Santa Monica Nazarene Church

For the rest of Ordinary Time we will consider how the gospel speaks to our many varied days. We are using a book of prayers by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie called The Lives We Actually Have as our structure and a source of inspiration. In this sermon we end our series, as well as begin a new on all on the same Sunday. On this Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Day by starting a three-weeks ser...

For the rest of Ordinary Time we will consider how the gospel speaks to our many varied days. We are using a book of prayers by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie called The Lives We Actually Have as our structure and a source of inspiration. In this sermon we talk about a scene from the Secret Life of Walter Mitty, a poem by Mary Oliver, some Scripture on the fleeting nature of life, and what it has...

For the rest of Ordinary Time we will consider how the gospel speaks to our many varied days. We are using a book of prayers by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie called The Lives We Actually Have as our structure and a source of inspiration. In this sermon we talk about how pain can be a catalyst for better things.

For the rest of Ordinary Time we will consider how the gospel speaks to our many varied days. We are using a book of prayers by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie called The Lives We Actually Have as our structure and a source of inspiration. Today's sermon is about our overwhelming days. In this sermon consider two passage of Scripture as capturing the experience of being overwhelmed. In one sense we...

For the rest of Ordinary Time we will consider how the gospel speaks to our many varied days. We are using a book of prayers by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie called The Lives We Actually Have as our structure and a source of inspiration. Today's sermon is about our grief-stricken days. In this sermon we explore grief through a range of Scripture, the stages of grief, the question of meaning, and...

For the rest of Ordinary Time we will consider how the gospel speaks to our many varied days. We are using a book of prayers by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie called The Lives We Actually Have as our structure and a source of inspiration. Today's sermon is about our lovely days. We consider a series of words—wonder, space, refresh, menuha, and savor—in order to find the gospel speaking to us in da...

For the rest of Ordinary Time we will consider how the gospel speaks to our many varied days. We are using a book of prayers by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie called The Lives We Actually Have as our structure and a source of inspiration. Today's sermon is about tired days. Addressing the great exhaustion of our culture, burnout, and quiet-quitting, we consider how a gospel understanding of leisur...

In this sermon we consider the question 'what does it mean to be a Christian?' Paul's testimony of his own life comes into play, as well as a reflection on ocean waves and staying in the flow of grace while our rough edges are smoothed out.

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today we look at Nehemiah's prayer and what it has to do with the gospel.

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today's prayer comes from Ezra and singled minded devotion calls us to.

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today we look at Hezekiah's prayer at a pivotal moment describable in one word: help.

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today we look at Jeremiah's prayer after he performed an act of hope in the face of hopelessness (I love this story so much). We consider what it means for us to perform acts of hope as witnesses of Christ.

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today we look at the prayer Jonah prays from the belly of a whale. We talk about how hard Jonah is working to get away from God, not because the task of preaching against Nineveh is too difficult but because God's grace is too sure. The trouble is...

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today we look at two prayers Solomon prayed that marked the trajectory of his life and explains why Jesus says that not even Solomon in all his luxury compares to the flowers and the birds. Where Solomon labors for money, sex, and power, the flower...

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today we look at a prayer David prayed upon his coronation as king. We look at his route to the throne. How God makes a new promise towards this royal bloodline. We look at the other promises of God prior to this moment and how they relate. And we...

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Today we look at a prayer Hannah prayed in a desperate moment. This is a passionate and joyful prayer of God's goodness to her that we would all do well to emulate.

In this sermon we continue our look at some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (preaching in concert with Walter Brueggemann's book about them). Our focus in on Moses who among other things has the gall to quote God back to God in hopes that God will forgive God's people. However, we also remember that God is not averse to consequences, that they are a part of our journey with Jesus, that t...

In this sermon we begin a series through some of the great prayers of the Old Testament (thank you, Walter Brueggemann). Our first prayer is about the time Abraham haggled with God to save a city. We look at his reverence and audacity as he prays, as well as how his prayer nods towards the way Jesus will teach us to pray much later. And, oh, a little bit on the Doctrine of the Trinity to kick thin...

In this sermon we celebrate Pentecost, the arrival of the Holy Spirit on God's people and throughout the creation. With a little help from a scene in the film Arrival , a story about the time Derrida kept saying 'cows' in a lecture, the Truth and Reconciliation commission in South Africa, and all things Willie James Jennings we find ourselves drawn into the good news of the Holy Spirit drawing up...

In this sermon we celebrate the ascension of Jesus. We consider that the ascension has to do with Christ's lordship over all things and that because he returns to the Father we have know we are in good hands. This, with a little help from C.S. Lewis's  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and a story about a train attendant at the London Euston railway station who once saved the day.

In this sermon we look at what it means to follow a God who sets things in motion behind the scenes. It's a sermon from the modern the era, perhaps. For people who are otherwise closed of God, but cannot escape that something beyond is pressing into their lives (and this with a little help from a 2012 film called Jeff Who Lives at Home).