Sermons from San Diego

Here's a fresh take on a story so iconic, even non-religious people know it.  Read 1st Samuel 17 for more If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

Listen to the story of how David was chosen to become the new king of Israel.   Based on 1st Samuel 16  If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

Our series continues with the demand to Samuel to give them a king, to be like everybody else.  People are faith are meant to be different. If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

This is the first in our ongoing series leading up to and beyond the reign of King David - a series of meaningful, heartbreaking, and funny stories.  Come along for the journey this summer.  It all starts with Hannah, mother of the great prophet Samuel Read First Samuel 1-3 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to sup...

This is the conclusion of our series on Peter.   Read Acts 12 Christianity isn’t about achieving perfection.  Can I get an amen?  Christianity isn’t about achieving perfection.  It’s always an aspiration and commitment to start again.  So, my question:  Do you aspire to do better?  Forgive more often, slow you’re your anger, practice patience, love a little more?  Do you want to be set free from w...

Peter and Cornelius both had unusual dreams.  They are why we belong. See Acts 10 for the whole story If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church just voted to overturn its prohibition against openly LGBTQ clergy.  Some are celebrating while others may be embarrassed to be associated with a denomination that would do such a thing.  I was raised in the UMC and this decision is not so far removed from all of us. If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church...

This is less an inspiring story as it is a cautionary tale about a couple named Ananias and Saphira and their motivations Read Acts 5 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

Peter and John did something extraordinary “In the name of Jesus.”  As I thought about my sermon title today, the phrase “in the name of Jesus” kept coming to mind, but I hesitated – picture the over-the-top antics of a television evangelist.  “In the name of Jeee-sus!”  But I kept the title because I want to tell you about something extraordinary done in the name of Jesus on Tuesday. Read Acts 3...

Peter decided what criteria should be met for a 12th apostle to fill the seat of Judas Iscariot.  He overlooked the one and only candidate that should have been considered.  Why? Read text from Acts 1 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time...

Listen to the story of Peter from the beginning to Jesus' post-resurrection question:  Do you love me? If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

From John 13, this text teaches that Christians in America don't need more power, they need more humility. If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

Read Matthew 17: 1-9.  Peter wasn't sure how to respond to something that couldn't be explained - the way Jesus had been transformed right in front of his face.  So he proposed something to do. If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one t...

The text is from Matthew 16: 13-20 Peter succeeds and then fails to understand who Jesus really is If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

We continue to focus on the life and faith of Peter and today learn about a little-known hero of Black History - Diane Nash. The text is Matthew 14: 22-33 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.o...

Peter’s names pop up in story after story, but not as a complete narrative of his own.  This Lent, we’re going to take a deeper dive into the faith of this one individual, and yet even so, we’ll only get to skim the surface of this impetuous, impulsive, and unfiltered character.  A deeply flawed but even more deeply passionate and committed disciple of Christ.    Today's text is Luke 5: 1-11...

Hear the story of The People Who Could Fly, learn more about the Mother of the Movement - Septima Clark, and be inspired by Amanda Gorman If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

A little mix of UCC and Black history to begin February If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

There is more to her than appears on the surface.  Let's dig a little deeper.  Read Mark 1: 29-39 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

The Book of Jonah is a hilarious and true story - if what you mean is that it is full of uncomfortable truths about human behavior. If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

This sermon includes stories from Jonathan Eig's new biography King: A Life.  And references a famous line from the Prophet Amos. If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.org/give

There are famous lines like "Vanity, vanity" and "there is a season for everything."  But do they mean and what do we do with them?   If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - missionhillsucc.or...

The journey to visit Elizabeth would have been dangerous for Mary.  Giving birth may have been dangerous for Elizabeth.  Both had improbable news to share.  So what did they do? Read Luke 1: 26-45 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or...

The season of Advent begins the journey to Christmas.  This sermon starts in Luke 1 with the angel Gabriel telling Zechariah that his wife would become pregnant with the one to precede Jesus.  Read Luke chapter 1 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ wit...

This is the final sermon is our great sweep of history from Abraham to the Promised Land.   Now that we've arrived, what next?  The text for today is from Joshua 24 If this sermon was meaningful to you, learn more about the rest of our church at missionhillsucc.org.  You are invited to support the ministry of Mission Hills United Church of Christ with a one time or recurring contribution - mi...