Search Results on Frederick Buechner

Love, Spiritual Gifts, Life, Agape

Feed my Sheep

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Frederick Buechner says that Jesus' commission of Peter to feed his sheep (John 21:9-19) was Peter's final promotion: from fisher of fish to fisher of people to keeper of the keys to shepherd.

John 21:9-19

Love, Peter (person), Sheep, Shepherd

Law and Love

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Frederick Buechner says the essence of God's law (Psalm 1:2) is a description of the way things are: that whoever does not love abides in death (1 John 3:14).

Psalm 1:2; 1 John 3:14

Frederick Buechner reflects on Peter's career path "from fisher of fish to fisher of people to keeper of the keys to shepherd" and his last commission from Jesus to "feed my sheep" (John 21:9-19).

Belief, Death, Law, Love

Feed My Sheep

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Book Quote

John 21:9-19

Peter (person), Shepherd, Sheep, Love

Salvation

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Frederick Buechner says that "to love God is to be saved." He compares losing one's life for Christ (John 12:24-25) to being in love: forgetting oneself, denying oneself, no longer being the center of one's universe.

John 12:24-25

Lent, Love, Salvation, Self-denial

The Salt of the Earth

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Frederick Buechner reflects on Matthew 5:13-14, suggesting the church is the salt of the earth when she shows the world what it means to be alive.

Matthew 5:13-14

Sermon On The Mount, Healing, Love, Church

A Magnificent Defeat

Frederick Buechner | Grandin Media

Article about Theology

Ron Rolheiser shares Frederick Buechner's take on the story of Jacob's wrestling with the stranger (Genesis 32:24-32). In being defeated, Jacob finds the blessing of love, which can only be received as a gift.

Genesis 32:24-32

Blessing, Gift, Love, Spiritual Growth

The Faith of Fools

Frederick Buechner | Re-Worship

Book Quote

In Frederick Buechner's reflection on 1 Corinthians 2:6-8, 3:18-19, Buechner points out the discontinuity between Jesus' values and those of the world, meaning that Jesus' followers will need to be "a little crazy too."

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (+ more)

Discipleship, Love, Fool, Cross

Freedom

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Book Quote

Frederick Buechner reflects on the paradox of freedom in service to God (2 Corinthians 3:17). Obedience to God, to ultimate Love, leaves us "the freedom to be the best and gladdest" we are capable of.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Transfiguration, Love, Obedience, Freedom

The Sacred Journey: Once Beyond Time

Frederick Buechner | Duke University Chapel

In this audio sermon on Matthew 19:16-30, Carl Frederick Buechner reads from his memoir. Buechner describes how he came to be healed from the reality of his father's death through God's gift of holy grace.

Matthew 19:16-30

Faith, Healing, Grace, Love

The Coming Day of Judgment

Frederick Buechner | Preaching Today

Frederick Buechner meditates on the bad news and good news of the coming judgment. We will be judged, but the one who judges us will be Jesus, who bore our judgment on the cross.

Death, Grace, Love, Judgment

Three Important Things in Life

Frederick Buechner | Preaching Today

Frederick Buechner recounts a story about Henry Adams telling his nephew that kindness is the most important thing in life.

Love, Kindness, Mercy, Compassion

Prophet

Frederick Buechner | Day1

This resource pairs Numbers 11:24-29 and an excerpt from Frederick Buechner's "Wishful Thinking," which could be used as a sermon illustration.

Numbers 11:24-29

Love, Prophecy, Truth

Hosea and Gomer

Frederick Buechner | Day1

This sermon illustration by Frederick Buechner on Hosea 11:1-11 creatively retells the story of the marriage between Gomer and Hosea. Although Gomer is repeatedly unfaithful in her marriage, Hosea continues to show her mercy and love.

Hosea 11:1-11

Love, Hosea (person), Gomer, Unfaithfulness

When God Seems Distant

Frederick Buechner | Preaching Today

In this sermon illustration for Psalm 10:1, 13:1-2, 22:1, or 79:5, Frederick Buechner demonstrates that since God's love extends to us even when we're unlovable, it is something to be remembered if God seems distant.

Love, God's Love, Forsaking God

Love: Powerful and Powerless

Frederick Buechner | Preaching Today

Quoting Frederick Beuchner on the topic of love, this sermon illustration explains how love is a power that is simultaneously the "powerful" force that breaks the human heart and a "powerless" activity that requires consent.

Love, Weakness, Power, Heart

Eternal Life

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Reflecting on John 3:13-17, Frederick Buechner sees eternal life as being with God as Christ is with God, and being with each other as Christ is with us.

John 3:13-17

Eternal Life, God's Presence, Lent, Love

God's Law as Descriptive

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Commenting on Psalm 1, Frederick Buechner notes that while God's law can't make us human, it can at least keep us honest. However, failure to keep his law puts us at risk of his judgment.

Psalm 1

Law, God, Morality, Truth

To Suffer in Love

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Peter Wallace shares a book quote by Frederick Buechner, that illustrates 1 Peter 3:13-17. The scripture reading and book quote are about suffering out of love.

1 Peter 3:13-17

Holiness, Love, Pain, Sacrifice

The Fruit of the Spirit

Frederick Buechner | Day1

Reflecting on Galatians 5:18-23, Frederick Buechner reminds us that although good works do not earn salvation, "they are nonetheless the mark and effect of it."

Galatians 5:18-23