Rev. Dr. Nikia Robert explores the biblical story of Rhoda in Acts 12 to illustrate the importance of belief, joy, and sanctuary in the fight for liberation and justice. She connects the story to contemporary issues of incarceration, women's rights, and societal oppression, urging us to be like Rhoda—faithful, joyful, and a sanctuary for others.

Sound Bites

• "We are living post-resurrection, but it often feels like defeat."
• "Be like Rhoda—believe that freedom is God's miracle."
• "There is a God who will break every chain."

This week's scripture: Acts 12:12-17
As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. 13 When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14 On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 Meanwhile Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the gate they saw him and were amazed. 17 He motioned to them with his hand to be silent and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, “Tell this to James and to the brothers and sisters.” Then he left and went to another place.

Chapters
00:10 Introducing Reverend Dr. Nakia Smith-Robert
00:45 Celebrating an Excellent God
05:02 Abolition in the DNA of the AME Church
07:38 The Christian Story of Liberation
10:42 Facing Modern Defeats
12:27 The Role of Women in Liberation
13:59 Rhoda: The Abolitionist Sanctuary
16:12 Living as an Abolitionist
27:25 Joy in the Midst of Bondage
32:15 Lessons from Rhoda's Faith
36:33 The Call to Be Like Rhoda

Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the profound symbolism of earthquakes in scripture, especially the Easter earthquake, and connects it to contemporary social justice issues. He emphasizes that God's power is like an earthquake—shaking foundations and challenging complacency—calling believers to recognize and participate in God's ongoing revolution.

Takeaways

• Earthquakes in scripture symbolize God's power to shake foundations and bring new life.
• The Easter earthquake is often overlooked but signifies God's revolutionary power.
• God's work is ongoing beyond death, in Galilee, through acts of healing, feeding, and liberation.
• The gospel is about community salvation, not individual salvation alone.
• Preachers and believers are called to recognize and respond to God's seismic activity in the world.

This week's Scripture - Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”


Chapters
00:00 Joy Amidst Grief: Acknowledging Loss
00:02 Resurrections and Richter Scales: A Personal Reflection
03:16 The Earthquake Experience
05:04 The Significance of Earthquakes in Scripture
06:00 Lynching and Injustice
08:20 The Role of the Tomb in Resurrection
10:05 The Missed Earthquake of Resurrection
12:35 The Community Aspect of Salvation
13:41 Critique of American Gospel
15:45 God as an Earthquake God
17:14 The Role of Angels in the Earthquake
19:10 Where Jesus Is Today
21:05 Invitation to Join the Movement

This Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores Jesus' cleansing of the temple, critiquing the exploitation of the poor through religious commerce and the importance of spiritual healing and liberation. It emphasizes the need to challenge corrupt systems and seek true freedom in faith.

Key Topics

• Jesus' anger at commercial exploitation in the temple
• Critique of capitalism and religious commerce
• The importance of spiritual healing and liberation
• The role of preachers and religious leaders in social justice

This week's scripture - Matthew 21:12-17
12 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written,‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’
    but you are making it a den of robbers.”
14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did and heard the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry 16 and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?”

Sound Bites

• "Jesus is angry at religious exploitation"
• "He overturns the tables with purpose"
• "Be healed, be delivered, be set free"

This week Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould explores the theme of revival through the biblical story of Ezekiel's dry bones, emphasizing the importance of community, spiritual renewal, and the 'second wind' of God to revive disconnected and oppressed communities.


This week's scripture - Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded, and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.11 Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Key Topics

• Ezekiel 37 and the vision of dry bones
• The concept of revival and second wind in faith
• Historical and contemporary exile of Black communities
• The role of community and spiritual technologies in revival
• The importance of prophecy and collective action

Action Items

• Reflect on the dry bones in your community and prophesy life into them.
• Use spiritual technologies like prayer, praise, and discernment to seek revival.
• Build community systems that foster connection and resilience.
• Call forth the breath of God to revive disconnected and oppressed groups.

Chapters
00:00 Introducing Dr. Cassandra Gould
02:39 Reviving the Connection: A Call to Action
05:49 The Second Wind of God
12:08 Exile and the Valley of Dry Bones
16:43 Community Healing and Institutional Builders
23:18 The Power of the Second Wind

This week Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the themes of conjuring hope, legacy, and resilience through biblical stories and personal reflections. He emphasizes the importance of passing the spirit of activism and faith to future generations, highlighting that someone else is always coming to carry the torch.

This week's text - Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Ket Topics
The biblical story of Elijah and Elisha as a metaphor for passing the torch
The importance of imagination and conjuring in faith and activism
The legacy of prophets and leaders in confronting injustice
The fleeting nature of human strength and the eternal coming of others
The call to prepare the next generation of leaders and prophets



Chapters
00:00 Conjuring Conversations with Ancestors
02:11 The Importance of Imagination in Faith
05:31 The Legacy of Elijah and the Call to Action
16:14 Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders
25:34 The Double Portion of Spirit

In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the power of imagination in faith, the significance of ancestral conversations, and the symbolism of biblical stories like Moses in the basket and the burning bush. It encourages listeners to see God's presence in everyday life and to trust in divine guidance through challenges.

Key Topics

• The role of imagination in understanding scripture and divine acts
• The significance of ancestral conversations and spiritual guidance
• Biblical stories as metaphors for resilience and divine intervention

Takeaways

• Imagination is a holy and potent force that helps us understand and connect with God.
• Biblical stories are products of human imagination inspired by the Spirit, not just historical records.
• In challenging times, we are in a 'basket' but God will draw us out and show us the fire of the Spirit.

This week's text - Matthew 17:1-3
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 


Chapters
00:00 The Power of Generosity and Community
00:33 Conversations with Ancestors
02:17 The Role of Imagination in Faith
15:13 Baskets and Bushes: Lessons from Moses

In this week's sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the significance of ancestral connections and the importance of engaging with our ancestors for guidance and empowerment. He reflects on the transfiguration of Jesus, the politics of naming in Washington, D.C., and a concept used a means of creating a permanent underclass. Through personal anecdotes and historical references, he emphasizes the need for community and collective action in climbing the metaphorical mountains of life, urging listeners to seek wisdom from their ancestors to navigate contemporary challenges.

This week's Scripture text: Matthew 17:1-8
 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

Chapters
00:00 Community and Generosity
05:24 The Illusion of Freedom and Historical Figures
09:13 Ancestral Energy and Its Impact
12:51 Niggerization and the Creation of a Permanent Underclass
15:29 Climbing Mountains Together
19:48 Conversations with Ancestors
24:41 The Power of Ancestral Guidance

This week Rev. Brandon Cox delivers a powerful message centered around the biblical story of a widow in need, drawing parallels to contemporary issues of economic injustice and the importance of community support. He emphasizes the need to cut through the noise of modern life to hear the voice of faith and the call to action. The sermon highlights the significance of recognizing our resources, the role of prophets in society, and the power of collective action in overcoming systemic challenges. Ultimately, it is a call to celebrate resilience and the borrowed vessels that have supported us in our journeys.


This week's scripture - 2 Kings 4:1-7
Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.” 2 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 He said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels—and not just a few. 4 Then go in, shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full, set it aside.” 5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” But he said to her, “There are no more.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest.”


Chapters
00:00 Generosity and Giving
00:02 The Power of Scripture and Community
02:52 Borrowed Vessels and Broken Systems
08:49 Desperation and Faith in Crisis
15:07 The Role of the Prophet
20:04 Divine Math and Community Support
23:55 Celebrating Resilience and Hope

In this powerful sermon, Rev. William H. Lamar IV emphasizes the present nature of God, asserting that 'God is' rather than 'God was' or 'God will be.' He explores the significance of memory in faith, the importance of recognizing God as our refuge and strength in times of trouble, and the idea that God is our ally in life's challenges. His message encourages listeners to find comfort and strength in the present reality of God's presence and support.

This week's text - Psalm 46:1-5:
God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
    though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved


Chapters
00:00 Honoring History and Social Justice
02:01 God Is: Present Tense Theology
22:08 God as Our Ally and Strength

This week Rev. William H. Lamar IV explores the themes of worship, community, and the ongoing act of creation by God. He reflects on the importance of revisiting the creation story, emphasizing that God is not finished creating and that we are called to be co-creators in the world. Rev. Lamar addresses the chaos present in society and personal lives, reminding listeners that God hovers over chaos, bringing order and hope. He encourages active participation in God's creation, urging individuals to embrace their roles in shaping a better world.


This week's scripture - Genesis 1:1-5
When God began to create the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Chapters
00:00 The Power of Worship and Community
59:01 Reflecting on Creation and Our Place in It
01:02:12 The Creation Story: A Different Narrative
01:03:40 God's Ongoing Creation: A Call to Action
01:12:34 Riding the Chaos: God’s Presence in Turmoil
01:24:15 Embracing Our Role as Co-Creators with God