Sermons on Genesis
In the Beginning
This week we begin a new post-Christmas sermon series called “Why Be Christian?” This first week we begin at the beginning: with the opening verses of the Genesis creation story, and with the baptism of Jesus. These are essential beginnings to the stories of Christianity, and they offer us the opportunity to explore the beginnings of our own faith. Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11
Wrestling with Favor
Have you ever wanted to walk on water? Have you ever wanted to stand out? Have you ever wanted to be the favorite? Careful what you wish for! Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4, 19-28; Romans 10:10-13; Matthew 14:22-33 (CEB)
Wrestling with Legacy
Like Jacob who wrestles an angel, we all wrestled with our own legacy. Today we will look to the past in order to plan for the future. Scripture: Genesis 32: 22-31; Matthew 14: 13-21
Inspired: Deliverance Stories
This week we continue our new worship series “Inspired” based on the book Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans. It is surely safe to say that we all wish for deliverance from something. For some of us we may wish for deliverance small inconveniences and annoyances. Still others may wish for deliverance from major emotional upheavals and other difficult circumstances. We are reminded that God hears our cries, even our most…
Inspired: Origin Stories
This week we transition from our series on the Apostles’ Creed to our new worship series “Inspired” based on the book Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans. In this book, Rachel draws on the best in recent scholarship and uses her well-honed literary expertise to examine some of her favorite Bible stories and possible interpretations, retelling them through memoir, original poetry, short stories, soliloquies, and even a short screenplay. Undaunted by…
We Believe: The Holy Spirit
This third week we consider God’s Holy Spirit. The words in Hebrew and Greek for spirit generally have more than one additional meaning including breath, air, and wind. Consider, then, that it is God’s Spirit that is close enough to be the air that we breathe. Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2, Acts 2:1-4 (CEB)
Giving Up Fear
We live in a world that often feels like it’s ruled by fear. There are so many of us fearful of disease and illness, of being judged, of losing abilities or freedoms. Yet so often our scriptures remind us not to be afraid! Scripture: Genesis 15:1-12,17-18; Luke 13:31-35 (CEB)
From Dust & Death to Dust & Life
This year’s Ash Wednesday service begins the season of Lent in ongoing restrictions. As we worship online, let us continue to pray for our community as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. La Jolla UMC and Pacific Beach UMC offer this joint online Ash Wednesday worship service. This will be a time of prayer and song with leaders and musicians from both congregations guiding us together as we begin this season. Included in this worship service will be symbolic ways…
Epiphany & Creation
This is the first week of our series on Reading the Bible Again, informed by Marcus Borg’s Reading the Bible Again for the First Time. As we worship online, let us continue to pray for our community as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This week combines the opening of the Gospel of John with the opening of the book of Genesis, both creation stories. On a Sunday that is traditionally understood as Epiphany Sunday, we explore the possibility of…
Origin Stories
This first message during a new “appointment” at LJUMC includes a dialogue message with both Pastor Bob and Pastor Lea as they discuss their beginnings of faith and their calls to ministry. Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-11