What do we do when our fear isn't irrational - when it's based on real threats to our communities? Drawing from Esther's story and featuring insights from W. Kamau Bell's recent show at the Kennedy Center, this sermon explores how to move forward when the stakes are life-and-death.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the choice to act despite it. From Frodo's conversation with Gandalf to Esther's "if I perish, I perish," discover how sacred stories and modern examples show us how to: -Name our fears honestly
-Find our unique "lane" of influence
-Support each other in scary times
-Move forward even while trembling

This is for anyone feeling powerless in the face of systemic threats to their community.

What if the Bible wasn't finished? What if we were still adding books today? In this final installment of our series, we explore how the Bible actually came together - not through secret meetings or papal decrees, but through communities discovering which texts truly spoke God's truth to their lives.

From Marcion's edited Bible to Thomas Jefferson's cut-and-paste version, we examine how people have tried to shape scripture to their preferences. But the real story is more fascinating: how early Christian communities organically recognized which writings carried divine authority, and how even their blind spots (like patriarchy) affected what was included.

What do you do when the Bible doesn't directly address modern issues like social media, AI, or gender identity? In this sermon, we explore how the early church - particularly Paul - tackled their own "new" questions that Jesus never addressed. Through examining Paul's creative problem-solving (think spiritual MacGyver!), and his own cultural biases, we discover a model for faithfully addressing contemporary challenges while staying true to Jesus' core message.

The truth of the gospels comes through different voices.