Worship · June 15, 2021
Join us for our Summer Sermon Series: Practices of Faith and Sanity
A 6-week series, beginning Sunday, July 18, 2021.
In his song, “Things Have Changed,” Bob Dylan says, “People are crazy and times are strange.” I don’t know many of us who would disagree with our octogenarian Nobel Laureate.
But, as another favorite song writer, Paul Simon, asks, “What are you gonna do about it, that’s what I’d like to know?”
Well, I’d like to know that too.
How do we live sanely and faithfully when life seems to be coming apart at the seams?
While the Reformed tradition has historically focused on the beliefs of our faith, it sometimes has neglected our faith’s practices. And, yet, there have been insistent voices over the centuries that have reminded us of the value of what are sometimes called “the means of grace,” those practices that imbue within us the living dimensions of trust and wisdom, compassion and patience, peace, equanimity and love.
This series of sermons considers how we can live more sanely and practice our faith more consistently at this particular moment in our time, exploring five practices of faith and sanity. Each practice is grounded in our own rich biblical faith, especially drawing on the wisdom traditions of scripture. And, as we’ll see in the series, each practice of our faith is conversant with other venerable sources of wisdom.
Practices of Faith and Sanity Summer Sermon Series
Week One
When Justice Goes Mad: The Practice of Redemption
Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 5:38-48
Week Two
When Sorrow Falls Upon the Wise: The Practice of Equanimity
Proverbs 9:1-6; Matthew 6:25-34 (and Matthew 14:13a)
Week Three
When Life Tumbles In: The Practice of Gratitude
I Thessalonians 5:12-24; Matthew 7:7-12
Week Four
When the Heart’s Unfinished Business Won’t Wait: The Practice of Presence
John 15:4-13; Matthew 7:15-20
Week Five
When Distrust becomes Destruction: The Practice of Faith
James 2:14-19; Matthew 7:24-27
Week Six
When Life is Spent on Fragile Things: The Practice of Grace
2 Corinthians 3:17-18, 4:6-10; Matthew 6:7-13
Check out the companion Blog to this Sermon Series
About The Rev. Dr. Michael Jinkins
This summer, Fifth Avenue welcomes The Rev. Dr. Michael Jinkins as our Summer Visiting Preacher from July 18 to August 22. Dr. Jinkins esteemed preaching and teaching career includes his tenure as President of Louisville Seminary (now retired), Academic Dean and Professor at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and most recently, the Interim Senior Pastor of Saint Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in New Orleans.
Read more about Dr. Jinkins.