Sermons by Matt Smith (Page 21)
Climate Change
With sanctuary restoration still underway, we gathered on the front lawn for worship once again at 9:30 & 11:00 am. Matt’s message is rooted in the first story of creation from Genesis 1. How might the first story of creation shape our responses to climate change? What might dominion look like in our day?
Consumption
With sanctuary restoration underway, we gathered on the front lawn for worship at 9:30 & 11:00 am. Matt’s message is rooted in James 1.17-27. How does our faith call us to relate to consumption and materialism? What might the tradition of Christian asceticism teach us about opening up, treading lightly, living simply, & simply living? The podcast includes a clip from worship of our music team leading Michael Franti’s Earth from Outer Space.
Caring for Creation
Matt’s message is rooted in Psalm 139 and Romans 8.19-23. How are we called to care for creation as followers of Jesus? What might our faith tradition have to teach us about honoring the earth? This is the first week in a four-week worship. The segment from the closing song for the podcast was recorded as our prayer of confession in worship. The song is called Hymn of Remorse by Brian McLaren and Tracy Howe. Here is a link to…
Salvation
Matt’s message invites reflection on Salvation and is rooted in James 2.14-26. What are you saved for? How might you notice the salvation that IS at hand in the world? This is the fifth week of our five-week worship series called On Ramp. The music featured in this podcast includes live versions from worship of Make a Difference by Rachel Kurtz and Benediction by Josh Garrels.
God
Matt’s message invites reflection on God. How might the Bible and Christian tradition shape the ways we talk about God? What images and metaphors might be faithful in our day to express God’s ineffability? This is the third week of our five-week worship series called On Ramp.
Bible
Matt’s message invites reflection on how we relate to the Bible. Some followers of Jesus argue “the bible says it, they believe it, that settles it.” Others reject Christianity for such simplistic worldviews. How might we relate to the Bible in our contemporary lives? Where do we start if we’re picking up the Bible again after many years away? How might we wrestle with the Bible as we make meaning of our lives? Matt’s message is rooted in Acts 17.10-12.…
Religion
Matt’s message is rooted in Mark 6.14-29. How might we respond to this text of terror? What might we learn from this Game of Thrones scene found in the midst of Mark? How might grappling with the complexities of scripture and tradition lead us to practice faithfully our spirituality AND religion? This is the first week in a five-week worship series on central concepts in Christianity.
Prayer for Charleston
We gathered with people of faith around the world in prayer & lament for the people of Charleston, South Carolina. Our prayer included sections of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Eulogy For The Young Victims Of The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing and Peace Stronger Than the Storm by Steve Garnaas-Holmes (Unfolding Light, June 20, 2015) read by Keith Dabney and Pastor Matt Smith.
Baptism at The Table
This is the final week in a three-week worship series on Godly Play and welcoming children at The Table. Matt’s message is rooted in the baptismal liturgy of our community (adapted from a liturgy by Marcia McFee), Godly Play’s story of baptism, and the baptism of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. We will celebrate baptism on Sunday, October 25. We hope this message will help us in getting ready for the beauty and power of baptism.
Godly Play Brought Me to Faith as an Adult
This is the first week in a three-week worship series on Godly Play and welcoming children at The Table. Matt’s message is rooted in Isaiah 11.6 & Matthew 19.13-14. How do we welcome children? How might children lead us?
Birth Stories
Our worship series, This Christian Life, is based on the format of story telling curated by Ira Glass on This American Life. Our stories this morning are rooted in Acts 2 and invite reflection on church birth stories.
Waiting Sucks OR Forcing It
Our worship series, This Christian Life, is based on the format of story telling curated by Ira Glass on This American Life. Our stories this morning are rooted in Acts 1 and invite reflection on the tension between waiting and forcing.