Sermons by Matt Smith (Page 7)
Be a Goldfish
Worship holds the story of Jesus’ baptism in Luke in conversation with a lesson from Ted Lasso on “being a goldfish.” What are called to forget? What are we called to remember? How do we remember faithfully? Remember rightly? What will ultimately be remembered and forgotten according to Christian tradition and faith? Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
Chosen Home
Home is not necessarily a place, but where we find authentic belonging. Worship is rooted in the story of a young Jesus straying from his birth family after the Passover to dwell in the Temple. Matt’s message invites reflection on Jesus’ adolescent journey toward belonging and the long journey to belonging of activist and scholar bell hooks in hopes that we might all come to know in the depths of our bones that our true home is found in God.…
11pm Invited Home
11pm Candlelight Christmas Eve with The Table. Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
A Home For All
Worship is rooted in the story of John crying out from the wilderness: “bear fruit worthy of repentance.” Pastor Matt’s message reflects upon a contemporary and unexpected example of what this looks like in our day. The witness comes from a short film called Holding Still which tells story of how contemplative prayer transformed the lives of men who were formerly incarcerated at Folsom Prison. The lives of Lawrence and others have been changed and they are experiencing deep joy…
Homesick
We begin the Advent journey amid the beautiful darkness of the Sanctuary by reflecting upon the ache for home which lives within us all as we turn to watch for the birth of Hope at Christmas. Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
Earth’s Voice
The Greek word for “revelation” is apokalypsis. It literally means “A lifting of the veil.” Dr. Micah D. Kiel argues that John, the stated author of the book of Revelation, does not prescribe the destruction of the earth, but rather envisions an ecological alternative where God is sovereign, the Earth matters and has a voice, and Revelation offers a glimpse at wild and uncultivated places as the future that God will create. In this second of a three-part series, Pastor…
I pledge allegiance
The Greek word for “revelation” is apokalypsis. It literally means “A lifting of the veil.” Dr. Micah D. Kiel argues that John, the stated author of the book of Revelation, does not prescribe the destruction of the earth, but rather envisions an ecological alternative where God is sovereign, the Earth matters and has a voice, and Revelation offers a glimpse at wild and uncultivated places as the future that God will create. In this first of a three-part series, Pastor Matt…
Reaching in Love
Worship is rooted in Job 38-41. How might we, like Job, be challenged by the Divine this day to expand our vision and to see beyond ourselves, to see with God’s eyes the world’s intricacy and wild beauty, and surrender our personal expectations? Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
Rooted in Grace
Worship is rooted in Job 1-2. Dr. Ellen Davis writes, “I suspect that we do not more often appeal to the book of Job in times of distress because we do not really know how to read it for the sake of our souls.” Pastor Matt’s message invites us to read Job for the sake of our souls as we reflect upon how we will moor ourselves to God by rooting our lives in grace. Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI…
An Object Lesson
With anticipation building and hope rising as live theater returns to Broadway and Hamilton opens in Sacramento, worship weaves lessons from Jesus in Mark 9.30-37 with powerful music to help us excavate what greatness in the Gospel might actually require of us today. Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
Things Come Together Then Fall Apart
Worship is rooted in Psalm 146. Carrie Newcomer sings, “Things come together then fall apart.” Where do we turn as pandemic unfolds and languishing becomes a new normal for many of us? What wisdom and resilience might we find in from the ancient Psalmist for our day today? Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804
Let’s Stay
Worship is rooted in John 6:56-69. Jesus invites The Twelve to consider whether they will abide or leave (John 6.67). In what ways are you feeling tempted to walk away from living incarnationally and how are you feeling led to risk living incarnationally right now? Worship online with thetable.live. CCLI #805699 / CCLI Streaming #094804