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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The State of the Parish
The State of the Parish January 17, 1999 Luke 4: 16-30 We begin with words read in high school. “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom. It was the age of foolishness. It was the epoch of belief. It was the epoch of incredulity.…
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FACING THE NEW YEAR
FACING THE NEW YEAR January 3, 1999 Romans 5: 1-5 Well, here we are at the beginning of a New Year. It’s particularly important, for it’s the year in which we march into the millennium. And because of that I have a question for you. What is it you are hoping for as we approach…
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Advent: A Time to Let Go of Illusions
Advent: A Time to Let Go of Illusions December 6, 1998 For anyone who takes Advent seriously, it’s a rough time of the year. There is a huge disorientation factor that goes on inside oneself. The culture and the church seem deliberately to clash. Outside, we are assaulted by the culture to buy – to…
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”FOR THOSE WHO DESPAIR”
”FOR THOSE WHO DESPAIR” Luke 18: 1-8 October 18, 1998 A clergy friend once shared the despair he felt while working in the Civil Rights movement in the ’60s. There was a point where everything seemed to go wrong. Many of his Southern friends disagreed with him. His congregation suggested he look for another parish.…
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ON HEAVENLY PORTFOLIOS
ON HEAVENLY PORTFOLIOS Mark 10: 17-31 October 4, 1998 There are certain signals one learns to recognize as you grow up. Signals that indicate the beginnings of a difficult conversation. When I was a youngster, my parents used to use my full name. They would say, “Roger Owen. let’s talk.” This always got my full…
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Can Human Nature Change?
Can Human Nature Change? Genesis 27: 1–4, 18-36a John 3: 1.-8 September 21, 1998 Never ask a child a rhetorical question in public. I recently heard of a church school teacher’s trial. She had just read the section from Jeremiah that goes, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Turning to…
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One Preacher’s Response to the Moral Crisis
One Preacher’s Response to the Moral Crisis Romans 7: 13-20; Matthew 18: 15-20 September 20, 1998 Last Friday I had a message on my answering machine. A reporter was trying to reach me for a quote on the situation in Washington. As some of you know, I’m not big on thinking up clever quotes for…
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WHAT DID YOU DO THIS PAST SUMMER?
WHAT DID YOU DO THIS PAST SUMMER? Genesis 1: 1-13; Mark 6: 30-33 August 30, 1998 When I was the age of some of you registering for Sunday School, I used to agonize through a yearly ritual. In the first week of school, we would be assigned an essay or a speech with the topic,…
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Pentecost
Pentecost II Corinthians 4: 5-10, John 14: 8-17 May 30, 1998 I’m pleased to report to you that the religious faith of 70 million unchurched people residing in the United States is alive and well. Polls have shown us that 70 million people pray, occasionally read the Bible, and embrace many teachings of Christianity, and…
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A Homecoming
A Homecoming Genesis 3: 22-24, Luke 7: 36-50 May 14, 1998 Scholars tell us that no chapter in Holy Scripture has been subjected to more attention than the third chapter of Genesis. Countless numbers of people have searched for the garden. Learned books have been written interpreting the actions of Adam and Eve. I can…