All Sermons
The reflection below was written by the Rev. Roger Douglas as part of the introduction to his book An Audience of One. It expresses the spirit behind all of his preaching and offers a helpful way to approach the sermons preserved in this archive.
As you read these sermons, you may find they help you make sense of the world, or invite you into your own conversation with God. Roger often said that he sought meaning in a world of death and suffering, beginnings and retirements, successes and failures, sense and nonsense.
His experience as a preacher taught him that most sermons first speak back to the one who writes them; the real dialogue is between the preacher and God. If anyone in the congregation hears a word that touches them, it is because God has chosen to let them in on that conversation.
Roger believed that preaching is deeply personal work — a struggle to make sense of Scripture, an openness about doubts, and a willingness to share the journey. The more honestly he engaged that struggle, the better others were able to identify with it.
He described this kind of work as “confessional” preaching, not in the sense of offering anecdotes, but in speaking truthfully from within one’s own life while pointing people toward Jesus. It frees the preacher from having to solve every problem and reminds us that we are not steering the ship, but contributing our part to the dialogue.
May these sermons draw you into that same conversation of faith — one marked by mystery, humility, and the grace of God at work in all things.
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Final Sermon at St Philips
Final Sermon at St Philips Deuteronomy 3 & 31 January 21, 2001 Let us pray: It takes a while to and your way among all the ways of work, and I suppose a man is never sure. Take me for example. I might have taught grammar to freshmen, history to the cataloging mind, or journalism…
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Leaving
Leaving January 14, 2001 I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Murphy’s Law Simply stated, Murphy’s Law is, “It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.” Examples of this law might be debt. It is easier to incur debt than to get out of it. Or marriage; it’s simpler…
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To Those Whose Time Is Running Out
To Those Whose Time Is Running Out January 7, 2001 Matthew 2: 1-1 It may be the post-Christmas season blues. It may be a recognition that the old year is over. It may be an awareness that my tenure is coming to a close, or it may be the realization that the years of my…
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Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve December 24, 2000 Of all the crazy, mischievous, hare-brained, foolhardy, cock-a-mammy ideas that Christianity has come up with – and then asked people to take seriously – surely, none could be as catastrophic as the Christmas story. The story of God entering the world as a baby to save the world. I mean,…
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Joseph’s Choice
Joseph’s Choice Matthew 1: 18-20 December 17, 2000 One of the events I love to see around this time of the year is a Christmas Pageant. All the youngsters dressed up as shepherds, angels, sheep, and wise men. Usually, they practice for several weeks, and their parents and grandparents sit in the front row and…
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The Message to Mary
The Message to Mary Luke 1: 26-38 December 2, 2000 “Seasons Greetings.” I’ll bet you receive many cards with those words. That kind of greeting is what we expect at this time of the year. When we receive such a card, there is no question as to its meaning. But imagine for a moment that…
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Dealing With Difficult People
Dealing With Difficult People Mark 10: 35-45 October 22, 2000 The other day I ran across a theory by some physicists. It’s called “the butterfly effect.” When I ran across it, I said to myself, “That will preach.” Basically, this theory contends that everything in the universe is related, and what matters is the relationship…
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The Call Of Zebedee
The Call Of Zebedee October 15, 2000 The story is overly familiar, and therefore, we rarely hear it fully. The call of James and John is well known by everyone who has attended Sunday School. Jesus comes by where these two people are employed. He then asks them to leave and become followers and join…
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“St. Michael and All Angels as Messengers of the Most High”
“St. Michael and All Angels as Messengers of the Most High” Genesis 28: 10-1 October 1, 2000 It’s a classic story. Two brothers, twins, one the favorite of his father, the other the apple of his mother’s eye. One direct, uncomplicated, filled with integrity. The other, devious, tendency to take the easy way, filled with…
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Kick-Off Sunday
Kick-Off Sunday James 1: 17-27 September 7, 2000 Last weekend we went to Phoenix on our Labor Day holiday. Each year we spend part of this time in that great American pastime, shopping. This year, we stopped at the new Nordstrom. While waiting for Peggy to try on some clothes, I struck up a conversation…