The Cross, The Lynching Tree, and the Crosshairs: Racial Violence and American Christianity

Rev. Dr. Joanne Marie Terrell
Associate Professor of Theology, Ethics, and the Arts
Chicago Theological Seminary

April 10, 2018
Grawemeyer Award in Religion

(Dr. James Cone's book, The Cross and the Lynching Tree, won the 2018 Grawemeyer Award in Religion.  Dr. Cone was unable to present a lecture due to personal reasons.  Dr. Terrell, a former graduate student of Dr. Cone's, spoke in his place.)

Dr. Cone's book contrasts the Christian tradition regarding the Cross of Jesus with the Christian response to lynching.  White Christians murdered over 5000 black men, women, and children during the lynching era, and did not see the parallels between the persecution and murder of Jesus on the cross and the death by lynching on the tree.  Anger over this, and the continuing mistreatment of black and brown peoples, is the only reasonable response for a Christian.  The key is to use the anger to move beyond guilt to doing the work of justice and love.  Listen to the lecture.

Setting the Captives Free

Scott C. Williamson
Robert H. Walkup Professor of Theological Ethics

February 23, 2018
Luke 4:14-21

The plight of prisoners once returned to society is the topic of Williamson's sermon.  How to we understand the moral worth and human dignity of all.  Listen to the sermon.

A Healthy Ministry

James Blankenbeker

MDiv '13

October 5, 2017
Theological Libraries Month
2 Timothy 4:1-5

Listen to a sermon honoring libraries and librarians as bringers of truth.  Given as part of a celebration of Theological Libraries Month.

Redeeming the Culture for Christ

David Snardon
Pastor, Joshua Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church

Festival of Theology and Reunion
March 28, 2017
Mark 2:23-27; 3:1-6

Where does the church stand on ministering to the student athlete?  Here is hope that the church chooses to fall into the trap of doing good and not staying silent.  Listen to the sermon.

Stay Woke

Debra J. Mumford

Frank H. Caldwell Professor of Homiletics

March 3, 2017
Mark 14:32-41a

The disciples just didn’t seem to get Jesus’ message. Aren’t we just like the disciples? Listen to the sermon.

When the Church Gets Troubled

F. Bruce Williams

Pastor, Bates Memorial Baptist Church

February 24, 2017
Black Church Studies Consultation
Acts 16:16-26

Words of inspiration for churches and church people who are troubled by those things that trouble the heart of God.  
Listen to the sermon. 

The Cost to Change: What it Really Takes to BE and DO Something Different

Felicia Howell LaBoy

Associate Dean of Black Church Studies and Advanced Learning
Assistant Professor of Black Church Studies

September 8, 2016
Luke 5: 1-11
Fall Convocation

How can we, as followers of Jesus, begin the process of leaving racism behind so we can truly follow Him?  Listen to the sermon.

Whose Mind is Changed?

Susan R. Garrett
Dean of the Seminary
Professor of New Testament Studies

Exploratory Weekend
March 4, 2016
Isaiah 55:7-9
Mark 7:26 - 30

What would happen if we decided that there is more than one way of being a good Christian? What would happen if we chose to believe that there is enough grace to go around? What would happen if we stopped automatically judging our own way to be the best? Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon in PDF.

Custom Made Headphones

Amos Disasa

Trustee, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Organizing Pastor, Downtown Church, Columbia, SC

October 23, 2015
Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Listen to the sermon.

Wrestling with God

Christine J. Hong

Assistant Professor of Worship and Evangelism
Chapel Worship Coordinator

October 2, 2015
Mark 5:21 - 42

Listen to the sermon.

Can I Get a Witness?

Heather Thiessen
Former Director, Women’s Center at Louisville Seminary

February 13, 2015
Matthew 27:55-61

Matthew 27:55-61 reports the witness of Jesus' women followers to his passion and death. The sermon explores the meaning of this witness, which is located in being present with the suffering human Jesus, its relationship to the radical witness and presence of the incarnation.  This ultimately reminds us that the church's coherence as a community of witness is grounded in the radical presence to and beyond death empowered by the living God and exemplified both by the women witnesses and the witness of the incarnate [crucified and risen] one.  Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon in PDF.

Beloved

Michael Jinkins
President
Professor of Theology

October 11, 2013
Luke 3:21-23a
Exploratory Weekend

What does it mean that the ministry of Jesus began at his baptism in the Jordan River? What does it mean that we are called into the ministry of Christ through our own baptisms?  Listen to the Exploratory Weekend sermon.   Read the Exploratory Weekend sermon in PDF.

The Essence of the Gospel

Michael Jinkins
President and Professor of Theology

Exploratory Weekend
March 1, 2013
John 8:1-12

What does it mean to follow Jesus?  Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon in PDF.

Coloring Outside the Lines: Jesus and Religious Diversity

Cynthia M. Campbell
Former President of McCormick Seminary
Interim Pastor, Highland Presbyterian Church

Festival of Theology
April 10, 2013
Luke 7:1-10

Listen to the sermon.

Meeting Jesus at Louisville Seminary

Michael Jinkins
President and Professor of Theology

October 12, 2012
Luke 15

We must be careful not to confuse contempt for others with moral faithfulness.  Listen to the sermon.

This Kind of Love!

Kilen Grey
Dean of Students

November 9, 2012
1 John 4:7-11 

America is not the same place it used to be. How can we the people, in all our diversity, share this country and the church? Listen to the sermon.

Welcomed as a Child

Cynthia Campbell
Former President, McCormick Theological Seminary
Interim Pastor, Highland Presbyterian Church

A sermon in honor of Theological Libraries Month
October 5, 2012
Isaiah 49:13-15
Mark 10:13-16

We should bless the vulnerable and welcome them into the life of the church and the Kingdom of God just as Jesus welcomed children into his presence.  Listen to the sermon.

Have You Seen Jesus Lately?

Debra J. Mumford
Frank H. Caldwell Associate Professor of Homiletics
Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs

April 20, 2012
Luke 24:17-21

The travelers on the road to Emmaus could not see Jesus even when he was right in front of him.  Where to we see Jesus today, and how do we help others see Jesus in us?  Listen to the sermon.

The Awakening

Christopher Elwood
Professor of Historical Theology

March 30, 2012

Psalm 118, Mark 11:1-18

It’s a familiar ritual, this processional entry of a messiah into Jerusalem. It often becomes for us a time for palm-waving and half-hearted hosannas, celebration that quickly moves offstage as we prepare for the somber and more deeply spiritual events of Holy Week. But what if the Judean Spring of long ago is a key to Jesus’ genuinely revolutionary mission? What if we find in these stories the wild upsetter of our habit of getting used to the world as given to us? No wonder we hurry to get this troublemaker on to a cross! Listen to the sermon.

Hearts on Fire

Michael Jinkins

President and Professor of Theology

Luke 24:13-35

I John 1:7-9 and 4:7-17

Reflect for a moment on what it means for us that Jesus Christ calls us to follow him. We are born-again and again and again throughout our lives. We rise daily to new life in Jesus Christ. We keep on rising daily to new life throughout our lives.  Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon in PDF.