Ronnie McBrayer

For All Saints Sunday, 2019, Ronnie speaks from Ephesians 1 on how all believers are rightly called "saints." It is a message of hope and a challenge to live defiantly in a dark world.

"What Can You Do?" was the question put to Jesus by the crowds in John 6. They were interested in Jesus for only the benefits he brought - not who he was.

In a unique tribute to a friend, Ronnie delivers a message to us all about grace, gratitude, and living a life empowered by thanksgiving.

"Taking a musical approach to this difficult Psalm might the way to get the most out of it," Ronnie says, "because the Psalms were made to be sung." Mixing spoken word with familiar and new songs Ronnie talks the longing we all have for home.

"The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil," said the Apostle Paul, with words not original with him. This warning is as old as humanity, for little is as corrosive to the soul as greed.

Taking on what might be Jesus' most bewildering story, in this talk Ronnie addresses the lessons found in "The Parable of the Shrewd Servant." The story's "hero" is an obvious crook, but one who still has a much to teach.

"As clay in the potter's hands," the prophet Jeremiah wrote. Ronnie picks up this theme to talk about the benefits of brokenness. 

Speaking from Psalm 81 and his recent experience in Central America, in this talk Ronnie McBrayer talks about a "Bad Moon Rising," consequences, and how God is not "out to get anyone," but we are often our own worst enemy.

Reflecting upon the anniversary of "The Crisis of Confidence" speech by former president, Jimmy Carter, and using the Lectionary reading from Isaiah 1, Ronnie delivers an impassioned plea to resist the degree by degree collapse of compassion, justice, and doing good.

"Living on a Prayer" is more than a Bon Jovi song. It is a trusting way of life.

Using the comparative text of Mary and Martha, in this talk Ronnie speaks about the differences between "Do-Ers" and "Be-Ers." So much of our "doing" is to avoid being still and looking within.

In this talk, Ronnie takes on personal identity, asking the question, “Who Are You?” The only answer is found in accepting that we are beloved of God, making us capable of loving others. 

With this deeply personal talk, Ronnie addresses our expectations, and how life never quite goes the way we planned. The Bible story is that of Naaman, and how his healing was far different than he expected.

With a Scripture reading from Galatians regarding our Oneness in Christ, Ronnie speaks on the holy ambition of The Beloved Community.

For Trinity Sunday, Ronnie turns to Psalm 8, the inspiration for the hymn, "How Great Thou Art," and reminds us that there are words about God, and then there is God. God is beyond all description.

With a creative look at Simon Peter's encounter on a Joppa rooftop, Ronnie offers the same challenge Peter was given: To change our minds about what we believe about others and about God.

With a unique look at the story of Tabitha being raised from the dead by St. Peter (Acts 9), Ronnie talks about the importance of "choosing life" as a form of resisting the soul-crushing culture around us.

Borrow a phrase from Frederick Buchner for the title, "Ants in the Pants of Faith" is Ronnie's take on "Doubting Thomas." Rather than driving God away, doubt can be the catalyst to bring Christ to us.

Taking an excerpt from the Old Testament book of Job on St. Patrick's Day, and using the prayer of Thomas Merton, Ronnie addresses the confusion that is bound to come when we try to decipher which way to go with our lives. 

In the final talk of the series, Ronnie uses the last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew to remind us, that when it comes to faith, doubt is as essential as conviction. 

In part 7 of Ronnie's current series of Sunday talks, he speaks about being a nobody - the freedom and satisfaction of being an unknown. Using a minor event from Jesus' last week, he shows how those history may not remember can be a part of something much greater than themselves.

In Part 6 of Ronnie's series of talks on the life of Jesus, we follow Jesus to the Temple where is cleanses it of the money-changers. It was Jesus' effort, to quote Father Richard Rohr, "To keep people free for God, and to keep God free for people."

In Part 5 of Ronnie's series of talks on the life of Jesus, he shares the Parable of the Good Samaritan, giving it a contemporary twist.

In this episode Ronnie talks about the Transfiguration of Jesus, its meaning, its lesson, and its power to help us "take the world as it is, not as we would have it."

In his continuing series of talks on Jesus of Nazareth, Ronnie highlights Jesus' first public sermon, its impact, and continuing challenge.