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.

The Reign of God and the Limits of Social Justice

Debra J. Mumford

Frank H. Caldwell Associate Professor of Homiletics
Associate Academic Dean

September 9, 2015
Fall Convocation
Matthew 4:23-25

The Convocation address explores the limits of social justice while challenging the Louisville Seminary community to embrace Jesus’ vision of the reign of God as a more observable and holistic goal.  Listen to the address.  Read the address in PDF.

Where do you come from and where are you going?

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

February 27, 2015
Judges 19: 16-21

Listen to the sermon.

Free Yourself, Repent

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

September 20, 2013
Luke 3:7-10

Listen to the third sermon on Luke for September.

Let's Start a Fire

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

October 4, 2012
James 3:5b-10

The apostle James spends so much time talking about the tongue’s destructive nature that he fails to tout its edifying, constructive, germinative, and creative potential. His failure starts in his depiction of fire as only being destructive. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

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.

Missed Opportunity for D2D (Doors to Dialogue)

Debra J. Mumford
Frank H. Caldwell Associate Professor of Homiletics
Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs
 
May 20, 2012
Baccalaureate Sermon
Esther 9: 1-4

When the formerly downtrodden Jews became a force to be reckoned with in the Persian empire did they choose the path of retribution against those who had plotted against them, or did they choose the path of peace and reconciliation?  Listen to the sermon.

Live in the Council of God

Debra J. Mumford

Frank H. Caldwell Associate Professor of Homiletics

April 8, 2011
Jeremiah 23:21,22

In this sermon, Debra encourages the LPTS community to live in the council of God. Living in the council of God does not mean that we have to constantly be in prayer and meditation (though prayer and meditation are good). Living in the council of God means living in constant awareness of what God is doing in our lives and in the world.  Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon in PDF.

Rethinking God

Debra J. Mumford
Frank H. Caldwell Assistant Professor of Homiletics

April 14, 2010
Acts 11:15-18

In “Rethinking God” Dr. Mumford challenges listeners to rethink some of the assumptions they make about God using Peter’s experiences with Gentiles in Acts 11:15-18.  Listen to the sermon.

Becoming

Debra J. Mumford

Frank H. Caldwell Assistant Professor of Homiletics

May 8, 2009

1 John 3:1-2

Love is not truly love without action, but love is hard to do and takes time, work, and the honoring of those who critique our acts of love. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Total Praise: A Vision for Holistic and Interconnected Christian Lives

Debra J. Mumford,
Frank H. Caldwell Assistant Professor of Homiletics

Fall Convocation
September 4, 2008
Romans 12:1-8

The twelfth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans puts us on the path to living lives of total praise by challenging us to think communally. Paul and other first century followers of Christ would be extremely curious about our twenty-first century individualistic culture wherein we espouse rugged individualism and a pull-ourselves-up-by the-bootstraps mentality. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in .pdf.

Counter-Cultural Preaching

Debra J. Mumford
Frank H. Caldwell Assistant Professor of Homiletics

Caldwell Lecture
March 3, 2008

Counter-cultural preaching is Dr. Mumford’s term for a type of prophetic preaching that critiques various aspects of American capitalism. It explores the devastating consequences of consumer culture on personhood and relationships when consumerism overrides all else. Listen to the lecture. Please note that the lecture begins 7 minutes and 30 seconds into the recording following the introductory remarks and introduction of the speaker. Read the lecture in PDF.

Singing the Lord’s Song in a Capitalistic Society

Debra J. Mumford
Frank H. Caldwell Assistant Professor of Homiletics

Luke 12:13-21
March 2, 2008

Jesus warns the disciples and us to beware of greed in all its forms. This is contrasted with the movie character Gordon Gekko of the movie Wall Street who proclaimed that Greed is good. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.