The Rest of the Sermon

American Christianity

  • You Are Special

    One of the quiet lies implanted into American culture is that people are only as valuable as what they produce. We rarely say it out loud, but we live like it’s true. Your worth is tied to your job title,… Continue reading

  • Choosing to Forgive

    Something in Your Shoe…Besides Your Foot Last Sunday, we looked at Matthew 18:21–35, where Peter asks Jesus how many times he has to forgive someone. Peter, likely feeling pious, suggests seven times. Jesus counters with “seventy-seven times” (or “seventy times… Continue reading

  • Look for the Helpers?

    Or Decide Who Deserves Help First? We like the phrase “look for the helpers.”It feels safe. Reassuring. Not overtly political. The quote , which was popularized by Fred Rogers, gets shared every time something terrible happens. Hurricanes. Shootings. Fires. Mass violence. It’s… Continue reading

  • What Do You Do With the Mad You Feel?

    Anger is everywhere right now. It lives in our headlines, our social media feeds, and our family group texts. It shows up in traffic, at the grocery store, and at school board meetings. It’s become so normal that we hardly… Continue reading

  • It’s You I Like

    One of the quiet assumptions of American culture is that worth must be earned. We may not say it out loud, but we live like it’s true. You matter if you produce something. You matter if you succeed. You matter… Continue reading

  • Who Is My Neighbor—Really?

    “Won’t you be my neighbor?” For many of us, that phrase immediately brings to mind cardigans, puppets, and a gentle voice reminding us that kindness matters. It sounds warm. Safe. Non-threatening. But when Jesus talks about neighbors, the question is… Continue reading

  • The American Idol of “Optimization” (And Why Jesus Wants No Part of It)

    Let’s be honest: January in America is exhausting. Before the Christmas tree is even at the curb, the cultural machine shifts gears from “Joy to the World” to “Fix Yourself.” The ads are relentless. Hack your metabolism. 10x your income.… Continue reading

  • Love All: Where Jesus Still Shows Up

    One of the challenging things about Jesus is that He rarely shows up where we expect Him to. We tend to look for Him in important places, places of influence. Big churches. Loud voices. Strong leaders. Cultural relevance. Political power.… Continue reading

  • When Prayer Changes You: What Hannah Teaches Us About Not Giving Up

    There’s a moment in the story of Hannah that almost always gets overlooked. It happens right after she prays, long before anything in her life changes. It’s quiet, easy to miss, and honestly, many of us may not believe it’s… Continue reading

  • Faith Under Fire: The Integrity We’ve Lost

    If you want to know who someone really is, don’t look at their public statements—look at what they do when their reputation or comfort is on the line. That’s where real character shows up. Daniel’s story from the lions’ den… Continue reading