https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLjtDAKNp90 Where can we find hope in the current political context? For Methodist pastor Drew McIntyre, that hope took place in an empty tomb when Jesus rose from the dead. Drew and I talk about the distinction between hope and optimism, and the cultural pessimism prevalent in society today. We also look at the significance... Continue Reading →
Open, Affirming and Following
Why we need to move from affirmation to discipleship for LGBTQ people.
A Knock at the Door
When I think about the recent horrific shooting of young Ralph Yarl, a young black man who went to the wrong house to pick up his siblings and was shot by an elderly white man, my thoughts go to a similar experience I went through growing up and also to my late elderly father. Let me... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Resurrection Means Hope
What does it mean that Christ Is Risen?
Sermon: But Did You See the Gorilla?
Photo by David Gonzales on Pexels.com John 9:1-41| Fourth Sunday in Lent | March 19, 2023 | First Christian Church Roseville, MN Maybe you’ve seen the video. It’s the one where you are asked to count how many times a basketball is passed by a group of people as they move in what seems to... Continue Reading →
Sermon: The Gospel Is Inclusive
Photo by Gotta Be Worth It on Pexels.com Third Sunday in Lent | John 4:5-42 | March 12, 2023 | Dennis Sanders, preaching It was nearly 8 years ago that First Christian Church of St. Paul made a decision to become an Open and Affirming Congregation. That means that we openly welcome LGBTQ people into... Continue Reading →
Why Does Worship Matter?
Why does worship matter to you?
Are We A Progressive Church?
Is First Christian a progressive congregation? The answer is complex.
Visit a Ragamuffin Church
We “church shop” just like we are buying cars. As I said, this doesn’t work well when it comes to finding a faith community, but this is how most people determine which church they are going to join.
Table Talk: It’s Enough
At the end of the day, we are enough. Gideon teaches us that we are enough because God is enough.
The Clockwork Pastor 