Grace Spoken Here

Matthew S. Collins

Director of the Ernest Miller White Library
Associate Professor of Bibliography and Research

September 18, 2015
Mark 9:30-37

Listen to the sermon.

Elisha and Na`aman: Crossing Boundaries and Healing Strangers

David C. Hester
Harrison Ray Anderson Professor of Pastoral Theology
Professor of Christian Education
Director, Doctor of Ministry and Continuing Education

April 15, 2015
2 Kings 5:1-19

Na`aman wants to be healed of his bodily illness.  He ends up being healed in body and soul through the boundary-busting grace of God for reasons only God knows. What sort of healing do we need?  Listen to the sermon.

A Threefold Cord is Not Quickly Broken

Amy Plantinga Pauw
Henry P. Mobley Professor of Doctrinal Theology

December 4, 2009
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Ecclesiastes’ message of human solidarity is an appropriate word for World AIDS Day. It reminds us of God the Creator’s generous grace and of our calling as Christians to a distinctively creaturely faithfulness. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Grace as the Wiggle Room in Our Relationship

We continue our sermon series by graduated seniors who volunteered their senior chapel sermons for this blog. This sermon is from Lisa Hermann,Presbyterian.

Originally preached on November 4, 2008

Romans 5

What role does grace play in building community with others? Read the sermon in PDF.

The Summons to God’s Hospitality

Walker, Elizabeth Johnson
Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling

John 3:4-16
February 15, 2008

The parallels between the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and the summoning of God’s people to experience God’s hospitality are drawn in this sermon given the second week of Lent. Our faith begins with the God of Abraham and the promise of God to create a free home in Heaven. God loves and values each of us regardless of color or status. We are assured that all of us are participants in God’s mercy and grace. Listen to the sermon.

God’s Widening Circles

Frances S. Adeney
William A. Benfield, Jr. Professor of Evangelism and Global Mission

Ephesians 1:1-10
September 28, 2007

The sermon starts with a reading from Ephesians by student Asamoah Apenteng in his native language, Akan.

Despite scientific predictions, and despite various scenarios described in the bible, humans are blessed, in a way, by our inability to unravel and articulate the mysteries of what will happen to the universe in the future. But we keep trying. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus, wends his way does not describe what will happen in the future. But he does describe God’s intentions for the future—the “dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace.” Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon

The Upheaval of Grace

Johanna W. H. BosDora Pierce Professor of Bible and Professor of Old Testament

Amy Plantinga PauwHenry P. Mobley Professor of Doctrinal Theology

Psalm 68:1-20
Baccalaureate Service on May 20, 2007

Psalm 68 is a difficult psalm, full of textual problems and violent imagery. But it brings good news of God’s upheaval of the status quo in favor of the suffering and vulnerable, those who are farthest away from the abundant life God intends for all. This upheaval of grace starts already with the fact that in this psalm women are called to be preachers of this good news. Today we too, women and men alike, are called to participate in the upheaval of grace as we stand with prisoners, outcasts, and the afflicted, and sing the praises of our gracious and righteous God. Listen to the sermon.

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.

Luke 19:1-10

Marion L. Soards, Professor of New Testament

Luke 19:1-10

Sept. 22, 2006

"Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus in Luke 19 illustrates the eternal truth that God's grace saves us in and through Jesus Christ. That is, grace takes us and makes us to be the people that God would have us to be." Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF format.