The lectionary texts in June offer possibilities for several types of sermon series. (On the other hand, it’s hot; I generally think summer sermons should be 1/3 less serious than our regular sermons to make up for the heat.) A series based on the OT lessons could be an exploration of the faith practices that undergird the people God creates in the Abrahamic covenant – a willingness to journey without knowing the destination, a practice of hospitality to strangers, an honest reckoning with our prejudices and jealousies while realizing God is not bound by our own rejections, and an honest look at one of the most terrifying of all biblical texts (the binding of Isaac) as a lens of exploring what, really, God asks of us – not sacrifice but trust. 

A series based on the Romans texts (it’s too hot for that, honestly, but some might risk it) could explore John Wesley’s own insights into grace that he arrived at through studying this book. Prevenient grace aligns with Romans 4 (June 7), justifying grace with Romans 5 (June 14), and sanctifying grace with Romans 6 (June 21 and June 28). 

The gospel lessons invite us to ponder our ordinary lives in ordinary time. Healings that happen on the way to healings; teachings that happen in the midst of healings, and the continual opportunity to learn what it means that God desires mercy, not sacrifice. This is our work – to heal the sick and raise the dead. Every week, if not every day, I encounter people whose experience of Christianity is anything but merciful. How can we encourage our people to stay focused on bringing life and health to those who are bent double under the expectations and condemnations of others, whose life force is draining away as they try to keep up? 

Peace,
Claire