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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Wishful Thinking VS Hope
Wishful Thinking VS Hope Luke 1: 39-49 December 6, 1992 Several years ago, I heard a story of a woman who desperately wanted to win the Arizona Lottery. Every time she heard that it would be over two million dollars, she would begin to pray like crazy. And the night before the drawing, she would…
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Discipleship vs Membership
Discipleship vs Membership Luke 9:57-62 October 4, 1992 My text for the Loyalty Day Sermon comes not from the Bible, but rather from a line in Robert Ballah’s new book, The Good Society, ‘The issue,” Bellah says, Por the local parish is whether membership has a claim on one’s very sense of self – involving…
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“Becoming A Person Of Substance”
“Becoming A Person Of Substance” Luke 16: 19-31 September 27, 1992 Lillian Hellman, the playwright once wrote: “God help all children as they move into a time of life they do not understand and must struggle through with precepts they have picked from the garbage cans of older people, clinging with the passion of the…
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A Friendly Community A Communion Of Friends
A Friendly Community A Communion Of Friends John 15: 12-17 September 13, 1992 “Come to church and bring a friend, you’ll both be happier for it.” We used to say that in the 60’s. The implications were that coming to church would make a difference in your life. You could find ads like that on…
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Series on Forgiveness
Series on Forgiveness Genesis 1:8:20-33 Luke 1 : i-13 July 26, 1992 Scripture is not only instructive for our religious life. It can also teach us about management skills. For example, the first recorded instance of collective bargaining can be found in the 18th chapter of Genesis. The dialogue between Abraham and God that we…
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Pentecost
Pentecost June 7, 1992 Among the many birthday cards I recently received, one has stuck in my mind. On it was printed the following message: Attention, this life is only a test. Repeat, this is only a test period if this had been an actual life, you would have been told where to go and…
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Results not Appearances
Results not Appearances April 19, 1992 Most of the time we are not seen for who we really are. We may be grateful for that. Most of the time we are accepted or rejected, judged or acquitted, embraced or snubbed on appearances. The same may be said about Jesus. Most of the time, he is…
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Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday April 12, 1992 I have great sympathy for the secular humanists in Indiana. They want to place a note next to those Gideon Bibles in motels, which would start out saying, Be careful, this book can be hazardous to your health. Perhaps all books should carry warning labels like cigarette packets. Watch out,…
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What is God’s Name?
What is God’s Name? Exodus 3: 1-15 March 25, 1992 We begin this morning with the story of Moses. it is a story filled with meanings. Moses, in many ways, represents each of us. You might recall at the beginning of the story, we find him wanting to be a leader of the Jewish community.…
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What Does it Mean, to Go Out by Faith?
What Does it Mean, to Go Out by Faith? Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-12 March 8, 1992 “By faith, Abraham obeyed the call to go out to a land, and he left home without knowing where he was to go.” The story is so familiar to most of us, we often take it for granted. But,…