The First Temptation: A Sermon on Luke 4:1-13

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

February 22, 2013
Luke 4:1-13

The devil tempts Jesus to prove his authority as the Son of God by commanding a stone to become a loaf of bread.  Even though he is famished after forty days of fasting, Jesus trusts that God will provide. This story parallels the experience of Civil Rights figures, like Sister Pollard, who echoed Jesus’ trust in God. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, Sister Pollard, in her seventies, walked to work and refused the offer of a ride by saying “My feets is tired, but my soul is rested.” She shows a faith that endures hardships while trusting in God’s providence.  The good news is that God has given us the bread of life, the bread that satisfies our hunger for justice and thirst for righteousness.  Listen to the sermon.

The Name of a Happy Ending

Heather Thiessen

Former Coordinator of the Women’s Center at LPTS

February 17, 2012
Job 42:10-17

The elimination of violence against women and girls is completely possible. It is simply asking for what most kindergarten teachers routinely ask for in their classrooms: no hitting, no hurting our neighbors, taking turns and keeping our hands to ourselves. If we can expect it of the average 5-year-old, we can surely expect it of the average person.  Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon in PDF.

Choose Life!

Clifton Kirkpatrick

Visiting Professor of Ecumenical Studies and Global Ministries

Feb. 10, 2012
Deuteronomy 30:15-20

John 10:7-10

In place where we have so much and where we are part of the “empire” that shapes for good or ill so much of the world, our religious life so often seems to be captured by a survival mentality; by an uncertainty about our future; and by a genuine anxiety about the role of our mainline churches.

Our partners around the world would urge us to take a risk, to “choose life” – to put our lives on the line for a world where justice, peace, respect for creation, and community with God can be a reality in our time.  In doing so, we – like them – will find life, the life that God intends for all humanity. Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon outline in PDF.

The Vision Thing

Johanna W. H. Bos
Dora Pierce Professor of Bible and Professor of Old Testament

Feb 19, 2010
Habakkuk 1:2-2:4

Parallels are drawn between the burden of violence the prophet saw, and the burden of violence and lack of justice experienced by modern women around the world. Listen to the sermon. (The text of this sermon is not available.)

The Measure of our Happiness

Cláudio Carvalhaes
Assistant Professor of Worship and Preaching

February 6, 2009
Luke 8: 34-9:1
Mark 8:34-9:1

What has happened to the idea of happiness and to the better history of this country? What does it mean now to still say that we all deserve a chance to pursue the full measure of their happiness? Read the sermon in PDF. Also included in the text are the Call to Worship, Call to Confession, Assurance of Pardon, and the Eucharistic Prayer . (We regret that technical problems prevented the recording of the sermon.)

Render unto God the things that belong to God

Clifton Kirkpatrick
Visiting Professor of Ecumenical Studies and Global Missions

December 3, 2008
Isaiah 2: 1-4
Luke 20: 19-26

A sermon offered on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Louiville Seminary celebrates Human Rights day through worship and through the commissioning of students and faculty who will be traveling to two parts of the world where human rights are fragile, South Africa and Israel/Palestine. Two of the lectionary texts for Dec. 3 call for turning swords into ploughshares and rendering unto God the things that are God’s. These texts inspired Christians sixty years ago to call for a universal declaration of human rights – and should do so for us as well in the 21st century. Listen to the sermon.