Sermon: Set Free for Freedom, Gal 5
First Presbyterian Church Hallock, Minn.
June 27, 2010
Set Free for Freedom
Gal. 5:1, 13-25
Most of the time, I choose my texts for preaching based on the Revised Common Lectionary. The lectionary is a list of texts for each sunday that thousands of churches around the world use each week. I like the lectionary because it challenges (or forces) me to preach on different texts than I might otherwise. This is one of those sermons. I’ll be at our PC(USA) General Assembly next Sunday — July 4th — and I have to admit, I was perfectly fine getting out of the tricky business of preaching on a US holiday.
On Independence Day we celebrate our Americanness, our heritage and patriotism. It’s a messy Sunday on which to preach because the gospel of Christ isn’t really about our American identity at all. So I was perfectly happy that coincidentally my General Assembly assignment would call me away from the pulpit on July 4th. And then I read the lectionary passage today from Galatians and thought, “Geez, either God or those lectionary compilers really has a sense of humor — probably both.”
Were you listening? As we prepare for the July 4th celebration of our free country, we read from Galatians 5 that’s all about, well, freedom. Turns out I didn’t miss the tension July 4th brings at all.
Maybe this is because freedom isn’t really an American concept — well, it certainly is an American value, but it’s not solely an American one. The story of the Hebrew people in the Old Testament tells of a man named Moses whom God chose to lead the Israelites from their slavery to freedom. “Let my people go” Moses told Pharaoh, and eventually they were given liberty. … Continue Reading
Sermon: "One Body in Christ," Romans 12:1-8
Romans 12:1-8
August 24, 2008
First Presbyterian Church, Tallahassee, Florida
One Body in Christ
Whatever happened to lazy August? You remember, back in the day when school started following Labor Day. When summer’s slower pace and relaxed attitude lasted clear to when you could turn the air conditioning off. August’s of old, without tropic storms and flood waters. August, when the news cycle slowed, and family vacations reigned. Oh, lazy August, where did you go?
Today, August 24th, public schools are back in session. Summer vacations are only a memory. The rain continues to fall, and have you been following the news? Newscasters in August 2008 have been busier than mice in a cheese factory.
The olympics have conducted a hostile takeover of NBC…and MSNBC, and USA, and CNBC, and some other networks I’d never even heard of.
Then there’s the far-too-real hostile takeover of Georgia by Russia.
And if you get tired of the Olympics coverage, or overwhelmed by war updates, just turn the channel to politics. You’d think the election was September 4th, not November 4th. The Democrats are scaling the Mile High City, while the Republicans are skiing over the frozen tundra to St. Paul.
And I’m afraid, in August 2008, if we look closely at our culture, amidst all the busyness we’ll see a deep brokenness. We sure are busy, but we’re also hiding many bruises.
Nations rise up against nations. Swords are drawn and wielded in the US political process. A root has risen up in Beijing amidst reports of closed door agreements over previously sacred human rights.
And then we read Paul. As usual, meddling with our worldview, transforming our all-to-conformed thoughts. Paul writes,
For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another.
I’m sorry, but Paul must be mistaken. I mean, he wasn’t writing in August of 2008. He didn’t know the issues we face today. We who are many, are one body in Christ?! Not with the Olympics playing, the US staring down China for the most medals. Not with party conventions designed to break the country into red states and blue states, values voters and working class Hillary supporters. Not when the Russian behemoth flexes it bear-like muscles.
We who are many, are one?! Paul is so yesterday. In August 2008, if you ask me, Paul is really showing his age. … Continue Reading
Sermon: Singing the Commandments, Exodus 20 & Romans 6
photo by chapstickaddict
[audio http://adamcopeland.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/singing-the-commandments-ex-20-rom-6.mp3]
click above for audio
Whew, definitely not sure about this one, but I got more positive comments than usual (which probably just means people are happy to see me go next week;) ) Several interesting homiletical issues in the sermon. First, it deals with two texts which I always find so tricky because it’s easy to shortchange each or have them talk to each other in ways either too simple or too fake. Second, it’s a teaching sermon rather than a “go do this” sermon. The topic makes it such, but so also the theological content with which I bet most are unfamiliar. Apparently the ten commandments are rarely discussed at St. C, if at all. Third, one must be careful when dealing with OT Law and NT Gospel and not pulling the age-old heresy of a split between the God of the OT and Christ of the NT. Finally, it’s a Lutheran sermon format with a Presbyterian third use of the law ending (ok, I’m a huge nerd). The form is: 1) Law, 2) Gospel, 3) Law revisited in light of Gospel to find that the Law really is Gospel to begin with–and that’d be Calvin’s third and and primary use of the law. Whew…and it has jokes too:) and somebody yelled out when I mentioned Bush, hilarious.
Ayr: St. Columba Church
11:15 am Worship Service
Adam J. Copeland
Singing the Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17, Romans 6:1-11
After going-on ten months in Scotland, it’s an interesting practice to reflect back on life in the US. As happens when living abroad, my perspective of my own country has significantly changed.
For example, I will never look at an American nicely written, clearly displayed street sign the same way again. After ten months of driving all over Ayr, passing street after street, turning around, and then again, trying to find a street sign that might be a foot off the ground on a wall, or thirty feet up on a house, or hiding behind an overgrown hedge, or just not there at all, I have gained a new appreciation for America’s street signs and simple street numbering system.
I’ll miss many Scottish things, of course, like fish and chips, constant cups of tea, Scottish cheese (which I think is completely under-appreciated), folks actually driving the speed limit (thanks to speed cameras, mind you), fantastic golf courses, having four seasons in a day–ok, I won’t miss that, but Scotland’s weather does instill a certain go-with-the-flow approach to Scottish culture which I will miss. … Continue Reading
Sermon: Gospel Foolishness, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
It’s hard not to love this text. It’s harder to know what to do with it, especially in a congregation which doesn’t get much Paul. This sermon could have used a few more day’s editing, but after preaching two sermons three days ago, it will have to do.
I was fascinated to hear comments at the door, however, as they were quite different than usual. I got several, “That really made me think” or “I’ll have to think about that.” And many, “You were really thought provoking.” I much rather get these than, “I enjoyed that” but I’m looking forward to getting my committee’s feedback for more details.
Gospel Foolishness
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
I don’t claim to understand British politics of today, let alone those of years past. But I did find David Owen’s analysis of Tony Blair in last Sunday’s Times rather fascinating. Lord Owen, former foreign secretary and a medical doctor, has written a book entitled, “In Sickness and in Power,” chronicling illness in the heads of government over the past 100 years.
In the excerpt published in the Times under the headline “Inside Blair’s Brain,” Lord Owen describes the symptoms of Tony Blair’s supposed illness, particularly in regards to the invasion of Iraq. These symptoms include:
- the unwillingness to explore difficult issues regarding the invasion of Iraq in manners that might draw out criticisms of Blair’s own position
- the firm belief in his purpose despite evidence to the contrary
- total confidence in himself mixed with a restless, hyperactive manner
Lord Owen, in the paper, diagnoses Blair not with high blood pressure, or a genetic disease, not with diabetes or shingles, but with hubris syndrome, described as excessive self-confidence, restlessness, and inattention to detail. … Continue Reading
Guest Blogger Series: Christopher Henry and the BIBLE
Guest Blogger Series: Part 7 
I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel: The Bible in Progressive Congregations
by Christopher Henry
I love the New Testament. I have been captivated by the letters of Paul since the first day of my “Life and Letters of the Apostle Paul” class in college, when E.P. Sanders painted a verbal picture of the religious landscape of the Roman Empire in the First Century and then described the unlikely, revolutionary preaching ministry of Paul in that context. In the Introduction to Preaching class at Columbia Seminary, I was moved by Charles Campbell’s depiction of Paul’s conversion from an imagined ministry of violent persecution to a ministry of preaching the gospel in difficult circumstances. Because I love Paul, and because I believe in the power of the words of scripture not only to nourish but also to create communities of faith, I am deeply concerned about the role of the Bible in progressive congregations.
In my denomination, the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are described as the “unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal.” That is, the Bible is the place where we turn to remind ourselves what is at the heart of our worship, ministry, and life together. This also means that the Bible does not belong to one subset within our denomination nor to one denomination alone. These two affirmations are, in my opinion, central to recovering the power of scripture in progressive congregations.
The Bible is not a book full of answers for common modern day questions, no matter how many New York Times bestsellers claim that this is true. The Bible, for Christians, is not merely a collection of semi-historical narratives and moral stories. Progressive Christians can offer an alternative voice to these two extremes. We who believe that the Bible is neither an answer book nor a history book have a role to play in the conversation. But we must be prepared to converse. We must not abdicate Biblical literacy to Biblical literalists. We must read the words of scripture, study them, pray them, discuss them, and apply them. We must take seriously our questions of the texts but also the questions that the texts ask of us.
If there is to be a serious dialogue between conservative and progressive Christians about the significant moral issues of our time (whatever they may be) the only appropriate venue for such a conversation is the Bible. It is my sincere hope that our progressive congregations will be adequately equipped to speak with confidence and faith, standing firmly on the Word of God and unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christopher A. Henry is Associate Pastor of Morningside Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA.
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