Steven Kurtz's Podcast
By Steven Kurts
Steven Kurtz's PodcastSep 25, 2021
A Song From the Jesus Movement
Like the American Civil Rights Movement, the early Jesus Movement produced songs. Luke incorporates them in his Gospel: songs are sung by Mary, the Angels, Zechariah and Hannah. Mary's song, the Magnificat, is a pastiche of lines and echoes of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) structured according to Hannah's song - the mother of Samuel, which is found in Hanna's Song, 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Together they look at the stories in the Hebrew Bible, but they do so through the lens of Jesus' teaching.
Video will be at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR after the Sunday
service, under the Traditional Services playlist.
Text is here.
Preparation (overcoming obstacles)
What if the next right thing we need to do is hard? What makes it hard? Reflections on Luke 3:1-6
Text is here
Video will be available at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR, after the Sunday Service. Click on the Tradtional Services playlist.
Nevertheless, Hope
There are practices that make a difference. We don't have to go down the rabbit hole of pessimism. This reflection on Luke 21:25-36 is about how to not go crazy with everything that is happening around us.
The text is here.
Video will be available here at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR. after the Sunday service on the Traditional Services playlist.
The Christian Citizen
Jesus' main t theme was that the Kingdom of God was a present reality. How does that effect our relationship with modern politics? That is what I explore in this reflection on John 18:33-37.
Text is at my blog site.
Video will be available after the Sunday service at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR under the Traditional Services playlist.
Come, Serve with us
3 Times Peter denied Jesus, but his redemption story is that 3 Times he asnswered affirmatively to Jesus' question, "Do you love me?" After his redemption, Jesus 3 times commissions him to shepherd his people. That's the church's commission too; how have we done? What are we doing in this time of great transition? These reflections are about those quesitons.
The text is at my blogsite
Video will be available after the service at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR. under the Tradtitional Services playlist
Following the Money with Jesus
What makes life meaningful? Honor? Wealth? Not according to Jesus. This is an example story, but not a story of a good example (a widow making a great sacrifice out of deep religous devotion) rather a bad example story, of wealthy pepole fleecing vulnerable poor people under the guise of religion.
Text is at my blog site.
The Main Thing
The future is uncertain, humans are mortal. Why are we here? Why not despair? There are options. The spiritual formation process presents us with some alternatives. This is a reflection on Jesus understanding of those alternatives.
Text is at my blogsite.
Video may be here, at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR, if we can get the camera to work. We've had lots of issues. Look for the Traditional Services playlist, after Sunday morning.
Jesus' Question
Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" -- Twice, to people who were blind -- some metaphorically blind, one literally blind. Following Jesus involves having our blindness cured so we see things as they are -- even if they are painful to see -- and then joining him in doing something about them.
Text is here.
Video will be available at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church (after the Sunday service) on the Traditional Services playlist.
Servant Style
Ego is a constant problem for all of us personally. It is also a group problem when it becomes the quest to dominate, whether by institutions (including the church, but all institutions too) or systems, or cultural practices (racism, sexism, etc.). It was a huge problem that Jesus had to deal with among his inner circle too, which is what this story is all about, in Mark 10:35-45
The text is at my blog site.
Video will be available at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR. after the Sunday service under the Traditional Services playlist.
Enjoy Life
For years the church seemed like its goal was to squash pleasure (think of the Puritans, for example). But is that the way Jesus lived? The story of the wedding at Cana in which Jesus turned water into wine is a parable illustrating the fact that enjoying life, feasting, celebrating with family and friends, is God's concern for us. But it goes deeper. The water was in purification jars: there is deeper sub-text here about how Jesus liberates us from purity concerns. The tet is in John 2:1-11
Video is available at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith, AR (after the Sunday service). Look for the Tradtional Services playlist. There are other playlists there too that might interest you.
The text is at my blog site.
Loving God
Reflections on the story of Jesus' response to the challenge-question: which is the greatest commandment. He gets the answer right, but it's an easy one -- unless living under Roman occupation and with massive poverty all around made it harder. The story is in Mark 12:28— 34.
The text version is at my blog site
Video will be available at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR (after the Sunday service) on the "Traditional Services" playlist.
Embracing Diversity
Using the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well from John's version of the Jesus-story, we explore the conundrum that Jesus was all about diversity, as obviously the Creator-God is too, but that we humans, and especially we Christians have historically had a miserable time with it. Why? What can we do about it? That's what I'm exploring here.
The text can be found at my blog site.
Video is available at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR. (after the Sunday service)
Forgiveness is our Superpower
What does it mean to forgive (and what does it NOT mean?). Reflections on Jesus' "challenge parable" of the "unmerciful servant" provoke many questions: what is God like? Can we forgive even if we want to? What happens to justice if we do?
Text is here.
Video is here at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR. (available after the Sunday service)
Jesus' Final Instructions
Jesus had a lot to say about the poor: but was he political? Should religion mix with politics? What does the bible show? These are part of our reflections on Jesus' famous parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25:31-40.
The Text is at my blog site.
Video is here at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR (after the Sunday service)
Loving God’s and Our Neighbors’ Earth
Climate change: what is the story we are telling ourselves? A horror story? Probably. Is that the only story we should be telling? What if we told a love story instead? My reflections, in light of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Matthew 22:34-40 in which Jesus reflects on the twin "greatest" commandments: Love of God and neighbor.
The text is here.
Video is here (at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR, after the Sunday service)
Live in Love: Our Survival Depends on it.
"You can't make me!" -- the ego speech of 4 year olds, combined with the "us" vs. "them" ethics of tribalism may well destroy us and our planet unless we overcome them. We can overcome them, but will we? Thoughts inspired by the high-minded ethics displayed in Ephesians 4:25–5:2.
The Text can be found at my blog site.
The video will be available after the Sunday Service at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR.
It's Not Your Fault (Suffering and God)
Why do people suffer? Is God punishing them? This famous story of David's rape of Bathsheba and murder of her husband in 2 Samuel 11:1-15 is an example of why that cannot be true. Jesus too came to the conclusion. That's what this reflection is about. The text is at my blog site. The video is available (after the Sunday Service) at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR.
People of the Crossing
I take the stories of Jesus mostly as metaphors. The story of Jesus walking on the water in Mark 6:30-56 is a good example. It's a sea-crossing story. The crossings are not literal, but ideological: from one world to another. Following Jesus, according to Mark, is all about being willing to do the difficult task of crossing borders to people on the "other side" - religiously, ethnically, racially, in terms of sexual orientation, or politically. It's always hard -- there are always headwinds, but when the borders are crossed, healing happens: reconciliation. The text is at my blog site. The video is up at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR.
The Price of Speaking Truth to Power
Reflections on the famous story of the dance of "Salome" which led to the beheading of John the Baptist by Herod (Antipas) -- a story told with cynical satire, against the abuse of power by the elite. It provokes reflections on the relationship between religion and politics. The story is found in the Gospel of Mark, 6:14-29. The video will be at Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR's YouTube channel sometime after the Sunday service. The text is on my blog site.
The Jesus Issue -- for July 4, 2021
Reflections on the high standards that we all pay lip service to, for our country, but which we have not successfully achieved for all people -- just like Israel did not live up to it's high standards. Reflection include considering the high calling Jesus set for as "the kingdom of God" and how that
beautiful vision of life in community relates to us, in America. These reflections are prompted by Mark's description of Jesus' reception and mission in Mark 6:1-13. Text can be found at my blog site. Video (after the Sunday Service) can be found at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR.
Seeds of the Kingdom
Reflections on Jesus' two parables involving seeds as metaphors for the kingdom of God, found in Mark 4:26-34.
The Video is available (After the Sunday service) at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Ft. Smith, AR.
The text is at my blogsite.
Family Values: the devil is in the details
If Jesus just taught love and forgiveness, why did have so many conflicts: with his family (why?), with religious leaders, and with the government (again, why?) -- what if we are going to face a coalition of those same sources of conflict all wrapped into one? What if Christian Nationalism becomes the new normal? Would the Tulsa massacre possibly happen again? The text is at my blog site. The video is at the YouTube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith, AR.
Conversations in the Dark: mysticism and transformation
The famous story (and famously mis-read) of Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night in which Jesus says he must be born again is meant to be read mystically (like all of the Gospel of John is meant to be read). It is a story about going from religion (morals, duty, rituals) to a truly transformed state of selflessness.
Rejoicing in the Spirit
Reflections on what it means that the Spirit is present always and everywhere -- but though it should produce unity across racial and ethnic lines, often doesn't. The Spirit can be resisted. Nevertheless if we are willing, the Spirit can bridge chasms of race and ethnicity. The video is up at the Central Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith Youtube channel. The text is at my blog.
One-ing
Reflections on the idea that we humans could really be one with God and one with another -- an insight most mystics share (but can be hard to experience or even believe. Based on the very mystical Gospel of John which depicts Jesus in prayer to God. The video is at the Youtube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR. The text is at my blog site.
Love in Action
Reflections on John 15:9-17 in which Jesus commands his followers to love -- but not with sentimentality, but AS he showed love -- by action; public (even political) actions - which is what got Jesus killed, but he did it out of love -- because love, in the public sphere, is justice.
The text is at my blog site: Steven Kurtz's Blog.
A video version can be found at the Youtube channel of the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR.
Fruitfulness or Firewood
Reflections on the question: Why are we here? Provoked by John 15:1-8 in which the metaphor of a branch being connected to a grapevine stands for our union with God which is the source of fruitfulness. Then, an illustration of good fruit, in the life of abolitionist John Ranken whose hard work, in spite of great opposition, helped many people escape slavery.
Good Shepherding: Jesus and Activism
A reflection on the modern day implications of John 10:11–18 in which Jesus calls himself the "Good Shepherd" -- which seems benign enough, but then he talks about wolves and willingness to die -- so it's about danger. But it's also about activism, because Jesus' strategy was radical and unexpected fo his time. Much to chew on and learn from him about. The text is at my Wordpress blogsite. The video set at the Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR, is uploaded usually late Saturday evening to be available by Sunday morning.
Necessary Doubt: Faith, Suffering, and Risk
This is on John 20:19-31, the story of "doubting Thomas" -- which I take to be a parable (not literal history); a story of the post-crucifixion Jesus appearing (twice) in a locked room to the disciples, first when Thomas was not there, and the second time when he was present. In between, they had reported the first appearance to Thomas who famously said he would not believe without seeing and touching Jesus' wounds. This is a parable about how to have faith that the message of Jesus -- that the Kingdom of God was present --- could be believed, even in his absence. But it brings up the issue of pain, evil and suffering, which are perpetual challenges to faith. In fact, even to Jesus' faith. Jesus too doubted.
Mockery and Salvation
Sermon for March 28, 2021, Palm Sunday, Year B
Jesus rode a donkey into his country's capital city on the day they celebrated National Independance (from slavery in Egypt, centuries ago) while being subjects of the Roman Empire's domination and oppression. The donkey ride was intentional mockery of Roman Governor Pilate's entry into Jerusalem with troops to tamp down any new independence movements.
That is what we celebrate on Palm Sunday: mocking the unjust powers that be which seek to oppress and dominate. We proclaim allegiance to an alternative "kingdom."
The Ultimate Conundrum
This is a reflection on John 12:20-33. In John's gospel (a collage made of memories of Jesus and theological reflections) we hear Jesus talk in either-or terms (characteristic of John's gospel) about finding/loosing, loving/hating life. The point is that a life clung to, for the sake of self, is as fruitless as an unplanted (unhurried) seed, but a life lived for others is like a planted (buried) seed: it bears fruit.
Looking into Love and Life
This is about what the Historical Jesus believed, how the early church in some ways subverted his message about a God of Love, and then it segues into a question about the mandate to love and asks if it applies to the unborn? Yes, it's about abortion, and how I changed my mind.