We always must remember how many gifts of the spirit are dedicated to listening and communicating. In the midst of an oppression that is the legacy of a country founded…
In a more theological sermon, we examine Paul's arguments about resurrection and ask whether the argument he makes reflects our lived experience. After all, there are many different ways to…
Through a mirror, dimly, we see the world. So often, our reactions to others are reflections of how we see ourselves. Paul reminds us that we need to grow into…
Paul complaining about division in Christianity is a little funny to careful readers, but his warning to avoid tribalism in our thinking is sound.
Sometimes in Christianity, the only meaning of Jesus that is said to be important is his death. But Jesus lived and embodied life, and rose again, and meaning may be…
As the church and minister prepare to go on sabbatical, Paul exhorts us to be assured of God's love, because God loved us and came in the form of Jesus…
On our Sunday recognizing servant leaders and graduates, we talk about our core identity as a church that Cares Within. Sometimes that means listening, sometimes that means leading, sometimes that…
In our church identity statement, we profess to be a church "serving beyond." As the context of church changes, each generation must understand how we are called to go beyond…
Philemon, the shortest book we have in the New Testament, is a straightforward letter inspiring and troubling at the same time. In it, Paul uses all of his considerable powers…
We practice an open table in Ankeny UCC, meaning, all are welcome to take communion. Why do we do that, when Paul seems to argue that we need to have…
Paul shows us the service that Christ gave us, by emptying himself of the powers and pretensions of God to live with us and lead by serving us. We have…
In prison, Paul shows thanks for the care given by the Philippians, for the love expressed in their actions. We are reminded that care and love require us and inspire…
The implications of the Gospel are always understood in translation. We see how they were perceived in first-century Rome. What are they today? Note: Even at the time, the anecdote…
As we explore progressive christian theology, we ask questions about power and privilege in the Bible. Paul uses his privilege to free a female slave from possession, and, by challenging…
Paul can be challenging sometimes. So challenging that the Jesus movement was a little dubious about his joining them in the first place. One of the biggest parts of living…
What does Paul mean by "we are one in christ?" It means he, like Luke, recognizes that Christ seeks to break down the barriers that divide us and bring us…
Living as the church, being the church, is the way to reconcile ourselves to one another without hypocrisy.
Confessing, whether about sins or faith, is about admitting and acknowledging things we think to be true; truths about God and truths about ourselves. Maybe if we listen to others…
