry, and John seems to be having second thoughts about Jesus.
In Advent, we need to embrace John's question, and to hear Jesus' answer. Only then can we celebrate the birth of the Messiah Jesus says he is rather than the one we want him to be.

Are You the One? (Matthew 11:2-11, Advent 3)

The term "wakeup call" is familiar to many, and most of us have found ourselves sleepwalking through life, going through the motions. In his last teachings before his arrest, Jesus talks about the need to stay awake and alert. But what does that look like?

Awake and Ready (Matthew 24:36-44, Advent 1)

Kings are supposed to be rich and powerful, but today Christians meet their king on a cross. There he is taunted for his powerlessness, but one person still sees him as a king and says, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Jesus says, "Today."

It's Starts Today (Luke 23:33-43, Reign of Christ)

When people ask questions, sometimes they are seeking information, but other times they are up to something completely different. Jesus' opponents often asked him questions, questions designed to trap him, to box him in, to make him look foolish. In today's gospel, it's a question about resurrection. It doesn't work, of course, in large part because Jesus understands resurrection on a much bigger level than his questioners, and maybe us as well.

Seeing Something New (Luke 20:27-38)

Most of us know that popular images of Jesus with blond hair or blue eyes are incorrect, the product of European artists depicting Jesus with European features. Such distortions are fairly easy to correct, but others are more of a challenge. Many of us have an image of Jesus who shares our point of view on many issues. Sometimes this comes close to a cardboard Jesus, a divine yes-man who is simply an extension of ourselves. That makes Bible passages like this one with a frustrated and angry Jesus who runs counter to more popular images, ones we should examine closely. They may be just the picture we need to help us trade in our cardboard Jesus for the real thing.

Cardboard Jesus (Luke 12:49-56)

An old catechism that is part of my tradition's heritage speaks of glorifying God as the primary purpose of human life. We may think of worship as something that glorifies God, but the prophet Isaiah seems to think not in the case of Israel. Worship is offered from the context of our daily lives, and that, more than anything, is what does or doesn't glorify God.

To Glorify God (Isaiah 1:1, 10-20)

What is at the center, at the very core of your life? That is the question asked by this gospel. That sometimes gets lost when Martha is too easily dismissed as a harried, Martha Stewart wannabe. But her problem is not that she seeks to serve Jesus. It is that she forgets Jesus when she gets angry with Mary. Jesus calls her and us to recenter on "the one thing" that is truly necessary.

Martha and Mary Problems (Luke 10:38-42)

When companies or organizations lose a charismatic, visionary leader, trouble often follows. Think of the concerns about the future of Apple now that Steve Jobs in gone. The loss of the great prophet Elijah would seem to create a crisis for the faithful in Israel. Similarly, the disciples of Jesus would seem to face a huge crisis when Jesus is no longer physically with them. But a double share of Elijah's spirit for Elisha, and the Holy Spirit for the disciples and the church, negates normal succession concerns.

Succession Issues (2 Kings 2:1-14)

The image of shepherd shows up repeatedly in the Bible. God and Jesus are described as shepherds, and Israel's kings are supposed to be shepherds. But too often they are bad ones. Witness today's story featuring King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Kings were supposed to insure a good and just society, not look after themselves. Jesus calls us to work for that good and just society he calls the Kingdom of God. And PBS' Mr. Rogers seems to understand and embody the ways of that new society.

Bad Shepherds and Mr. Rogers (1 Kings 21:1-10, 15-21a)

Jesus is a bit evasive when answering a question about whether he is the Messiah, saying that his works "testify" about him and talking about his relationship to God and his followers. It seems the term "Messiah" is problematic, what with all the preconceived notions of what that means. A similar thing can be said about the term "Christian." Perhaps we should eschew the label and focus more on our relationship with the Shepherd, on following the path the Good Shepherd shows us.

Hearing and Following  -  John 10:22-30; Psalm 23

In Jesus' third post resurrection appearance to the disciples, he directs them to a miraculous catch of fish, then asks Peter 3 times, "Do you love me?" This wounds Peter deeply, but I wonder if it can affect us so. Is Jesus real enough to us that such a question even makes much sense?

Do You Love Me?  -  John 21:1-23

In Luke, John the Baptist is quite harsh with the crowds that come out, calling them snakes and demanding change from them. The people respond, not by fleeing John, but by asking "What then should we do?" And John gives them plenty. Perhaps the Church needs to speak similarly with "Do this" imperatives, especially following the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy.

Of Snakes and Imperatives (Luke 3:7-18)

Days come when our lives are dramatically changed, and we have to take stock. Some milestones cause a crisis that demands we take stock, to realize that we've paid attention to the unimportant and neglected the important. Jesus' words, and the start of Advent, call us to pay attention and to get our priorities straight.

The Days Are Surely Coming (Luke 21:25-36; Jeremiah 33:14-16)

O Lord, it's hard to be humble," begins an old song. Our culture doesn't value humility, despite Jesus' call to be humble. Seems an ego-driven, anxious, false self can't stop chasing after more until a new, true self emerges, "a new creation in Christ."

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