Unveiling Power (Revelation 4-5)

As we enter another tumultuous political season, it is all too easy to get caught up in headlines, polls, and the divisive rhetoric everywhere on display. Amid all the frenzy of campaigns and candidates, an unlikely Biblical text calls us to pull back the curtain on reality, and to center ourselves in a way that truly makes for peace. The Book of Revelation—much misunderstood, much misused, full of visions of dragons and beasts—is actually a subversive, political text, calling the church to resist the siren call of Empire, and to stay faithful to the Lamb-like way of Jesus. In this series, we will seek to understand this text, not as a timeline of supposed future events, but as an unveiling of civic life, helping form our imagination and discernment in our political, religious, and economic life together. Our hope is to lower election anxiety, and turn instead to the hope of a city that is like a garden at peace.

Unveiling the Letter (Revelation 1-3)

The slides for this sermon are available to download here.

As we enter another tumultuous political season, it is all too easy to get caught up in headlines, polls, and the divisive rhetoric everywhere on display. Amid all the frenzy of campaigns and candidates, an unlikely Biblical text calls us to pull back the curtain on reality, and to center ourselves in a way that truly makes for peace. The Book of Revelation—much misunderstood, much misused, full of visions of dragons and beasts—is actually a subversive, political text, calling the church to resist the siren call of Empire, and to stay faithful to the Lamb-like way of Jesus. In this series, we will seek to understand this text, not as a timeline of supposed future events, but as an unveiling of civic life, helping form our imagination and discernment in our political, religious, and economic life together. Our hope is to lower election anxiety, and turn instead to the hope of a city that is like a garden at peace.

Fallen, Fallen

The past weeks have been disruptive, in ways both difficult and sad, true and good. As our nation has grappled with its embedded, systemic racism, as we have mourned and listened and protested, we want to do more than sign petitions, hold signs, march or post anti-racist messages on social media. But what?

Facing down racism in America will take all of our creativity in all our many fields of expertise and spheres of influence, including within Christian theology and practice - and so over the next two weeks we begin a short series in Revelation (which, it turns out, is a wonderful text for those seeking to overturn oppressive systems). This Sunday, we'll begin by exploring how Christian history created the conditions for white supremacy and racism in America, by drifting from the subversive teaching of Jesus toward the seductive pull of Empire (or, as Revelation calls it, "Babylon"). Then next week we'll begin to build a new imagination for how Christianity can again become a signpost toward the good, peaceable city God is building in the midst of the human family.

Apocalyptic Nativities

The Church intentionally established the seasons of Advent and Christmas during the darkest time of the year. It is during this dark period that our hearts especially long for warmth and light. Biblical apocalypse is a kind of light that shines into the darkness to warm our hearts. It is a light that illuminates difference; it is a light that calls us forward into the very heart of Divinity. This sermon series therefore intends to ponder a few of the apocalyptic writings in Revelation that distinguish kings, kingdoms, endings, and ultimately, nativities. It is our sincere hope that this series is an advent of light that warms our hearts and prepares us to sing once again, “Merry Christmas!”

Apocalyptic Endings

The Church intentionally established the seasons of Advent and Christmas during the darkest time of the year. It is during this dark period that our hearts especially long for warmth and light. Biblical apocalypse is a kind of light that shines into the darkness to warm our hearts. It is a light that illuminates difference; it is a light that calls us forward into the very heart of Divinity. This sermon series therefore intends to ponder a few of the apocalyptic writings in Revelation that distinguish kings, kingdoms, endings, and ultimately, nativities. It is our sincere hope that this series is an advent of light that warms our hearts and prepares us to sing once again, “Merry Christmas!”