Wolves, Lions, and Lambs at the Table

Cláudio Carvalhaes
Assistant Professor of Worship and Preaching

Isaiah 65: 17-25
Luke 21:5-19
November, 16, 2007

The scripture texts for this week pull together two different visions of the future: one from Isaiah filled with life and joy, and one from Luke about Jesus predicting a disastrous future. How do we make sense out of that? What do these visions have to do with our agency in the world? The sermon initiates the conversation and then asks people to get together around the Eucharistic table to figure it out. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

On Sheep, Wolves, Serpents and Doves

David C. Hester Dean of the Seminary Vice President for Academic Affairs Harrison Ray Anderson Professor of Ministry

Matthew 10:1, 5-23
October 26, 2007

Matthew’s account of Jesus sending out “the Twelve” on a mission to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” on which journey they are to take only the essentials and no extra baggage, prompts us to think about our own call to participate in God’s mission through the church for the transformation of the world. Matthew warns that the disciples who agree to “go public” with Jesus’ call to a new vision of the future may not always be welcome. The opponents of Jesus’ good news vision are consuming and destructive of self and of others—they are like wolves. How shall those in mission live in the midst of such threats? Jesus urges they become “wise as serpents and innocent as doves,” living a sanctified life, guided by practical wisdom that recognizes openings for the Gospel’s good word. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Where is the Glory

Johanna W. H. Bos

Dora Pierce Professor of Bible and Professor of Old Testament

I Samuel 4:1-22
November 2, 2007

In this story ancient Israel devises a plan to avoid another defeat by the hand of the Philistines by bringing the Ark of the Covenant into battle. They are defeated anyway and the Ark, Israel’s glory, goes into captivity/exile. Two problems faced the ancient community: they were led by corrupt and venal leaders and they forgot what it means to be a people that views itself as being in covenant with God. Ancient problems that are also contemporary. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

The Beloved Community: American Search, Christian Hope, Human Struggle

Charles Marsh
Professor of Religious and Theological Studies
Director of the Project on Lived Theology, University of Virginia

George and Jean Edwards Lecture on Peace and Justice
October 25, 2007

In our current, troubled times, Dr. Marsh reconstructs Dr. Martin Luther King’s call to the struggle for a new world as the only true call of the children of the living God. He says that in order to create beloved community, we must remain close to the ground, listen more closely, and return to the commitment of the Church’s healing presence in the world. Listen to the lecture.