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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“OUR MANY SIDES : THE ILLUSION OF INNOCENCE”
“OUR MANY SIDES : THE ILLUSION OF INNOCENCE” Luke 15 : 11-3 March 9, 1986 A Spaniard once declared :” If you want to see the soul of Spain you have to look at Goya’s paintings. But you have to look at all of them, from the nightmarish sketches to the formal court portraits. Similarly,…
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The Difficulty of Words
The Difficulty of Words Corinthians February 9, 1986 As a Christian preacher, I stand in perpetual admiration of Buddhist teachers. They are able, by the simplest of stories, to make the most telling points. One story that I heard recently tells of a meeting between the Buddha and an odd little creature known as the…
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“FINDING THE LORD IN THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES”
“FINDING THE LORD IN THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES” Ezekiel 37: 1-14 May 13, 1984 It has been one heck of a week. During most of the time, bad news has rolled in like waves on a beach -one tragedy after another. Everyone I have talked with appears to have been affected by an untimely…
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The Lost Art of Coping
The Lost Art of Coping Mark 6: 30-44 February 19, 1984 No moment in the life of a parent is more awesome than when a child leaves home for the first time.. As you watch them walk away, you wonder, have I prepared this one adequately for all he will face? Will she be able…
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” The Unholy Power of Pessimism”
” The Unholy Power of Pessimism” Numbers 13:25-14 January 15, 1984 Is the glass half full or half empty? The way you answer that question says a lot about how you view life. Are you an optimist or a pessimist? In this day and age / the pessimists far outweigh the optimists. The majority opinion…
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At the Celebration of the 25th anniversary of his ordination
At the Celebration of the 25th anniversary of his ordination Genesis 1: 1-2 Matt.: 5 1-16 June 14, 1981 On Monday, when I learned of Bishop Kim Myers’ hospitalization, I was feeling very low. Not only was 1 concerned about Kim’s health, but it also seemed prudent to call the whole celebration off, since we…
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To Those With Burdens
To Those With Burdens II Kings 6:15-17 March 22, 1981 The next few sermons have been inspired by last Sunday’s good sermon. Many of you will remember that Canon Reid preached on cross-bearing, but first he made the distinctions among burdens, thorns, and crosses. I would like to continue his theme and focus today on…
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The Art of Caring
The Art of Caring Leviticus 19 1-2, 9-18 Cor. 3: 10-11, 16-2 Matthew 5: 36-48 February 22, 1981 One of the fascinating features of the English language is the way it constantly changes. As someone once said, our words, like children, never stand still; they are always developing and constantly being transformed. For example, back…
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To the overextended
To the overextended John 11: 1-10 January 11, 1981 Not long ago on a TV show a woman was brought up from the audience. The MC asked the lady contestant what she did, and this is what she said. I am a mother of three children. I do volunteer work. I teach Sunday school. I…
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How are You?
How are You? James 2: 14-24 October 5, 1980 I went east by plane this past spring. As soon as I boarded I picked up a book and became oblivious to the rest of the world. I’m afraid I was not listening as the stewardess went through the routine instructions on exit and crash landings.…