Welcome! Taking a Chance on Love

Elizabeth Johnson Walker
Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling

November 7, 2008
John 3:16 - 17, 21
Welcome! Taking a Chance on Love is a sermon that was preached in a worship service designed to introduce a project sponsored by the Cultural Diversity Committee at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary on November 7, 2008. The name of the project is “The Power of Difference and the Experience of Difference”. The title of the project and the title of the sermon express the tie-in to our new seminary “brand,” and invite a theological understanding of all sorts of difference and the promise of welcome.
Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Restless for Righteousness: How to Cleanse Your Life of Idols and Worship God the Right Way

Christopher Elwood
Professor of Historical Theology

2 Kings 22:8-23:23
October 31, 2008

When Hilkiah accidentally turned up a long-lost book of the Law in the temple, Josiah, the king, was so upset to learn how far the nation had departed from what God ordained that he tore his clothes. Then he set about a vigorous campaign of worship reform. This seems a good passage to reflect on as we mark Reformation Day. The Reformation was about many things, but—at least for those who helped build the traditions that would become Reformed Protestantism—“getting our worship right” was always a central task, though always fraught with difficulty. How do we get worship right today, in a time and in places marked by enormous cultural differences? Listen to the sermon.

The Miracle without End

Dean K. Thompson
President and Professor of Ministry

October 3, 2008
Mark 16:1-8

Ever since the resurrection, the Spirit of Jesus Christ is everywhere, unlimited by time and space. This is Mark’s almost unbelievable confession about this miracle without end. Not bound or confined or limited by anything, Jesus is going ahead of you. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Exploring Time

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

October 10, 2008
Genesis 1:31-32
Psalm 136:1-3
Ezekiel 13:26-28
Matthew 4:17
1Thessalonians 4: 16-17
1Thessalonians 5:1-3
1John 2:18
1 John 5:11
Revelation 22:7

In our scripture readings today we encounter multiple views of time. Our understanding of time itself is conditioned by language, economic and political relations, religious faith, and social organization. We are challenged to think about time (and language) from a Christian perspective. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Treasures New and Old

Douglas L. Gragg
Associate Professor of Bibliography and Research
Director of Library and Information Technology Services

September 26, 2008
Matthew 13:52


Some affirm the old without hesitation but consistently reject the new. Others are more likely to welcome everything new but show little patience for engaging tradition creatively. Many just like things the way they are and dislike the intrusion of anything different, whether old or new. “Scribes trained for the kingdom” know how to appreciate both old and new, relate them in creative ways, and deploy them for the enrichment of others. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Focus. Relinquish. Love

Susan R. Garrett
Professor of New Testament

September 12, 2008
Proverbs 8:22-36
Philippians 2:5-11

Paul’s letter reminds us to put aside discord and work together to focus on the mission of the church. Read the sermon in PDF. (We are sorry to not have the audio version available for this sermon. There was an equipment malfunction that prevented the recording.)

Holiness, Neighbors, and Strangers

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

September 5, 2008
Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Luke 10: 25-37


The “welcoming” community at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary is challenged to live fully into that welcome that all may feel loved, honored, and respected as we being the academic year together. 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.

Acts 2:1-21

Stephanie Sorge Wing
Student Body President

Acts 2:1-21
May 9, 2008

The Student Body President is invited to lead the last worship service of the academic year in Caldwell Chapel. The sermon leads us to ponder the meaning of community and how the Holy Spirit works through a community of believers.
Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF.

Whatever the Day Brings

Susan R. Garrett
Professor of New Testament

Romans 8:11-17
LPTS Baccalaureate Sermon
May 18, 2008

In this Baccalaureate service focusing on baptism, Dr. Garrett explores how our new life in Christ is possible, and how we should live our lives to fulfill the promise of our baptism. Our new life comes about because of a death—Jesus’ death, in which as Christians we share. But death couldn’t hold Jesus, and it can’t hold us, either. Listen to the sermon. Read the sermon in PDF