Sermons on Grace
Keep Your Eyes Open and Stay Alert
Pastor Ron emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance, hope, and readiness for the coming of Jesus Christ, while also highlighting lessons from scripture and contemporary challenges faced by our congregation.
The Gift of Humility
The scriptures instruct us to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand so that God may lift us up in due time (1 Peter 5:6). Humility is defined as having a modest or low view of one’s own importance. It involves putting others needs in front of our own so that they may benefit. Jesus was teaching a message to the pharisees reminding them that their high, religious positions here on earth did not translate into high positions within God’s Heavenly…
He Looks Beyond Our Faults
Jesus forgives and reinstates Peter to serve the church, even after Peter denies Jesus Christ three times. This is yet another example of God’s tremendous love and grace towards us, looking beyond our faults and addressing our needs. – Rev. Dr. Ron Hankins’ sermon from May 4, 2025.
It’s Personal
We welcomed Rev. Laura Ingersol to our pulpit on Sunday, February 16, 2025. The focus of her sermon is the idea that equity and justice are not just the work of leaders, it’s personal, and it takes all of us to help make our world what we want it to be. She used stories from her group pilgrimage to sites important to the Civil Rights Movement to illustrate the point. Laura was ordained in 1985 and over the course of…
Jubilant Justice, Powerful Peace & Radical Love
As we celebrate the dedication of the new sanctuary artwork, join Minister of Racial Justice and Multicultural Engagement, Lea Gilmore as she reflects on Jesus’ call to practice a powerful peace, seek jubilant justice and embrace a radical love! – Sermon from Sanctuary City Parts I & II dedication service on Sunday, February 9, 2025.
Avoiding Kingdom Obstacles
Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously. Satan’s seduction involves creating distractions and stumbling blocks that keep God’s children from seeking after the Lord and potentially not entering God’s Kingdom. Jesus warns us that we must never become an obstacle for others in their Christian faith, nor should we ever allow any earthly obstacle – physical, mental or spiritual to keep us from serving God and entering the Kingdom of Heaven…
Rest as Resistance
The first thing God does after creating the heavens and the earth is rest. Then tells us to do the same. God mentions it again in the commandments, putting it as high as fourth, to keep the sabbath day holy. We are God-made creatures who need rest, not just for our bodies but our minds, hearts, and souls. Join us this Sunday as we hear God’s command for rest as resistance to the prophet Elijah.
Unmiraculous Miracles
What makes a miracle, well, miraculous? And how might God be inviting us to be part of the miracles in our lives and neighborhoods? In this sermon, we continue our reading through the major leaders and prophets of the Hebrew Bible with the story of Elisha and Naaman from 2 Kings 5. Pastor Billy preaches on the seemingly mundane miracles that can transform the world around us even today.
We Are Beloved, Our Enemies Are, Too.
Daniel in the lion’s den is a beloved Bible story, but what does it teach us about loving our neighbors and enemies, too? Pastor Billy talks about lions and tigers, and being the beloved community to everyone we meet, including our enemies.