Message Cast

Are we really as free as we think we are? Drawing on Romans 6, this sermon explores why we so often return to the very habits, patterns, and behaviors that diminish us. While our instinct is usually to try harder, exercise more control, or develop better strategies, Paul offers a surprising alternative: trust the promise. Through Christ's death and resurrection, the old self has already died and sin no longer has dominion over us. True freedom comes not through greater self-mastery but through surrender, reception, and trusting what God has already done. The gospel is not ultimately about getting our lives under control—it's about receiving the freedom Christ has already secured for us.

In a culture increasingly shaped by cynicism, despair, and a sense that our institutions are beyond repair, Christian hope can seem naïve or even foolish. Drawing from Romans 5, this sermon explores Paul’s surprising claim that suffering can produce endurance, character, and ultimately hope. Far from being blind optimism, Christian hope is the trust that God is at work even in the midst of pain, injustice, and disappointment. Through the witness of Paul, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Gene Robinson, and others, we see that hope is not the denial of suffering but the conviction that God can bring life, renewal, and redemption from it. The resurrection of Jesus stands as God’s declaration that evil, suffering, and death do not have the final word. Hope does not disappoint—not because circumstances always improve, but because God’s promises endure.

This sermon was delivered June 9 in Charlottesville, VA as part of the Iowa Preachers Project preaching slam.

After spending a year listening to people in pews, hospital rooms, and everyday conversations, I’ve become convinced that many people are asking two basic questions: Is God real? And if God is real, does any of this actually matter? Drawing on Andrew Root, Ryan Burge, and Paul’s words to the Corinthians, this reflection suggests that the church’s challenge is not merely convincing people that Christianity is true, but showing that it offers real life in a world shaped by loneliness, anxiety, consumerism, and the endless pursuit of “more.” The gospel is not simply about life after death—it is about life before death. And in a culture convinced that fulfillment comes through status, success, and acquisition, the good news of Jesus remains a surprising and much-needed alternative.

What if evangelism is not about pressure, persuasion, or fixing people—but helping them behold God’s presence? Reflecting on Matthew’s Great Commission, Andrew Root’s theology of consolation, and stories from hospital chaplaincy and everyday life, this sermon argues that true evangelism is accompanying people in sorrow and suffering as a visible reminder that they are not alone. God is already at work. Our task is not to force outcomes or manufacture faith, but to enter the pain of another with trust, compassion, and courage, helping them see: God is with you—even to the very end.

In this short Ash Wednesday sermon, recorded as part of the Iowa Preacher’s Project, Loren reflects on an unsettling moment, the social location of Jesus, and Isaiah 58’s challenge to rethink what faithful fasting actually costs us. A meditation on Lent, desire, and what it means to be taken by God’s story rather than shaping one of our own.

In a sermon originally preached at Broomfield United Methodist Church, Loren explores how physical faith practices—like kneeling, standing, praying, and singing—can sustain us when we don’t feel our faith. Drawing from personal stories and scripture, he challenges the idea that faith is just about thoughts and emotions, and reminds us that our bodies can carry belief even when our hearts feel distant.

In this message, originally delivered at Northglenn United Church of Christ, Loren explores how apocalyptic fears have shaped human history, from failed predictions like "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988" to contemporary concerns about climate change, political division, and global conflict. Drawing from Mark 13, Loren reflects on how moments of uncertainty and anxiety often feel like the end of the world, emphasizing the biblical perspective that God, not humans, directs history and brings ultimate salvation.

Loren encourages listeners to place their trust in God by engaging in prayer, reading Scripture, and showing love to others, even in times of fear or disillusionment. Highlighting passages such as Psalms 46 and 91, 1 Samuel 2, and Hebrews 10, he reminds us of God’s faithfulness and redemptive work throughout history.

The message challenges Christians to resist despair, which denies God’s ongoing presence, and instead choose hope—living in trust that God continues to work in the world. Loren invites us to participate in this redemptive work through acts of faith, love, and kindness, even toward those who see the world differently, and to find peace by focusing on what we can control while trusting in God’s promises.

In this sermon, originally preached 10.13.24 at Northglenn United Church of Christ, Loren delves into the power of prayer and the concept of miracles in a secular age. Through the lens of a touching story shared by Dennis Sanders, a former hospice chaplain, he explores the challenges of maintaining faith in a world that often dismisses the supernatural. Listen in as he reflects on the importance of prayer, the teachings of Jesus, and the role of religion in providing hope and transformation beyond our human efforts. This episode invites you to reconsider the impact of prayer and the potential for divine intervention in our lives.

In this message, originally given 9/15/24 at Northglenn United Church of Christ, Loren delves into the challenges of breaking bad habits and the parallels between personal struggles and faith journeys. He explores the difficulty of letting go of unhealthy habits, the importance of asking hard questions, and the call to authentic discipleship from Mark 8.

In this sermon, Loren Richmond Jr. explores the metaphor of bread as both a source of physical and spiritual nourishment. Beginning with personal stories about the joy of bread, he connects these to Jesus' teaching as the "bread of life" from John 6. Loren discusses the spiritual hunger prevalent in today's society, particularly among young people affected by social media. He emphasizes the need for lasting fulfillment through a deep connection with God, rather than temporary pleasures. The message concludes by encouraging the sharing of this spiritual "bread" with others to address the world's hunger for genuine connection and fulfillment.

Audio from a sermon delivered 8.11.24 at Northglenn United Church of Christ.