Simply the Sermon for September 7, 2025: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts for Sunday, September 7, 2025 are: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Philemon 1-21; and Luke 14:25-33.

Called to contemplate the cost of discipleship, we might be helped by translating Paul’s request to Philemon into our prayer of the day: Refresh my heart in Christ. Strengthened by the company and forgiveness of Christ in holy communion and recalling God’s grace in remembrance of baptism, we can be strengthened in this hour to “choose life”—to choose life in God as our own. We can also take this opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of our current practices; are they serving the community and the mission of God in this place? How can we release what no longer serves that mission and commence with new avenues of worship and service?

Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash