SERMONS

There are several ways to look back on past sermons...

Lent 2024

The Power of the Kin(g)dom

January 7 - February 11, 2024

As we celebrate Epiphany, we embark on a new worship series entitled The Power of the Kin(g)dom. Over these 6 weeks, we will explore how the Kingdom of God is described in scripture and the ways the Kingdom breaks into the world today. We will wrestle with our calling to build for the Kingdom and how that calling changes our lives. The series will grow from the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark allowing us to deepen our knowledge of the earliest gospel account as we learn about the Kingdom.

Advent Sermon Series:
A Weary World Rejoices ​

December 3 - December 24, 2023

As Advent begins, the world around us seems evermore tumultuous, threatening the safety of God’s beloved children in our city and across the globe. The tumult taxes our minds, souls, and spirits, bringing a type of weariness that is hard to shake. We will learn from the Biblical witness how our ancestors in the faith navigated questions like ours amid the turmoil of their times, and we will wrestle with how we may faithfully claim that in Christ, a weary world rejoices.

Narrative Lectionary Series 2023

Sermon Series: Beginning Again

August 13 - September 3, 2023

Through this series, we will explore how to make a fresh start: in friendships and in family, at school and at work, even in our lives of faith. How does the Spirit of God enable us to begin again? How does our faith inspire hope and possibility in the future?

Sermon Series: Psalms of Summertime

June 11 - august 6, 2023

The Psalms are a collection of songs, poems, and prayers that capture the breadth of the human experience. This series will deepen our knowledge of scripture by exploring a different psalm each week. 

Lenten Sermon Series: Parables that Prepare Us

February 26 - March 26, 2023

During Lent, we will prepare ourselves to live into the paschal mystery by exploring five parables that Jesus shared in the days leading up to his crucifixion. Jesus’ favorite teaching method will guide our learning as we prepare to proclaim the promise of resurrection.​

Advent Sermon Series: Minor Figures, Major Faith

November 27 - December 24, 2022

This Advent worship series will focus on some of the overlooked and under-appreciated figures of the story of the Incarnation. As we wait and prepare, we’re going to focus on some of the folks who don’t get the attention that they deserve. Each of these “minor characters,” as we’re calling them, have something to teach us. Zechariah, Elizabeth, the angels, the shepherds, and the inn keeper are here to teach us about how it is that we actually prepare for the Incarnation of God.

Sermon Series:
Finding Our Why

SEPTEMBER 11 - OCTOBER 23, 2022

Every so often, it is important for people of faith to pause and ask, “why do we do what we do?” Our series – Finding Our Why – will allow us, lifelong church members as well as those new to the faith, the opportunity to examine some fundamental practices of Christianity. In our study, we hope to both rediscover the Biblical roots of the Church and reveal that which compels our faith and practice today.

Sermon Series: Being the Body

June 12 - July 31, 2022

Being the Body is a series inspired by a St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) quote that mentions, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” We will spend the summer discussing and breaking down what it means for us to be Christ’s lungs, eyes, ears, hands, feet, tongue, and heart.

Sermon Series: Good Grief

March 2 - April 5, 2022

With all the losses and transitions that Idlewild has navigated over the last few years, this series will help us understand the ways that God continues to shape our journey even through grief

Sermons: 2021

Sermons: 2020

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