Taylor Mertins

Easter 4A – The Word Made Verb

Acts 2.42-47, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2.19-25, John 10.1-10; Why do United Methodist pastors move? How important is Christian grammar? What can Ghostbusters teach us about the Gospel? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest…

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Easter 3A – God Repents Us

Acts 2.14a, 36-41, Psalm 116.1-4, 12-19, 1 Peter 1.17-23, Luke 24.13-25; How should we respond to sermons? Is reciprocity possible in the kingdom of God? Does God give us heartburn? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with…

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Easter 2A – The Foolishness of Preaching

Acts 2.14a, 22-32, Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1.3-9, John 20.19-31; What makes a good sermon good? How should we talk about Sheol in church? Is it okay to doubt? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guests Todd Littleton and Josh…

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Easter [A] – Post-Apocalyptic Merrymaking

Jeremiah 31.1-6, Psalm 118.1-2, 14-24, Colossians 3.1-4, John 20.1-18; What’s the difference between explanation and proclamation? Should we be joyful and afraid on Easter? What can The Last of Us teach us about the church? These questions and more on…

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Palm Sunday [A] – From We to He

Psalm 118.1-2, 19-29, Matthew 21.1-11; Should Palm Sunday be called Psalm Sunday? How often should we laugh in church? What difference does a donkey make? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Drew Colby. Drew is the…

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Lent 5A – Death’s Enemy

Ezekiel 37.1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8.6-11, John 11.1-45; How hard is it to preach on the psalms? What makes a faithful funeral faithful? What does BBQ chicken pizza have to do with salvation history? These questions and more on this episode of…

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Lent 4A – The Story We Didn’t Choose

1 Samuel 16.1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5.8-14, John 9.1-41; Do we use enough oil in worship? How subversive is Jesus? Is Lent supposed to be a downer? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guests Jason Micheli, Teer Hardy,…

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Lent 3A – The Radical Character of Familiarity

Exodus 17.1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5.1-11, John 4.5-42; How pointed should our prayers be? Who qualifies as being part of the ungodly? Is there anything wrong with democratic egalitarianism? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed…

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Lent 2A – How Odd Of God To Save This Way

Genesis 12.1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4.1-5, 13-17, John 3.1-17; What’s wrong with satisfaction theories of the atonement? Should Protestant Christians put Jesus back on the cross? What is a lettuce sermon? These questions and more on this episode of…

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Ash Wednesday [A] – A Dangerous Time

Joel 2.1-2, 12-17, Psalm 51.1-17, 2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10, Matthew 6.1-6, 16-21; What is the purpose of Ash Wednesday? How important are the words we use in worship? Is the Gospel about reconciliation, rectification, or both? These questions and more…

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