In this sermon in the book of Mark, Russ describes the Pharisees as the theological watchdogs of their day, protecting their faith from the corrupting influence of Greek culture. Drawing a parallel to the cultural and political divisions among American Christians, Russ calls listeners to consider how religious syncretism is obscuring our historic, Scriptural commitments of the faith. “It is to the shame of the American church that certain Christian commitments have become controversial.”
The Significance of Shadows
Rev. Dr. Neichelle Guidry Guidry
Speaking to the idea of God using shadows to dwell with us, Dr. Neichelle Guidry challenges the notion that shadows are only meant to oppress but God can use them to groom you and protect you. Dr. Guidry delivers a powerful sermon of affirmation to the oppressed speakers of the cloth and challenges those that stand in the way rather than gives a hand of support. Speaking for the voices who are hidden behind the shadow, Dr. Guidry’s sermon gives us an understanding that the shadow is not necessarily a negative idea because God works in the shadows. Sermon given on October 8, 2017 at the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
Love of God and Love of Neighbor
Pope Benedict XVI
In 2005 Benedict XVI was elected pope after the memorable and influential papacy of Pope St. John Paul II. In December of the first year in his papacy, Benedict, who had garnered a reputation for being stiff, distant, and academic in nature, surprised his critics with a deeply reflective and pastoral letter to the Church entitled, “God is Love”. In this encyclical letter, the holy father wished to prayerfully contemplate on God’s loving nature in a global context where the name of God was increasingly being invoked to justify hate, violence, terror, and division. What results is a deeply theological but accessible reflection on God and his relationship with humanity. This excerpt brings the profound meaning of scripture to bear in our own time as we increasingly face political polarization and fail to fully recognize the image and likeness of God inherent in our neighbor.
The Sound of the Genuine
Howard Thurman
There is in every person something that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in herself. . . . There is in you something that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. Nobody like you has ever been born and no one like you will ever be born...
The Season of Advent
Saint Charles Borromeo
In 16th century Milan, when plague struck the city, privileged leaders fled to their private estates and left the common people in destitution and disease. While the city’s leaders fled, their bishop Charles Borromeo hastened to minister to his flock, lead them in prayer, and encourage reasonable health measures be taken. Saint Charles Borromeo’s heroic virtue echoes through the ages and speaks to us today in our own contemporary situation. Specifically, Borromeo’s pastoral message speaks to our society today in his brief reflection included in the Liturgy of the Hours Advent Office of Readings. These readings serves to reorient the Church to God through the timely celebration of Advent. Borromeo emphasizes the import of Advent for recognizing the gift of Christ revealed in our time while eagerly anticipated and longed for throughout salvation history. He further encourages a renewed discernment to prepare for Christ in our own hearts with the arrival of the Christmas season. The sermon is paired with a scriptural excerpt from the book of the prophet Isaiah 1: 21-27; 2: 1-5, and can be prayerfully reflected upon in conjunction with the sermon.
What Good is Ruth?
Melissa Florer-Blixer
Melissa Florer-Bixler, pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, invites us to consider the ways in which Ruth is a paradigm of how we include others. In particular, Ruth invites us to see how we belong to one another in faith, and this calls us to belong to our wounded neighbors.
Creation: A Pattern for Redemption
Mika Edmonson
These first verses of Genesis are often rife with controversy. In this sermon, Edmonson reminds us that these verses are foundational for our faith, giving us a pattern for God’s mighty acts throughout history. In them, we not only find revealed truth about how God created in the beginning, but a pattern for how God will redeem his world, and save his people.
A New Heavens and a New Earth
Catherine Thiel Lee
Catherine Thiel Lee meditates on Isaiah 65, and what this passage means for Christians to be “co-creators” and the hands of God in the work of mending the world. Emphasizing the value of healing of the world in which we live, Lee turns to Revelation’s vision of the world to come to call us to live well in this world.
The Church Has Left the Building
Dr. Dharius Daniels
God created and equipped us with the spiritual gifts that will be needed for the problems that exist during the age we’re on Earth. Even though we may be caught off guard by the events going on in our world, God is not surprised, and he built us for a time like this. Just as the Samaritan helped the man who had been robbed, bandaging his wounds and taking care of him, Jesus commands us to “Go and do likewise.”
A Light to the Nations
Richard Mouw
Isaiah 60:5 proclaims that the “wealth of the nations will come to you.” In this sermon, Mouw unpacks the surprising implications of this prophetic claim. In our time of polarization, tribalism, and racial tension, Mouw reminds us of the eschatological reality of God that continues to break into our world. The promises of salvation include a word for our personal redemption, but they also – as we see in Isaiah’s vision – include a word for all of creation, and all of society, including how we live together, anticipating that day when those from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” will worship before the Lamb.