Sermons on growing in faith (Page 17)
Things Are Not Okay
In the midst of our hopes & fears, we welcome God’s coming again this Advent season. Linda’s message invites reflection on Isaiah 64 & Mark 13.24-37.
Hey You!
Matt’s message invites reflection on Ruth 4. Mieke Bal writes, “The point of Ruth is not hesed, the typical female virtue, but hutzpah — willingness to challenge, or better, stretch inadequate social/legal norms in the direction of greater justice and more voice to the deprived. The highest virtue is high-minded transgressive action designed to further growth not to undermine the system.” How might the hutzpah of Naomi & Ruth, and the subversive masculine strength of Boaz inspire & challenge us today?
Naomi My Homie
Joey Torres, a member of our community of faith and doctoral student at UC Davis, shares a message on identity & boundaries in relationship to his own life and Ruth. The focus of this message is on Ruth 2.
Baptism
We gathered in worship this morning to celebrate the baptism of 19 children & adults at The Table, to renew our baptismal vows, and to share our Deep Commitments. Worship was rooted in Matthew 22.34-40 and Linda’s message invites reflection on Jesus’ call to love God and neighbor.
Legacy
Matt’s message is rooted in Matthew 22.15-22. Celebrating seven years at The Table, Matt brings us to wonder what legacies we will leave for next generations to come?
Tending Soil
Linda’s message is rooted in Philippians 3.4b-14. What seeds might God be planting within you that need your tending in order to grow? What’s holding you back from taking your next step of growing in faith?
Planting Seeds
The Table at Central UMC is turning 7 this month! How has God led us over these seven years? Where do we find ourselves today? What might God’s invitation be for our future? Matt’s message is rooted in Matthew 21.23-32 and invites reflection on the seeds God is planting in our own lives and in the lives of our neighbors.
Radical Ritual
Over sixty thousand people gathered this week for Burning Man to celebrate Radical Ritual. As thousands searched for purpose & meaning on the playa, we gathered in worship at The Table to reflect on the depth & beauty of our ancient tradition’s radical rituals. Pastor Matt invites reflection on the radical roots of Holy Communion. Pastor Linda reminds us of the healing waters of Baptism. Pastor Chris challenges us to receive God’s anointing for our work in the world.
Cars 3
Matt’s message is rooted in Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52. Matt connects the story of the disciples and Jesus in Matthew with the new Disney Pixar film, Cars 3. Lightning McQueen faces the struggles of trying to learn the new technology while he is still stuck in the old days. Just like in Cars 3, these parables in the reading are demonstrating the old and the new coming together and bringing out the treasures of what our tradition and Scripture teach us…
Moana
This week in our worship series Faith & Films, Linda takes us through Disney’s new story of Moana and ties it together with the scripture of Isaiah 55.10-13. This film walks us through the beauty and mystery of God’s creation through Polynesian stories and mythology. Like Moana, Isaiah points to the cycles of nature as the story of God’s promise. We must learn to trust God’s desire to bless and re-create and allow us to pause in the beauty of…
The Divine Dance
Linda’s message is rooted in Genesis 18. 1-8. Linda invites us to wonder about the Trinity, as we are all part of God’s flowing Divine Dance. So the question is, will you open up and dance with the Divine?
Baptism in the Trinitarian Flow of Love
Linda’s message is rooted in Matthew 28.16-20 and writings of Father Richard Rohr. Linda invites us to wonder about our baptism into the trinitarian flow of love. What might it mean for us to be baptized & sent in this way?