Seekers recognizes that any member of the community may be called upon by God to give us the Word, and thus we have an open pulpit with a different preacher each week. Sermons preached at Seekers, as well as sermons preached by Seekers at other churches or events, are posted here, beginning with the most recent.
Click here for an archive of our sermons.
Feel free to use what is helpful from these sermons. We only ask that when substantial portions are abstracted or used in a written work, please credit Seekers Church and the author, and cite the URL.
“Missing the Point” by Elizabeth Gelfeld
August 2, 2015
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Somewhere in the scripture readings for today, there is a point to be gained, a mystery explained, an illumination, an “Aha!” moment. I’m quite sure that I’m missing it. And yet, as our Reflection reminds us, “Certainty is missing the point entirely.” So, even in my certainty that I’m missing the point, I’m still …missing the point.
So, I’ll just say right off the bat that I’m not going to be trying to make any points with this sermon because, if I did, you would certainly miss them. And, if I don’t make any points, perhaps that will leave you free to make your own.
“Use What You Have” by the 2015 Guatemala Pilgrims
July 26, 2015
The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Context (Marjory Bankson)
Feeding the five thousand is such a familiar story that we may miss the point: Jesus gave thanks for what they had (five loaves and two fish), and did not ask for more. When the disciples begin to worry about how to feed all those people, Jesus simply says “What do you have?” And when they come back with meager supplies – five loaves and two fish – he holds them up in front of everybody and gives thanks. Everybody knows it’s not enough, and yet Jesus gives thanks to God for what they have. The simple action of giving thanks for what they have invites everyone to be aware of their common resource, even if it seems small. It evokes cooperation, generosity, and probably self-restraint as well
“A House of Cedar” by Muriel Lipp
July 19, 2015
The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Dear God, be with us as we worship you and try to learn more about you.
There are four things I have been most moved by in our lectionary scriptures for this week.
God’s message to David in Second Samuel; go build me a house of cedar.
Psalm 89; God affirms David to express God’s holiness.
Ephesians 2; Jews and gentiles are one, and Jesus is the foundation stone.
Mark 6; Jesus making a meal of a few loaves and fishes for a throng of
people. Then he walks on water and heals many people.
“Hearing God’s Voice: Herod and Me” by Katie Murchison Ross
July 12, 2015
The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Good morning everyone. It’s wonderful to be here, and it’s wonderful to have the chance to share this morning. When Peter Bankson asked me to preach, he gave me the lectionary readings for this week and then suggested that since I’m a guest new to this community, it would be nice if I could share some of my story as well. So, I said, “sounds great.” Then I looked at today’s gospel reading and I thought hmm…beheading of John the Baptist…my life story… I thought about preaching on the Psalm. But I’m glad I wrestled with this text, because I found resonances in places I didn’t expect.
“Power and Powerlessness” by Ken Burton
July 5, 2015
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
This morning I would like to reflect for a few minutes on power and powerlessness. Let me say right at the beginning that it is not a topic with which I am fully comfortable. This is because of my limited personal experience with certain aspects of it. Such a limitation would usually cause me to avoid a particular subject, but this matter of power and powerlessness kept coming to my attention as I worked with this morning’s lections. Paul deals with it explicitly in the passage from Second Corinthians, and there are echoes of it in the other lections so I felt led to plunge in.