Second on the Mount

“Just One More Thing…” – Micah 6:8, Mark 10:17-23
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, August 4, 2024. "Can we catch a glimpse of God’s will in what Micah tells us to do—to do justice and show kindness without separating the two? When we are wronged, or see wrongs in the world, can we remain kind? That’s a hard question to ask of us as individuals, and certainly a hard question to ask of us as communities of people. But should we ever deny the lifeline to others that we need when we have been understood and rightly judged for having failed?"
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/just-one-more-thing/ 

"Penetrable Souls" – Acts 10, selected verses
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, July 28, 2024. "The book of Acts lets us know that as soon as we think we have figured out what is good and right, that we now know who is always in the right and who is always in the wrong, we are in spiritual trouble. Of course, this chapter encourages us to be open to others, to be open to what we do not yet see or understand. Of course, it encourages empathy . . . being so interested in another that you forget yourself. Of course, this chapter has a lot to say about how we should resist those who seek to apply their hardening agents on our spirits to enlist our blind support. But this chapter is not finally about what we should do. It is a call to prayer."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/penetrable-souls/ 

"On the Move" – 2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Sermon by the Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from Sunday, July 21, 2024. "To think we have God figured out, to think we know all we need to know about God, to think God believes and wants exactly what we believe and want is to try to build a box around God. But God is here to say to Nathan, God is here to say to us, not, 'Thanks for the shiny box,' but instead, 'Try to keep up.'"
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/on-the-move/ 

"Are You In?" – Galatians 2:11-21
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, July 14, 2024. "Paul raises up the cross and calls for faith—Jesus’ faith, not the faith of an eye-for-an-eye and revenge. He calls for Christ to live in and through us. And Christ will, when and where people embody his heart for peace despite what their fantasies might be."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/are-you-in/ 

"No Place Like Home" – Mark 6:1-13
Sermon by the Rev. Rachel H. Vogado, PCUSA minister and Media Assistant at Second Presbyterian Church, who was invited to preach on Sunday, July 7 while the pastors were away.

"Open Wide Your Hearts" – 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Sermon by the Rev. Ben Brannan from Sunday, June 30, 2024. "Beloved, open wide your hearts to the reconciling love and grace of God, for now is the time, today is the day; open wide your hearts so that having been reconciled by God you may be reconciled to one another. Whether rich or poor, honor or dishonor, known or unknown, in need or in plenty, in sorrow or in joy, whether black, white, or brown, whether republican, democrat, or independent, whether Dominican, American, or any other nationality, open wide your hearts, receive the grace and love of God, and receive the new life in Christ, a life that is shared, a life that is abundant and eternal, and experience a life that really is life."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/open-wide-your-hearts/ 

"Not Just a Children's Story" – 1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
Sermon by the Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from Sunday, June 23, 2024. "[David and Goliath] is a story the people of God need to remember. It’s a story that reminds us God’s help can come from unlikely places. It’s a story that tells us outward appearance isn’t everything. It’s a reminder that we have an invisible ally who loves and supports us."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/not-just-a-childrens-story/ 

"Family Recognition" – Luke 15:11-32
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, June 16, 2024. "At the end of God’s day, we are all related. At the end of God’s day, we’re all family; Jew and Gentile, sinner and saint, male and female. In the biblical worldview, all human issues are family issues, and all human problems are family problems. . . . When harm is done to another, whether of the spirit or the body, the Father is saying, 'Oh, this brother of yours. This sister of yours.'"
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/family-recognition/ 

"Say That Again" – Luke 15:3-10
Sermon by the Rev. Tom Are, Jr., Interim Pastor at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL and our Evening VBS guest speaker, from Sunday, June 9, 2024. "Jesus is telling us that we have no idea how much joy God finds in us. In you. That just your existence is a source of joy for the living God. Jesus is clear. God knows an unreasonable amount of joy because of you—and that is something Jesus evidently thinks we need to hear more than once."

"God's Memory" – Exodus 16:2-13, Psalm 105:37-45
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, June 2, 2024. "When God saw Israel, God remembered Abraham. . . . The psalmist is reminding the people of faith of God’s remembering for a reason: they are to remember, too."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/gods-memory/