The Nativity story could generate some captivating headlines because God is challenging the world to change. Mary’s Magnificat is somewhat revolutionary. There have been times in history when governments have banned the reading of Mary’s Magnificat for fear it might stir up the people they are oppressing. What headlines do we see in Mary’s words?
Simon Peter is mentioned in the gospels about two hundred times. In those passages, he sometimes gets it wrong. Other times he shows tremendous courage. And then, in a different moment, Saul argues with Jesus. He is a flawed but faithful disciple of Jesus. Through his story, we can learn how to be better followers of Jesus.
Sermon preached at Gold Canyon United Methodist Church in Gold Canyon, Arizona on June 11, 2017 by Rev. Fred A. Steinberg