Compassion and Accountability

David R. Sawyer
Director of Lifelong Learning and Advanced Degrees, and Professor of Ministry


1 Samuel 24:1-22
February 23, 2007

The sermon addresses the question, "How do we call each other to account and still be respectful and compassionate with each other?" It draws on the story of David and Saul at the cave at Engedi in which David restrains himself and his fighters from harming Saul, "the Lord's Anointed" but gives a strong speech juggling delicate issues of power and respect. "It's a slippery and difficult road we travel, being a human community, but trying to hold onto our ideals of faithfulness, loving each other, forgiving each other, speaking the truth in love to each other, granting each other grace in the face of the plain acknowledgement of our errors." Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF format.

Reclaiming the Prophetic: Toward a Theology of Hope and Justice in a Fragmented World

Johnny B. Hill

Assistant Professor of Theology

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

February 15, 2007

An address given by Dr. Hill at Spring Convocation on the occasion of his installation to the Faculty at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Hill's address focuses on the deep roots of prophetic Christian heritage, from which one can learn the language of hope and justice. These themes hold particular meaning for confronting contemporary expressions of human suffering and fragmentation in local and global spaces.

Listen to the address. Read the address.

A Death in Egypt

Christopher L. Elwood
Professor of Historical Theology

Genesis 49:29-50:14
February 9, 2007

What would we do if we were in Joseph’s position? This narrative of Jacob’s death and burial (the only passage in scripture that gives us a close account of a funeral) encourages us to wrestle with questions of cultural difference and faithfulness. Listen to the sermon.