Wednesday Sermon: The Human One Is Coming!

Last updated on: August 10, 2016 at 12:11 pm By Tom Truby

Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverend Tom Truby shows that mimetic theory is a powerful tool that enables pastors to preach the Gospel in a way that is meaningful and refreshing to the modern world. Each Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight his sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. In this sermon, Tom uses wonderful anecdotal stories to describes how God “is not in... Read more

The Rebellious Nature of Infant Baptism: Yeah, You’re In

Last updated on: August 9, 2016 at 2:03 pm By Adam Ericksen

Note: A sermon preached for an infant baptism on July 24. I love baptisms. I especially love infant baptisms. Not just because infants are so cute and unpredictable, but because it’s counter-cultural. When I was in seminary we had some debates about whether we should perform infant baptisms, or if we should wait for the individual to make a conscious decision to be baptized. Speaking of debates, my in-laws are Baptists and I’ll tell you that I quickly learned in... Read more

The Bible Explained Part 2: How the Bible Hijacked the “Image of God”

Last updated on: September 8, 2016 at 11:49 am By Adam Ericksen

The phrase “image of God” has become a bit cliché, but if we understand its original intent, the phrase becomes more powerful. Genesis tells us that God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Why does this matter? In the ancient world it was thought that the only people created in the image of God were political leaders – kings and pharaohs, for example. They were the only... Read more

Fear God? No, Jesus Frees Us from Fear

Last updated on: August 7, 2016 at 9:34 am By Adam Ericksen

A sermon based on Luke 12:32-40 “Do not be afraid.” Those are the words that Jesus speaks to begin our Gospel reading for this Sunday. And as I read those words, I feel like Jesus is speaking directly to us. “Do not be afraid,” he says. And I want to reply, “But Jesus, there’s so much to fear. Aren’t you paying attention? Aren’t you watching the news? Reading the paper? My Facebook newsfeed is constantly telling me to live... Read more

Democracy Under Control: The Hushed and Hidden Victims at the Democratic National Convention

Last updated on: August 4, 2016 at 3:38 pm By Lindsey Paris-Lopez

“I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies…. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:21, 24) When pomp and pageantry drown the pain of the people, there is a problem. And so I recall the devastating critique of the Prophet Amos as I consider the mockery of democracy that was the Democratic Convention. With a theme of “Stronger Together,” the entire week was political theater... Read more

Wednesday Sermon: The Problem with Brothers

Last updated on: August 3, 2016 at 11:51 am By Tom Truby

Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverend Tom Truby shows that mimetic theory is a powerful tool that enables pastors to preach the Gospel in a way that is meaningful and refreshing to the modern world. Each Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight his sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. In this sermon, Tom explores “the problem with brothers” through the lens of... Read more

[VIDEO] The Bible Explained: Part 1: Creation is no Myth

Last updated on: September 8, 2016 at 11:50 am By Adam Ericksen

The creation account in Genesis is often pitted as a debate between faith and science. But the biblical account of creation isn’t about a literal seven days of creation. It’s about the meaning behind creation. There were many different creation stories in the ancient world. One story was told by the ancient Babylonians. They claimed the world was made from a war among the gods. Marduk, a young god, went to war with his mother, the goddess Tiamat. After a... Read more

Donald Trump, Politics, and the Scandal of Forgiveness

Last updated on: August 1, 2016 at 4:32 pm By Adam Ericksen

July was quite a month of scandals. Do you remember when Melania Trump was accused of plagiarizing? Or when the crowd at the RNC turned into a mob by chanting “Lock her up!?” And we’re wondering if Donald is in bed with Vladimir. Now as July turns into August, Hillary just can’t get away from her scandalous emails. It’s a train wreck. And I can’t stop looking. Jeremiah Alberg defines scandal in his masterful book Beneath the Veil of the... Read more

“Us Versus Us” – LGBT, Pope Francis, and Religion

Last updated on: August 5, 2016 at 9:59 am By Adam Ericksen

“There is no they,” writes Andrew Marin in his new book Us Versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community, “It is, and always has been, us versus us.” Marin’s book is a timely and exceptionally well researched. His findings show that 86% of the LGBT community grew up in a house of worship, most likely a church. 86%. It took a while for that number to sink in. That’s why Marin reframes this discussion from “us... Read more

Wednesday Sermon – Can You Reject Harp Music and Still Be Christian?

Last updated on: June 29, 2016 at 2:40 pm By Tom Truby

Pastors have a frequent question when they begin to discover mimetic theory. “That’s great. But how does it preach?” Reverend Tom Truby shows that mimetic theory is a powerful tool that enables pastors to preach the Gospel in a way that is meaningful and refreshing to the modern world. Each Wednesday, Teaching Nonviolent Atonement will highlight his sermons as an example of preaching the Gospel through mimetic theory. Mimetic theory claims that humans form identity by defining who is “in” and... Read more