Sermons on Social Justice
Take Notice
Jesus warns of the great judgment awaiting those who ignore the poor and the suffering. Hear Christ’s challenge to open our eyes, act with compassion, and live with mercy.
The Seed, the Soil and the Soul; Mama’s Garden
Chaplain Anne Owens delivers a sermon and a song, reflecting on the sacred cycles of sowing and reaping—Our Creator’s promise woven into the very rhythm of creation and the hope of life renewed. – from September 14, 2025.
Nobody’s Fault But Mine
Let us remember that the fight for justice, peace, and love is not someone else’s responsibility; it is ours. We cannot afford to sit idly by while injustice prevails or hatred spreads. It is nobody’s fault but ours if we fail to act. Let us commit ourselves to pursuing justice, embracing peace, and cultivating love in every aspect of our lives.
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.
Reparative Justice
Rev. David Harris’ sermon from February 2, 2025 about the need for Reparative Justice.
Pride Sunday Sermon
As a More Light Presbyterians Congregation, Govans is open, affirming, and celebrates all children of God. Although we celebrate this value every Sunday, we set aside this day to honor and remember the strives we’ve made and the work we are still called to do. We will do this through the lens of Queen Esther, a woman who had to hide her identity, change her name, and use her very limited power to save and protect her people. – Rev.…
The Anti-Occupation and Anti-Colonization Polemic Thinly Veiled in the Story of the Gerasenes Demoniac
It would be easy to hear the story of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac as an ancient story about mental health. It can be that. And, if we pay attention to Mark’s clues we will hear that it is a strong message against violent occupation and colonization then and now. Further, it challenges us to consider what we are willing to pay in wealth and privilege in order to live in the Kin-dom of God.
The Rebellious Love of Jesus
Watch Govans’ own Akilah Atkinson’s sermon on the rebellious love of Jesus and how modeling this type of love can transform your world.
Hulda’s and Josiah’s Climate Change Testimony
The Prophetess Hulda speaks truth to men in power. Josiah listens to her voice and leads change despite the inevitable fall of Jerusalem. How do their actions inform our response to climate change? We are do both; speak truth to power and change despite the coming consequences of the choices of past generations.
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…