Sermons for a Critical Faith

Sometimes there’s not much different between living in exile and living in a pandemic. But it’s not all bad news – there is hope and there is strength to be found, even in strange times.  Join us for a word of hope.   A Sermon for those wondering when life will get back to normal.  By Rev. Dr. Sue Coller, First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The 9th in our series of Faith Family Values is all about community and what it means to "neighbor" others.  Guest Pastor Rev. Bill Thornton speaks to the importance of "neighboring" in today's world, and how love for God includes love for others.

Forgiveness - one of the hardest things to practice - both toward ourselves and others.  Forgiveness really is at the heart of our faith.  Hear guest Rev. Stephen Earl talk about this in the 8th in our Living. Learning. Teaching. Faith Family Values series at First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Equality is about more than equal rights.  It is a core, fundamental value of our faith.  7th in our Living. Learning. Teaching. Faith Family Values Series.  Sermon by Rev. Dr. Sue Coller

How might embracing a holistic value of justice shape our lives?  How does a value of justice based on God's distributive justice relate to the cries for justice we're hearing in society?  6th in our Living. Learning. Teaching. A Series on Faith Family Values, from First Presbyterian Church.  Rev. Dr. Sue Coller, preaching

Joy is so much more than a feeling or a moment.  It is a down payment on the future - it is when the fabric of time has been pulled back so that a moment, an experience, of the joy that awaits us at the end can find us in the present.  Join us as we explore the faith value of Joy.  5th in our "Learning.  Living.  Teaching.  Faith Family Values" series, by Rev. Dr. Sue...

How could we not speak of the value of nonviolence this week, after remembering the life of civil rights leader John Lewis?  How do we live non-violently in a world that glorifies violence and that thinks threats of violence are an acceptable way to work for peace?  How do we teach our children a better way?  Erin Wathen talks about non-violence as standing in the void between chaos...

Do you need a break?  Are the demands on you so overwhelming that you don't know what to do next?  There's actually a Biblical cure for that - it's called "Sabbath."  And it may not be exactly what you think it is.  Episode 3 in:  Learning. Living. Teaching.  A Series on Faith Values for Families

We say we worship a God of abundant generosity.  Yet we employ the language of scarcity in so much of our lives.  What do we really believe?  And are we living in a way that reflects that belief.  Join us for a worship service focused on our relationship with a God who came so that we might have abundant life.  Episode 2 in:  Learning. Living. Teaching.  A Series...

We dive into a new series called Learning - Living - Teaching:  Faith Values for Families.  In this podcast we explore the value of love, what it looks like in a life of faith, and how we teach it to our children and everyone else who watches how we live.  A Sermon by Rev. Dr. Sue Coller, at First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Join us as we look at how our own lives and personal relationship with God affect our dealing with stress as well as how we engage in the dynamics of issues and people's needs during this time.  A sermon by Rev. Dr. Jane Holtzclaw, Parish Associate for Caring Ministries, at First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.

It can be difficult to reconcile with someone we have a broken relationship with.  Yet reconciliation is at the heart of our faith.  So what do we do with the fact that God in Christ has reconciled us to God?  What does that mean for our relationships with others in the world - and in our circle of family and friends?  Join us as we explore the challenges of reconciling with ot...

Christ calls us for a purpose greater than ourselves - to show people by word and deed the life God intends for us all.  How do we do that?  How do we make a difference in people's lives?  Join us as we explore this in today's sermon.

If we want the world to change - WE need to change How can we more intentionally live with others in ways that lift up the humanity AND image of God in others? How do we choose peace - an active peace that promotes wholeness and harmony, and not just the absence of fighting? We believe God is with us in these efforts - so we have hope, and we have power to make a difference!  A Critical Faith...

Many are overwhelmed by the changes we've had to navigate in a short period of time. Many of us are feeling tired and empty. Many are grieving losses of all kinds. Jesus promises us the gift of the Spirit - the gift of Pentecost. Did you that Spirit is a gift of life-giving water? Any who are thirsty, come and drink!  A Critical Faith Sermon by Rev. Dr. Sue Coller

What kind of a world you want to live in?  What kind of a witness are we giving our youth?  Anyone who is searching for a better world?  Join us as we explore the Heart of the Matter - God's love shows us what is possible when we live out of the center of God's heart of love.  A sermon by Rev. Dr. Sue Coller, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, Nebraska.

"Bound by the Spirit" - Exploring the Heart of the Matter - God's love that binds us together through the Spirit.  And a reminder in these times, that we don't need a building to be a church.  A sermon by Dr. Kris Brammer, Director of Christian Education, First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Are we called to be imitators, or reflectors of Christ?  Are we counterfeitors, or are we the real thing?  A sermon on Philippians 2:5-8, reminding us that we are not called to be perfect, but we are called to be genuine.  By Pastor Sue Coller, March 22, 2020

Who do we turn to in difficult times?  On what do we base our life?  Join us for the continuing series - "The Heart of the Matter" with Rev. Dr. Sue Coller from First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska

The second in 'The Heart of the Matter" series in which we explore in concrete ways what it means to belong to a God who loves us more than there are words to say, and what it means to live as the people of God out in the world and in relation to others.  This particular sermon challenges us to strive for a way of life that enables everyone to have all that they need.  

The Heart of our faith is God's love.   The Heart of our discipleship is how we live out that love in our daily lives.   Today's sermon, the first in this series, explores the role of love in tearing down pyramids.  Also in this episode we are interviewing Bill Michener, the Executive Director of the Lighthouse, a service for youth in Lincoln, Nebraska.

On this Sunday after Easter, the Rev. Dr. Jane Holtzclaw, explore this new thing that God is doing.  Jane is the Parish Associate for Caring Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Easter is often portrayed as the event that changed the world.  And it did - and it didn't.  We do not wake up on Easter to the perfect world - not now - not that first Easter.  Easter does shine a blazing light into the darkness.  Join us as we hear this good news!

Join us for a dramatic reading of the Passion Story, as we prepare for Holy Week and Jesus' death on a cross.

This sermon was preached when we were unable to worship in person, due to the coronavirus pandemic.  As we learned how to be a church without a building, it raised the question - what if we never got the building back?  Preached by Rev. Dr. Sue Coller