Selections from Contexts and Contents
Advent: Surrendering Our Back-Seat Driver’s License
Christmas Eve: Hey! What Took You So Long
New Year: Finding Our Still Point in a Changing World
Jesus’ Baptism: Embarrassed by God
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Different Kind of Courage
Valentine’s Day: An R-rated Sermon
Lent: The First Temptation of Christ
Good Friday: When a Death Makes a Difference in a Life
Easter: CSI Jerusalem
Earth Day: It’ll Never Happen Here
Pentecost: How to Hear a Sermon
Father’s Day: Where Have All the Fathers Gone?
Fourth of July: My Country, Tis of Thee?
Labor Day: Making a Living or Making a Life
World Communion: Leaves of Fall and Leaves of Grace
All Saints: To Those Who Have Loved and Lost
Stewardship: Money Talks

Selections from Epiphany Sunday: Finding Value in Other Religions
Epiphany is revealed mystery and surprising truth. Epiphany is revelation of God’s love to all nations and all peoples through Christ. Epiphany also is revelation of God’s love to us Christians through other religions…

Contrary to the narrow-mindedness and parochialism of most religions, God is greater than our particular creeds and confessions. While God can and does work through our Christian faith, God can and does work through other faiths as well. Our challenge is to learn from other religions so that we can grow in our own Christian convictions and gain a greater appreciation for the greatness of God who is present in and working through all faith. What specifically do other religions have to offer to our own committed Christian convictions? Let’s look at four of the major world religions and see what each offers by way of helping to deepen our own faith….

In this world where different faiths must learn to live together, we recognize that the wisdom of God is present in varying degrees in various expressions. Does this mean that all voices and sources, all religions and beliefs are equal?...

While other religions offer great insight to us, Christianity alone offers God with us in the person of Jesus. This gift is what we have to offer the world and its religions. The more we love and commit to Jesus, the more open we will be to the gifts of God in other faiths. Jesus said to his followers: Whoever is not against us is for us. Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus about speaking the truth in love. The challenge for all religious believers is how can we speak our truth in love without making others out to be wrong?