A couple years ago, I wrote a few sermons (or rough sketches of sermons, at least) that didn't seem to belong anywhere. I found some of the strangest stories in the Bible, and I tried--as an exercise--to see if I could write something about them. One of the better sermons to come out of that exercise was about a story in Judges 11. It's a story about a man named Jephthah, and it ends quite tragically for his daughter.

So the sermon sat in a drawer (actually, a file folder in my laptop, but "drawer" sounds more literary). I had no idea if I would ever get an opportunity to preach that sermon since it would be difficult to fit it into most sermon series.

Yesterday, I preached that sermon at Collective Church, and it felt really great to get it out into the world.

There are some sermons that exist simply because Sunday was looming, and the pastor (myself or someone else) has to say something.

There are other sermons that are begging to be preached--the sermons that occupy space in the corner of your brain, every week asking once again, "Is it time yet?"

In other words, there are some Sundays when you just have to say something, and there are other Sundays when you really have something to say.

I don't often use the blog to draw attention to my sermons. I don't know why exactly; maybe it's because I feel like writing and preaching are two different mediums, and they each deserve their own space. However, I'm going to make an exception today, because this is a sermon that I needed to preach, and I wanted to share it as best I could.

(Also, it's been a while since I blogged, so I felt like this was a good opportunity to add something new here)

So here's the link to the sermon if you want it. If you don't want to listen, that's okay. But if you do, please enjoy.

Grace and peace.