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.
“On Being Homeless” by Michael Waldrop
September 3, 2017
Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Michael spoke on the prevalence of mental illness and addiction among those who do not have stable housing, his personal experiences with homelessness, and his gratitude for now having a place to live and a place of acceptance at Seekers Church. The full text of his sermon is not available.
“Dedicating an Infant and Ourselves” by David Lloyd
August 27, 2017
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost
This morning we welcomed Eli Mgenzi Mberruka into a larger family than he has ever known before. He is now not only the beloved son of Jackie, but also the beloved godson of Debbie Barwick, Trish Nemore and me. And beyond that, we welcomed Eli into God’s family, specifically into Seekers Church, “a Christian community in the tradition of the Church of the Saviour, linked with the people of God throughout the ages.” Eli is now a part of that mystical Body of Christ. Over time he, with the help of Jackie, my fellow godparents, all of you, and the help of many others will discover his specific gifts that he provides the Body, the way in which he functions to make the Church a healthy organism.
“Beyond the ‘Bondage of Self'” by Michele Frome
August 20, 2017
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
As most of you know, I am engaged in clinical pastoral education – this is basically on-the-job training to become a chaplain, a person who provides pastoral care. At the end of this month, I’ll be eligible to seek certification as a clinical chaplain. I’m indebted many people at Seekers Church for helping to make this happen, but especially to the Mission Support Group for providing me with financial support from the Growing Edge Fund. Thank you, all, for your ongoing support.
Part of my clinical work has been at the Hebrew Home, a large Jewish nursing home in Rockville. As part of my training there, I was required to plan and lead a group activity. One of the Christian residents there urged me to lead a Christian Bible Study class.
Well, I’m no Bible scholar, but I didn’t have a better idea for a group activity, so I started a Bible Study class in January 2015, intending to do it for 4 months. Well, I’m still doing it.
“Walking on Water” by Jacqie Wallen
August 13, 2017
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
When Ken asked me a few weeks ago to preach today I almost said “no” because I wasn’t sure I would be able to prepare a sermon in time. I usually give myself more advance time than a few weeks so that I can read and think and let things ferment in there for a while before I start writing. But when I saw what the gospel reading was for today I knew I had to say yes. It is one of my very favorite stories and one I often think of as a metaphor for my life.
People often talk about this story in a “glass half empty” way. Peter tried to walk on water and failed because he didn’t have enough faith. I don’t think of it that way at all. I think of it as a “glass half full” story, or, actually, more of a “glass three-quarters-full” story.
“Getting Out of the Boat” by Erica Lloyd
August 6, 2017
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 14:13-21
I want to start with a little disclaimer. In this sermon I mostly talk about very difficult things in Haiti, but I want to be clear that Haiti is also a place of incredible joy – majestic mountains and beautiful beaches, the music of the creole language, luscious pineapple and little tangy bananas that have ruined all other bananas for me, brilliant blue skies and starry nights and thunderous rain storms, strong and generous friends, not to mention winter temperatures in the 80s – there are a thousand reasons I love Haiti. I’m sensitive to the fact that Haiti gets a pretty bad rap, so during coffee hour I’d be happy to show pictures and talk more about my life in Haiti, as well as SOIL’s work, which Seekers helps support.
So: “Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand.” It’s a story we know well: huge audience, just a handful of provisions, fretting disciples, Jesus’ blessing, and *Presto!* there’s a fat and happy crowd with plenty of leftovers for the disciples.
Whether you believe the crowd contributed to the bounty or whether the truly miraculous happened that day, it’s a gentle rebuke to those of us who, like the disciples, only see scarcity where God sees abundance. To those of us who worry that there are not enough resources to go around, God invites us to share anyway and trust that we will still be okay.