There is power in the proclamation of the cross. The Feast of the Holy Cross is observed on September 14th to commemorate Constantine’s mother Helena’s discovery of the True Cross on that day in 330 AD. The feast sometimes features expressions of great devotion, such as kissing, bowing, genuflecting, participating in processions, and other forms…
10 Ways to Preach on Maundy Thursday
What is Maundy Thursday? The liturgy for Maundy Thursday begins a three-day observance of the most holy events in the Christian Liturgical calendar. Known as the Triduum, the service of Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Easter Vigil, cover a four-day/three-night journey into the heart of the Christian Gospel. The name…
10 Ways to Preach the Palm Sunday Sermon
In David Roseberry’s ongoing series of posts on 10 Ways to Preach, we come to Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday features a diverse mix of stories and traditions, encompassing the events from the Lord’s triumphal entry to his burial in a tomb. For that reason, it is challenging to determine what…
10 Ways to Preach on Ash Wednesday
In David Roseberry’s ongoing series of posts on 10 Ways to Preach Liturgical Events, we come to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. If a congregation gathers to observe Ash Wednesday, it will likely include these dramatic liturgical moments: It is a deep and profound service; as you can see, it can…
10 Ways to Preach the Trinity Sunday Sermon
There is a standard joke about a church rector making up the calendar for preaching. He decides to preach all the easy Bible passages. Pentecost? It’s a piece of cake! The Transfiguration? Child’s play. Christ the King Sunday? Not a problem. But then he looks at the Bible readings for the Feast of the Holy…
10 Ways to Preach the Pentecost Sermon
The significance of Pentecost cannot be overstated. It is the most important event in the history of the church because, well, it started the history of the church. It marked the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church, the empowerment of the apostles, the inception of their mission, and the expansion of…
10 Ways to Preach the Ascension Sermon
The Feast of the Ascension often finds itself eclipsed by other monumental events in the life of Christ. This is due primarily to its occurrence on a Thursday, unlike other momentous occasions such as the Baptism of Jesus, the Transfiguration, Easter, and Pentecost, all celebrated on Sundays. However, the Ascension is far from a secondary event,…
10 Ways to Preach the Good Friday Sermon
As a pastor, when I encouraged people to attend our Good Friday liturgy, I would say something like this: “On Good Friday, we gather to remember the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and his death upon the Cross. If you’re wondering whether to attend, I ask you to consider one question. Would you…
10 Ways to Preach the Transfiguration Sermon
Preaching the Transfiguration Sermon is indeed a high calling! (Get it?) Though the Feast of the Transfiguration is August 6th in the lectionary, we read the story at the end of Epiphany, on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The Transfiguration serves both as a dramatic epiphany of Jesus’s identity and a fitting preparation for the…
10 Ways to Preach the Baptism of our Lord
In 2016, I led a tour of 30 adults through the Holy Land, and one of our stops was the newly renovated site on the Jordan River, commemorating John the Baptist’s baptism of our Lord. I led our group in the renewal of vows, sprinkling and praying over 29 of the 30 pilgrims. Then, one…
