7th after pentecost year b - a sermon

For the sermon I preached today, I drew on both of the texts I queeried this week.  If you'd like to check out my queeries, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 is here and Mark 6:1-13 is here.  In crafting the sermon and looking back on it now, it is clear to me how the queeries informed the sermon, though if you have questions, feel free to post them and I will respond.

The congregation where I preached also records their services.  If you'd like to listen, the gospel reading begins at 16 minutes 53 seconds.

7th after pentecost year b - 2 corinthians

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

2I know a person in Christ

    who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—

         whether in the body or out of the body I do not know;

              God knows.

    3And I know that such a person—

         whether in the body or out of the body I do not know;

              God knows—

                   4was caught up into Paradise

                   and heard things that are not to be told,

                        that no mortal is permitted to repeat.

    5On behalf of such a one I will boast,

         but on my own behalf I will not boast,

              except of my weaknesses.

         6But if I wish to boast,

              I will not be a fool,

                   for I will be speaking the truth.

              But I refrain from it,

                   so that no one may think better of me

                        than what is seen in me or heard from me,

                             7even considering 
                        the exceptional character of the revelations.

         Therefore, to keep me from being too elated,

              a thorn was given me in the flesh,

                   a messenger of Satan to torment me,

                        to keep me from being too elated.

                   8Three times I appealed to God about this,

                        that it would leave me,

                             9but God said to me,

                                  “My grace is sufficient for you,

                                       for power is made perfect in weakness.”

         So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,

              so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

         10Therefore I am content with weaknesses,

              insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities

                   for the sake of Christ;

                        for whenever I am weak,

                             then I am strong.

Queeries for the text:

Which heaven is the third one?
What doesn't God know?
Why does Paul do so much boasting?
Did Paul create the humblebrag?
What was Paul's thorn?
How many different, potentially problematic, interpretations exist of Paul's thorn?
Was it really a thorn or was Paul just caught in the cultural thinking of his day?
Was God telling Paul the thorn was not a bad thing?
What makes me weak?
What makes me strong?

What are your queeries?

5th after pentecost year b - mark

Mark 4:35-41

35On that day,

    when evening had come,

         Jesus said to the disciples,

              “Let us go across to the other side.”

36And leaving the crowd behind,

    they took him with them in the boat,

         just as he was.

              Other boats were with him.

    37A great windstorm arose,

         and the waves beat into the boat,

              so that the boat was already being swamped.

         38But Jesus was in the stern,

              asleep on the cushion;

                   and they woke him up and said to him,

                        “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

         39Jesus woke up

         and rebuked the wind,

              and said to the sea,

                   “Peace!

                        Be still!”

                             Then the wind ceased,

                             and there was a dead calm.

         40Jesus said to them,

              “Why are you afraid?

                   Have you still no faith?”

41And they were filled with great awe

    and said to one another,

         “Who then is this,

              that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Queeries for the text:
Why is Jesus always going "across to the other side"?
Was this a "come as you are" boat ride?
Who were in the other boats?  Weer their boats being swamped also?
Did the boats get stuck where they were in their journey when the wind stopped?
What did the other boats think happened when the dead calm settled in?
What am I afraid of?  Where is my faith?
If only Jesus can calm the storm, what's the point in even trying to fight it?
Are we perishing right now?  How?

What are your queeries?