Red Shoe Pastor

Writings of Rev. Robert Glen Brown (Robby)

A space for compassion and love.

Category: Pastor Stuff

  • Not Enough

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    Question for preachers and worship leaders: how often do you tell the people you lead that God makes them enough?  How often – especially if you come from the Reform tradition – do you tell them about their inadequacy but how the Spirit will work within them and make them enough? I do this often, Read more

  • All are Reflections of God

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    I would never consider myself an ally.  I do not have the strength to stand up like my stronger colleagues and march with our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers, especially in the complicated political time and place that I find myself. I know “complicated political time and place” is nothing more than an excuse, but it Read more

  • I did this. We did this.

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    Note: I usually do a series during the summer, and I guess this summer’s series became “Difficult, challenging, pointed sermons preached from a manuscript.”  I do not plan to continue it, but this sermons certainly matches last week’s sermon in difficulty. Sermon on Lamentations 3 – I did this.  We did this. “I did this.  Read more

  • Self-Care and Novocaine

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    I need to confess today. Actually, I confessed multiple times last week, but today I confess publicly: Before Thursday, when I found myself with zero choice, I had not seen a dentist since age twelve. Going to the dentist after so long scared me.  The actual dentistry did not scare me–the needles and drills and Read more

  • Stand Up Against Your Allies

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    Doing harm to the least does harm to God. Politicizing harm and insulting outrage at doing harm to the least politicizes harm and insults outrage at doing harm to God. Read more

  • Stop Hiding

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    Sermon on Genesis 3:8-12 – Stop Hiding We need to set up the scene.  This immediately follows creation.  God gave Adam and Eve one instruction—one singular rule—and this passage happens as a direct result of them failing to follow that rule. We cannot ignore that; they broke the rule, and that indiscretion had consequences.  Remember Read more

  • Rest for You and Your Relationship with God

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    Sermon on Deuteronomy 5:12-16 – Rest for You and Your Relationship with God Why follow the Law?  Why participate in the Sabbath?  Why rest? These questions may seem like an attempt to circumvent the Law, but we can only benefit from understand our faith and out tradition more.  If we can answer those “Why?” questions, Read more

  • Am I worthy? Am I good enough?

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    Sermon on Isaiah 6:1-8 – Am I worthy?  Am I good enough? I may seem like I pigeon-holed this in, but I want us to worship in a “Season of the Spirit.”  We talk about the Holy Spirit one Sunday a year and then put her back into the little box of things we believe Read more

  • Sing Your Song from The Spirit

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    Sermon on Acts 2:1-21 – Play the Spirit’s Song for You This manuscript will miss the vital illustration from the sermon I preach.   I will do something right at the beginning that I cannot recreate on paper—either in practical reality or in emotional weight—for many reasons, not the least of which comes from my fear Read more

  • Big Children in Adult Bodies

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    Sermon on Matthew 18:1-7, 19:13-15 – Big Children in Adult Bodies The passage this week might seem a weird choice for the Sunday we recognize the Sunday school teachers given Jesus’ warning.  The teachers embody the exact opposite of what Jesus warns against: being stumbling blocks for children or the innocent.  Our Sunday school teachers Read more