Sermons: 2001

Fantasy, Fact, and Faith (24 December 2001)

Thus, in the telling of the Christmas story we move beyond fact and fantasy to faith. The gospels testify to Christian faith in the stories they tell of Mary and Joseph, a manger in Bethlehem, shepherds gathering around the newborn babe, and wise men bringing gifts. At the intersection of fact and fantasy, we are confronted with a choice: What story of life will we live?

Living the Christmas Story (23 December 2001)

The Christmas story is the beginning of the story of Jesus, but it is the end of the story of God in the Christian Bible. The Christmas story is not just about a man named Jesus who was born into a poor Jewish family in the Roman province of Palestine two millennia ago. The Christmas story opens that last chapter of the story of God that begins with the biblical account of creation.

Almighty God (16 December 2001)

Despite my doubts, despite my despair, despite the darkness that threatens to overwhelm my spirit and our time, I worship the God of Hannah and Samuel, the God of the psalmist, the God of Mary and Jesus — Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit.

The Baptism of John (9 December 2001)

The New Testament gospels identify in John's baptism a sign of God's forgiveness in the one we know as Jesus the Christ. That's why the gospels are "good news." "All we, like sheep, have gone astray." (Is. 53:6) We all are sinners. But in Christ, we know that nothing "can separate us from the love of God." 

Keep Awake! (2 December 2001)

Advent. The beginning of a new Christian year. We look forward in hope, with joyful anticipation, waiting — for what? Ah! That’s the secret of the Advent season.

Back to the Future (25 November 2001)

We make predictions of the future and incorporate these predictions into our revisions of the past. Our history is not a sequence of causal events, each affecting the next, but the telling of a story that is revised and retold as we live it. If this were not so, we would be unable to find light in a dark time or hope in the face of suffering, injustice and despair. We would find only an end at the end of the story, not a new beginning. 

Giving Thanks for Family (18 November 2001)

Are we really surprised that church life, like family life, is often intense and involves conflict? Our expectations for the church are high — sometimes even higher than for our immediate families. After all, the church is supposed to be God's family, isn't it? Why should we expect less?

What Does God Expect? (11 November 2001)

The Christians at the end of the first century, who are reading the gospel of Matthew, have much to be anxious about. The "Lilies of the Field" passage is telling them to put their faith in Jesus Christ, and despite all the dangers they face to strive for God's kingdom and righteousness in their life together.

Fighting Evil with Good (4 November 2001)

Faith is trust, and trusting in the God we know in Jesus Christ means having faith in the power of good over evil. Ours is an Easter faith. And this has practical implications for responding to evil in the world and fighting the war against terrorism.

Who Speaks for God? (28 October 2001)

Once the Bible is read critically, can anyone speak for God? When we read the Bible as literature, which we find inspiring and are open to receiving as inspired, we must speak only of God, and perhaps to God, but not for God. 

Praying for God's Justice (21 October 2001)

What are we to pray for? The justice we know as God's love in our time? The justice that we believe will reign at the end of time? Answering these questions is not what is important. What really matters is that we keep praying.

Increase Our Faith! (14 October 2001)

Through the witness of the Christian Bible, God asks for more than belief in good works, more than belief in Jesus as the Son of God, more even then belief in God! Loving God and our neighbors, in faith, is really what matters.

Why Mission? What Mission? (7 October 2001)

Why mission? We might as well ask, why the church? Why Christian faith? Being a Christian, being part of the church, means reaching out to others, sharing our faith, and welcoming them into our community of love. Our mission is celebrating the love of God we know in Christ Jesus, and we can only do that by sharing our worship and our witness with others.

The Why and What of Repentance (30 September 2001)

Repentance means "turning and going a new way."  Christians are called to repent of their sins.  The good news of Christian faith is that we are forgiven for our sins.  This call to responsibility and new life is the mission of the church, and it is not the same as promoting mental health.  Repentance is the "spiritual health" program of the church.

The Why and How of Worship (23 September 2001)

Properly understood, worship is an audacious act of faith. In a world that seems bereft of God’s love, we proclaim the forgiving love of God. The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gives helpful directions for worship.

The Sin of Hypocrisy (16 September 2001)

Hypocrisy is not practicing what we preach.  Sin is the evil that good people do.  St. John's must face its sins and stop being hypocritical, if it is to witness to the forgiving love of God and the good news of the gospel.

Called to be Neighbors (9 September 2001)

The Great Commandment to love God and our neighbors is the heart of Christian faith, but it is Jewish wisdom before it is Christian scripture.  And it requires more of us than we often are willing to give.

Mission and Message (2 September 2001)

We ought not to be surprised if there is conflict here about worship, the mission of the church, and the way that the gospel is proclaimed and manifested in the life of the congregation. We should benefit from the diversity of our ideas by involving all the members of the congregation in the planning for the future.

Discerning Our Call (26 August 2001)

Our faith is that we are not God’s favorite folks, because we are so nice and righteous, but because God’s justice is tempered by love and forgiveness.

Completing the Reformation (19 August 2001)

A literal reading of scripture as the word(s) of God is misleading.  A liberal reading of scripture that critically interprets the teachings of the church is necessary for our understanding, but not sufficient for our faith.  We are challenged to move from literalism through liberalism to embrace the living truth of scripture.

A Liberating Faith (12 August 2001)

What choice of loyalty do we face? For Paul, the choice was between faith in law and Empire, and faith in Jesus Christ and the church. Do we have social, political and economic loyalties that undermine our Christian commitment?

Sermons in 2002

Sermons in 2003