Waters Ave Sermoncast

In this sermon, Chris examines 1 Corinthians 13 and explores the way that faith and hope provide us with the stance of distance and departure that allow us to receive the gifts of a diverse community. And we see that love is what provides the basis for it all.  Preached February 3 2019

In this sermon, Chris unpacks the idea that the communities of the New Humanity must be diverse in order for each member to fully receive the gifts that each other member can be. Differences are crucial and must neither be flattened out nor turned into opposing camps.     Preached January 27 2019

In this sermon Chris explores from 1 Corinthians the idea that in the community of the New Humanity, each member is a gift to each other member. We find that our place in this world is inherently communal in its structure.  Preached January 20 2019

In this sermon Chris explores the idea that our lives in the New Humanity are spiritual in their movement. We look at the book of Acts to discover what being spiritual actually entails.  Preached January 13 2019

In this sermon Chris explores the words of the Apostle Paul from Ephesians 3 to discover the idea that our primary place in the world is in the New Humanity. Preached on January 6 2019. 

In this sermon, Chris looks at Mark 12:28-34 and explores what made it possible for Jesus and the scribe to find common ground. We begin to discover that we can learn to live life in the space between how other people act and our already made judgements of them. In that space, there is freedom to truly love and connect with others.     Preached 11/4/18

In this final sermon from our series on the Parables of Jesus, Chris contrasts the parables of the Vineyard Workers and the Talents to demonstrate the way that Jesus used parables to define life in God's kingdom. We discover that being a participant in the Kingdom of God simultaneously means working wisely and diligently, and living with the awareness that life is ultimately outside of our control.  Preached 10/28/18

In this sermon from our series on the parables, Chris looks at the story of the Unforgiving Servant to explore the idea that our release and freedom are only accessible to us as we release and give freedom to others through forgiveness.  Preached 10/21/18

In this sermon, Jon looks at the parable of the Unjust Judge and the Widow to explore how prayer and action work together in the life of faith. We discovered that prayer creates for us a future of possibilities that pulls us into new ways of acting which are in line with that future. We find that only by standing in this position will we find the strength and courage to speak truth to power and stand on behalf of others.   

In this sixth sermon on the parables of Jesus, Chris explores the story of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector and uses it to explore the way we live religious lives. What is religion? Is it desirable or does it only work ill in the world? Can our religious lives actually facilitate God's kingdom? These are the questions we attempt to answer by exploring this story from Jesus.  Preached 10/3/18  

In this fifth sermon from our series on the Parables of Jesus, Chris explores the story commonly called "The Rich Man and Lazarus." We discover, through some dramatically told narrative from Jesus, that in God's kingdom, the value of a life is derived from something wholly other than economic impact. From this, we are faced with the possibility of existing in a new kind of world, from which we are able to question and challenge the hierarchies that currently exist in our societies.  Preached 9/30/18

In this fourth sermon on the parables of Jesus, Chris explores the story commonly called "The Good Samaritan." We find that rather than viewing the parable as a moral example, we find it's true power by exploring the way it disrupts categories of "good" and "bad." Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, we find that the kingdom of God is found among the people we are quick to hate.  Preached 9/23/16

In this third sermon from our series on the parables of Jesus, Chris explores more parables of arrival to show that God's kingdom comes as a surprise that brings joy in its discovery. Through this, we uncover a way of life that is joyful, hopeful, and open to new movements and experiences of the divine life.  Preached 9/16/18

In this first sermon from the series on the parables of Jesus, Chris looks at the way parables function - as special stories that undermine and question the world building nature of myth. He examines the book Ruth as a parable in order to demonstrate how parables function, and calls listeners to step into a position of openness so that we can be shaken again by Jesus' parables.  Preached 9/2/18

In this sermon from our series on the book of Romans, Chris explores Romans 12 in order to help answer the question, "What do we do now?" For the church at Rome, and for many modern Christians, having a fresh experience of Christ means that we lose the circles of meaning that ground us. If natural disasters or societal unrest are not signs of God's displeasure, how do we know when God is pleased or displeased? If a religious leader can no longer be seen as an authority, how do I form an ethic for life? These were questions that faced the churches of Rome and questions that face us today. Listen in to explore Paul's answer: allowing love to flow from within you. Preached 7/15/18

In this sermon from our series on the book of Romans, Chris explores chapters 9-11 to discover that there is a wideness in the love of God that is shocking and unexpected. For many in Christianity, knowing how to relate to a religious past that no longer holds meaning is difficult. But Paul's explanation of ethnic Israel's place in the new movement of Spirit experienced by the churches of Rome, helps us to navigate those feelings, and gives everyone a place within the life of God. 

In this sermon from our series on Romans, Chris looks at the word sin and explores what it means in the context of Romans 5 and 6. We discover that a life lived in an open, trusting way leads to life, but a life lived with a closed off heart leads to lifelessness. We look at Paul's contrast of Adam and Jesus from chapter 6 in order to inform the way we should be thinking about ourselves. Preached 6/24/18

In this sermon from our Romans series, Chris looks at Chapter 5 to explore the journey that we call life. Looking forward to chapter 8 where Paul shares the hope of sharing in God's good reputation, we explore chapter 5 to find how to move through life when that hope seems too distant to even be real. Preached 6/17/18. 

In this sermon from our Romans series, Rachel explores Romans chapter 8 to find the way that Spirit moves us towards newer forms of life. We find in Paul's discussion that we are all wombs for one another, bringing each into new life through the Spirit and giving new life to the world around us. We discover that we all are called into the life of the Spirit. Rachel points out that life in the Spirit is about a call rather than a conversion. Preached 6/10/18 

In this sermon from our series on Romans, Chris explores the Apostle's Paul's statement that Jesus is a "sacrifice of atonement." We ask what that phrase would mean for Paul's context, and find that Jesus' death only matters as it stands in relation to his faithfulness, and discover what this might mean for our lives today. Preached 6/3/18