Sermon Archive

Sermons at Pearl seek to engage the ancient stories, poems, and letters in the Bible through imaginative oration that rouses our wholeness as human beings. The act of the sermon at Pearl is space to ponder the sacred, opportunity to consider the mystery and love of God, and provocation to slow down, to think deeply, and to be stirred and inspired to bountifully live.

March 09, 2025

Reclaiming Christian Language for Suffering

March 09, 2025/ Mike Roth

In the deconstruction of violent and dominion Christianity we necessarily tear down that which does harm. However, this process can leave us bereft of language that assists us in making sense of our lives and world. This sermon series intends to thoughtfully reconstruct a Christian vocabulary of suffering that can help us to ponder, name, and discuss the very real difficulties that we face. Our hope is that by reconstructing a vocabulary of suffering we can enter more deeply and honestly into that which causes us sorrow and pain. For truly, it is by entering into death that new life is made possible.

Pearl Church

Pearl Church is an open, inclusive, progressive church in Portland's Pearl District. We worship together on Sundays with programs for kids, youth, and adults.