This past Sunday I began a sermon series about the Disciples of Christ. (Check out this page for more information)
Here is the first installment.
[audio http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/988pbut4vo/disciples_university_101_communion.mp3|titles=Disciples 101: Communion|loop=no|animation=no](Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Below is the link to the sermon I preached entitled You Will See Great Things.
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Praise The Lord (Photo credit: jubileelewis)
Below is the link to the sermon I preached entitled “All Encompassing Praise” based on Psalm 150 and Luke 17:11-19.
[audio http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/0m2721je3j/all_encompassing_praise.mp3|titles=Children of the Light|loop=no|animation=no]
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
English: This is the title screen from the ABC series Lost. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Below is a link to a sermon I preached entitled “Where Are You?” based on Exodus 17:1-7 and Philippians 2:1-13
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
A powerful light shines in the dark. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Below is the link to the sermon I preached entitled Children of the Light.
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
taken from womenoffaith.com All Rights Reserved.
Below is the link to the sermon I preached entitled Jeremiah’s Call Is Our Call Too based on Jeremiah 1:4-10.
[audio http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/e9ic8x6nfa/20130721-110916.mp3|titles=Jeremiah’s Call Is Our Call Too|loop=no|animation=no]
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Humbled. Exalted. (Photo credit: Fr. Stephen, MSC)
Below is the link to the sermon I preached entitled Humility Under Pressure” based on Luke 18:9-14.
http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/2b7wcc7952/20130714-110857.mp3%20
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
taken from http://www.jamyesack.com (All Rights Reserved)
Below is the link to the sermon I preached entitled “Stuck In The Middle” based on John 18:33-7 and Revelation 1:4b-7.
[audio http://k002.kiwi6.com/hotlink/13a5updhv0/stuck_in_the_middle.mp3|titles=Stuck In The Middle]
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Corcovado jesus (Photo credit: @Doug88888)
Below is the link to the sermon I preached entitled “Here Is My Servant” based on Isaiah 42:1-9.
Sermon Link
(Recorded by Voice Record Pro by Bej Bej Apps for iOS)
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I am a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)–it’s OK… many people have never heard of it, too.
I could bore you with the history of the Disciples of Christ but in a nut shell it is the oldest Christian denomination founded on American soil and follows a few basic principles.
You can read more about the Disciples by clicking here and watch a nice video by clicking here.
Every two years the denomination gets together for a conference of sorts called the General Assembly. It is a time of worship, reflection, sharing, learning and discussion. Every year ministries and groups with in the denomination go through a process of proposing resolutions before the Assembly. There is a lengthy process of discernment before the general board sets the agenda. In years past things have been debated ranging from immigration reform to moral injury study to how the church understands itself in the 21st century and everything in between.
This year one resolution in particular is generating a lot of buzz. It’s resolution 1327. You can read it in full here.
In a nutshell the resolution calls upon the church to be a place of grace and welcome to all people understanding that all our welcomed at the table of God and thus that radical grace is extended to all.
Some people believe that this resolution is over reaching with regards to how the church is structured. If the church is autonomous from the national church then who a church welcomes or not welcomes is up to them. Some believe that it is a good resolution but fails to address certain issues that have been plaguing the DOC for many year.
But I think it goes deeper than that.
I believe that this resolution calls upon the church to be the church. In the church we have put up artificial barriers. We decide who is in and who is out, who has the power and who is a by standard. The church needs to step up to the plate and open its doors to all people from every walk of life and even differing sexual orientation. If the church is to have any relevance in the 21st century and beyond then it has to stop judging people first and then giving them a relationship. It works the other way around. People (especially those disenfranchised with the church) are not looking for a place for people think they are better than everyone else in the world all under the guise of religion. No, people are looking for something greater than themselves and for a community that does more than pay lip service to how all people “have fallen short of the Glory of God.”
After people are welcomed despite their faults (or perceived faults) then and only then can a congregation have conversations about sin, morality, interpretation and the authority of scripture or whatever. It’s about relationships first not judgment. Christ welcomed people from all walks of life and even had the audacity to call a Samaritan good (a big non-no in his time).
How can grace and welcome ever be a bad thing? In my opinion never.
Watch the video below; I believe it articulates the intent of the resolution well.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Rev. Dr. Evan M. Dolive 