Federated Church Sycamore Sermon Podcast

In this message, Pastor Eric reflects on the surprising history of the words “faith” and “belief.” Did you know that they didn’t always mean what they do today? How were they used and what difference does it make? Well, it makes a world of difference! Find out how in this first message of Pastor Eric’s new series: “Meeting Christianity Again…For the First Time.”

"Don't be a Jerk." That's one way some have said you could summarize the gospel. But in a time of historic disruptions and climate change, in this message Pastor Eric invites us to consider a vision for our faith, our lives, our church--for the world--that meets the magnitude of our moment; the kind of vision that Jesus offered his world 2,000 years ago amidst its own great disruptions. What dream...

In this final message of Pastor Eric's summer sermon series--"What the Faith?!"--he reflects on the question: Why Christian? Why be/remain a Christian in light of scripture's inconsistencies? In light of the fact that the Bible contains texts that are sexist and xenophobic--are violent in various forms? Why be Christian in light of the epic and tragic failures of Christians and churches throughout...

In this message from Pastor Eric's "What the Faith?!" sermon series, he moves from last week's exploration of our individual anger/rage in response to being wounded or violated ("How to Destroy Your Enemy") to exploring collective / communal responses to this, for instance those whose nation or city is invaded by a foreign military, enslaved communities, and other marginalized communities. Is it O...

In this message from Pastor Eric’s “What the Faith?!” sermon series, he explores Psalm 137 and others that call upon God for violent vengeance. If we believe scripture is somehow instructive and revelatory for us as people trying to follow Jesus, what do we do with such passages? How are we to read them? How are we to understand them when we lift them up alongside Jesus’ call to “love your enemies...

This is the fourth message in Pastor Eric's summer 2022 sermon series, "What the Faith," exploring pressing issues in our larger culture and the surprising, conflicting things the Bible says about them. How do we read the Bible if it doesn't offer a straightforward answer? How do we live faithfully today as God's people if we can't just do/apply what the Bible says? In this message, preached in th...

In this third message in Pastor Eric's "What the Faith?!" sermon series, we read and reflect on what to make of the fact that scripture contains both passages that tell women to remain silent in church, to be subordinate to their husbands, and to have no authority over men with the fact that other parts of scripture describe a reality in early churches where women were encouraged to speak up, were...

Were you taught that the Bible is perfect in every way and that, in order to be a "good Christian," you must obey everything in it? Well, in this second message of Pastor Eric's summer sermon series--"What the Faith?!"--he challenges this idea. After all, he asks, "how do we obey scripture when scripture doesn't even obey itself?!" So... if "obedience" isn't the most faithful way of reading script...

In this message, the first in our summer sermon series, "What the F@!+H?!" (What the Faith), Pastor Eric reflects on the different ways that God is imagined and depicted throughout scripture: As a father, shepherd, and a mighty warrior, but also as a mother, a midwife, and a baker woman; God is our rock and light, a cloud, fire, bread, wine, and water and much more. God is each of these, all of th...