This morning I had the opportunity to preach at both worship services at St. James Episcopal Church and share more about the ministry of White Rock Center of Hope during the education hour. This was a special joy as I’ve gotten to know this congregation better and better through my relationship with their WRCH Board Member, Russ Pate and their Rector, Fr. Jonathan Melton.
Sermon
My message, “Sowing Seeds of Hope” was based on the lectionary passages (Isaiah 55:10-13, Romans 8:1-11 & Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23).
Sermon Excerpt
Who is Jesus?
This is a question most of us have been asked enough times over the years that we’ve given it some thought and perhaps even settled on an answer.
My answer is a work in progress. The longer I follow Jesus and the more I learn, the more revisions I make.
This summer I’m expanding my response as I explore a delightful yet challenging book written by an Episcopalian titled Freeing Jesus. The prolific and prophetic author, Diana Butler Bass, uses the book’s subtitle as an effective preview of its contents: “Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence.”
If I had to choose just one title to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” I would go with Teacher.
This title is top of mind for me since it was the one my small group explored this week. We learned that “although Christians call Jesus by many names, those who knew him best mostly called him teacher”(Freeing Jesus, 2021, p.29). And, it turns out, teacher, alongside similar names that imply a person who teaches, is used to address Jesus more often than all other names combined in the New Testament.
This leads to another question: What kind of teacher was Jesus?
A Sunday school answer could be a “good one” or a “religious one” or even a “moral one.”
According to the New Testament accounts, his teaching style focused on asking questions much more than it did on providing answers.
Perhaps the simplest answer is to explain that Jesus was a storyteller. The type of story he told most often were parables. And his favorite topic was the kingdom or empire of God (a reality quite different than any earthly empire then or now). Charles McCullough, a United Church of Christ pastor, author, and artist, defines parables as “metaphors or similes, plus narratives, usually with a surprise turn that points towards God’s Empire . . . (For more, check out the full manuscript or watch bellow).
So What?
You may think that spending a few hours of your time as a volunteer or donating food or gently used clothing are ways to be helpful to neighbors in need. You’d be right. More importantly, however, these acts are a way of sowing seeds of hope. In time, those seeds may just return a yield that transforms lives and builds a stronger community.
Note; This message includes connections to White Rock Center of Hope, a faith-based non-profit ministry that I serve as Executive Director. WRCH cultivates hope through basic needs and personalized empowerment.
For other recent sermons preached at WRCH ministry partner congregations, check out
- Preaching Difficult Discipleship (June 2023) – Eastminster Presbyterian (PCUSA)
- Preaching Abundant Life (April 2023) – Central Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Or for a much longer list (all including sermon manuscripts and video), check out the So What Faith Sermon Page.