Sermons on Social Justice
Irresistible Resistance
We read today of how Pharaoh represents the Kingdom/s of Men or Kingdom/s of the World with his hoarding, violent, oppressive, and extractive practices. Pastor Tom will lift up the women in the story who all engaged in different kinds of resistance against this oppression. The Church today is called to follow the example of these women as we seek to be the Beloved Community or Kin-dom of God. We are called to resist the Kingdoms of this world with…
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around
The Apostle Paul is concerned that the Thessalonians will lose faith by being tempted to believe that we can be Christian without experiencing persecution. Pastor Tom makes the connection between our calling to always stand with the marginalized and our being destined to experience persecution with them. We will never by able to fix injustice. But, if we believe that some people will always seek to enrich themselves at the expense of others, we are called to stand with the…
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The Bible can be dangerous when passages are read plainly and/or taken out of context. We’ve seen that happen for millennia to support war, the subjugation of women, antisemitism, and today’s anti-trans efforts at state and federal levels. Listen to a bit of David’s own journey away from such pious bigotry to a more responsible way of dealing with scripture. -Rev. David Willerup’s sermon from June 25, 2023.
“Life’s Illusions”
The story of the resurrection of Jesus is not about a single event that happened 2000 years ago to one man. It is the story of how Jesus disciples used the prophetic imagination he taught, to envision a new life and community centered on his living life and ministry. Rev. Harris uses the song “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell as a springboard to talk about how we make life more real and more lasting by infusing it with vision,…
Who is Jesus Really Criticizing Here?
Traditional interpretations of the Parable of the Wedding Banquet are anti-Semitic and inconsistent with the biblical text. Those who mistreat the king’s messengers are not “the Jews.” They are members of the religious establishment who conspire with political powers to enrich themselves and advance their own power at the expense of others. Then there is the matter of the guest with no robe. Who is that? It might just be us.
The Ten Commandments Explained by the Animals
How would the animals explain the Ten Commandments to humans? It seems like humans don’t do a great job following the commandments, so maybe we need to hear them from a different perspective.
Christian Responses to State Violence Against Its Own Citizens
How are we called to respond when the State uses violence against its own citizens? When Jesus was wrongly convicted, tortured, and executed by the State, does that inform our response? We will consider ways we as individuals can respond and ways we can advocate for meaningful change in US policing.
Speaking for Change – Leading Change: Radical Hospitality – Our Call to Welcome the Stranger
Pastor Tom continues his sermon series on important social issues. This Sunday he will be reviewing the biblical calling to welcome the stranger, how far we are from answering that call in the U.S. with our immigration policy, and steps we can take to turn things around.
Reproductive Rights: Privleging the Rights of Those Who Breathe
Pastor Tom continues the series on hot button social issues with this sermon on reproductive rights. He talks about the sacredness of a person’s autonomy and our calling to stand for a woman’s automony over her body as equal to a man’s. Biblically he surveys ways we can be guided and inspired by scripture while unflinchingly criticizing the injustice woven into it. He ends with hope as the actions we take today more than simply a vision of what we wish for.
Compassion and Justice for Transgender People
We all seek to match who we feel like on the inside with how we express ourselves on the outside. Transgender people were assigned a gender at birth that does not match who they are on the inside. As people of faith we are called to welcome, stand with, listen to, and fight for transgender people who are seeking to answer God’s calling to be who God created them to be on the inside and out. – Pastor Tom’s sermon…
Pass the Baton
We welcomed the Rev. Michael Lynn Moore to our pulpit for a special joint worship with Knox Presbyterian Church. Rev. Moore is the African-American Associate in the Racial Equity and Women’s Ministry at the Presbyterian Mission Agency and is a former pastor at Knox Presbyterian in Baltimore.
There’s Hope for Closeted Jesus Followers
At first, Nicodemus is a secretive disciple of Jesus, but, after Jesus’ crucifixion, Nicodemus finds the courage to come out as a Jesus follower. Nicodemus’ story is good news for all of us in need of a second chance to respond to God’s calling to show up in love for others in need.
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