Beyond Bunnies and Jelly Beans
In her Easter message based on John 20, the Rev. Pam Driesell says, "Easter is not a promise that your business or family or the church or the world will be 'like it used to be,' or even that your pulse will go on beating forever. It is a promise that the power that gave you a pulse will never, ever abandon you."
The Whole Story
The Rev. Pam Driesell explores Paul's hymn to Christ's humility (Phil 2:5-11). "The mind of Christ was not to seek suffering for suffering's sake. It was not to accept injustice as a passive bystander. It was not to turn a blind eye to victims of disaster, disease, or oppression. It was to take up the suffering that would lead to new life.
The Road to Easter Runs Through a Cemetery
The story of Jesus' raising of his friend Lazarus from death (John 11) illustrates that what appears to be an ending can in fact be a beginning--a truth that can give us hope amidst our grief.
Blindness of the Heart
When Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath, the religious leaders were outraged (John 9). But Dr. Wiley Stephens says we may be as spiritually blind at times as they were.
He Gets Me!
Dr. David Sapp shows us that Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 reveals that we all desire to be known and loved--and Jesus offers that freely to each of us.
Salvation by Faith
What does it mean to be "born from above"? The Rev. Dr. David Sapp digs deeply into Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus in John 3:16--and Christ's invitation to new life.
Choose Life!
As we enter the season of Lent, Episcopal Bishop J. Neil Alexander takes us back to the desert, where Jesus was tempted to make some disastrous choices... but stood firm.
Don't Just Do Something--Sit There!
The Rev. Dr. Tim Smith shares some lessons from Peter's response on the mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9)--namely, that sometimes we need to stop DOING and start simply BEING.
Get Your Thinking Right!
Anxiety is the curse of the 21st century, Dr. Gil Watson says. But in his sermon on Matthew 6:25-34, he shares Jesus' solution to overcoming worry: seeking God's reign first.
The Sin of Ignorance
The Rev. Paul Raushenbush peels through the layers of one of Jesus' most dramatic parables--the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16)--and reveals some surprising lessons for us today.
When Awakeness Feels Like Dreaming
The Apostle Peter's experience in Acts 12 guides the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones into a reflection on the grace of God as it comes into the midst of fear, turmoil and chaos.
What's Christianity All About?
Noted theologian Dr. Marcus Borg strips away the complexities of Christianity to help us focus on the breathtakingly simple message of the faith: Love God and change the world.
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
In her sermon based on one facet of the multifaceted jewel that is the Beatitudes, the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt reflects on how Jesus' words can offer comfort and hope in any time of grief.
What Are We Doing Here?
The Rev. Dr. Ozzie Smith takes a look at a common and distressing situation in churches today: division. But the Apostle Paul had to deal with the same problem in Corinth. What can we learn from his experience?
Pursuing the Prophetic
The Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard examines the prophet John the Baptist, who boldly described Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29-42). Prophets like John help us get our bearings in the world--and call us to respond in faith.
The River
The Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard takes a look at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:13-17), and helps us gain a fresh appreciation for the sacrament that unites us with Christian community.
Feel the Buzz
The Rev. Wendy Porter Cade explores the coming of Christ into the world as described in John 1, with a light that penetrates all that has ever been dark--the Light that saves us, shows us the way home, and brings us out of death into life.
The New Normal
As the church celebrates Christmas, the Rev. Dr. James Lamkin focuses on the horrifying events following Christ's birth, as the Holy Family learns to deal with their "new normal."
The Blind Leap
As we await the coming of Jesus Christ, the Rev. Dan Matthews takes a closer look at the story of Mary and Joseph in Matthew 1--and finds a simple, bold, obedient faith.
What's the Plan?
As we continue in Advent, the Rev. Dan Matthews reveals that the signs that we, like John the Baptist, are looking for are often found at a very intimate level, and we must be alert for them.