Jr.'s Sermons

If The Force Awakens is criticized for anything, it’s for being too similar to the older Star Wars films. But we’re living in an age of nostalgia. Perhaps because our world is in such turmoil, we crave the familiar stability of old stories. So too, when Peter is helping suffering Christians understand God’s call, he frames their stories in the larger story of what God has been doing since the beginning. How can knowing the whole story of God help us thrive today?

Religion far too often is a tool of oppression. People in power often uses biblical texts to justify their oppression. We explore one of these texts in 1 Peter and see that the text was originally meant for liberation. Then we explore how we can hear the text today in a way that calls us to work for justice in our every day lives.

2001 embodies the myth of progress in its iconic opening sequence: technology will ultimately save us. But Peter reminds the early Church that they are saved not by their own efforts, but by what God has done for them through Jesus. The practice of Sabbath teaches us to say no to the god of Progress and rest in the life God invites us to.

Much sci-fi is about the promise of a pain-free life. But Wall-E points out that a pain-free life might not actually lead to our flourishing. Peter opens his letter to suffering Christians by reframing how they understand the pain they’re experiencing. He invites them to see their pain as an invitation into Jesus’ crucifixion. He illustrates how God works through pain to make us whole.

Easter celebrates Jesus' resurrection, his victory over death, and our invitation to new life. But in a world where there's no such thing as a free lunch, how can we trust that God really wants best for us? A classic Twilight Zone episode and a Ke$ha song help us see exactly why the resurrection proves God is good and worthy of our trust!