Fellow Travelers (Part 7)

Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

The first command of Jesus to his followers after rising from the dead is "Go." After spending months, even years, following where Jesus led them, now they are sent ahead of him, onto a new road, into uncharted territory. This is the life of discipleship after Easter: a forward journey into loving service, into faithful witness, into resurrection hope—into life.

Bryant Anderson preaching.

Current Series: Fellow Travelers

Many important things happen in the Bible on journeys—on the road to somewhere. The life of faith is a life in motion toward the aims of God's kingdom, but it is not an easy journey. During the season of Lent we walk alongside some fellow travelers—those who have walked the road before us, and for whom the road was not always easy—so that we can grow as we navigate our own journey.

Fellow Travelers (Part 6)

Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 19:28-40

Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025

When Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a horse, he signals the kind of journey he is on—and the kind of journey that he calls us to walk. It is a journey characterized by humility and one that leads to the cross. It is a road that few choose to walk, but it is the road that leads to life.

Bryant Anderson preaching.

Current Series: Fellow Travelers

Many important things happen in the Bible on journeys—on the road to somewhere. The life of faith is a life in motion toward the aims of God's kingdom, but it is not an easy journey. During the season of Lent we walk alongside some fellow travelers—those who have walked the road before us, and for whom the road was not always easy—so that we can grow as we navigate our own journey.

Fellow Travelers (Part 5)

Acts 8:26-39

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Philip is sent out on a road through the wilderness—one of many missionary journeys of the early church. But this one is unique because of who Philip meets along that road. This encounter shows us the very core of the good news of God and it demonstrates that even our wilderness journeys can be fruitful and fulfilling.

Bryant Anderson preaching.

Current Series: Fellow Travelers

Many important things happen in the Bible on journeys—on the road to somewhere. The life of faith is a life in motion toward the aims of God's kingdom, but it is not an easy journey. During the season of Lent we walk alongside some fellow travelers—those who have walked the road before us, and for whom the road was not always easy—so that we can grow as we navigate our own journey.

Fellow Travelers (Part 4)

2 Samuel 11:1-17

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Guest preacher Kirt Anderson preaching.

Current Series: Fellow Travelers

Many important things happen in the Bible on journeys—on the road to somewhere. The life of faith is a life in motion toward the aims of God's kingdom, but it is not an easy journey. During the season of Lent we walk alongside some fellow travelers—those who have walked the road before us, and for whom the road was not always easy—so that we can grow as we navigate our own journey.

Fellow Travelers (Part 3)

Jonah 1:1-17; 2:10

Sunday, March 23, 2025

God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, and Jonah goes the other direction. It is not until Jonah confesses to his limitation and failure that he starts to walk the path that God has called him to walk. It is through that act of surrender—a kind of death—that Jonah finds new life—a kind of resurrection.

Bryant Anderson preaching.

Referenced in this sermon:

• Wendell Berry, "Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front"

Current Series: Fellow Travelers

Many important things happen in the Bible on journeys—on the road to somewhere. The life of faith is a life in motion toward the aims of God's kingdom, but it is not an easy journey. During the season of Lent we walk alongside some fellow travelers—those who have walked the road before us, and for whom the road was not always easy—so that we can grow as we navigate our own journey.

Fellow Travelers (Part 2)

Genesis 32:22-30

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Jacob is on the road to reunite with his estranged brother, and along the way he encounters a mysterious obstacle: a man appears and wrestles with Jacob until dawn. This unexpected encounter leaves Jacob fundamentally changed—and blessed. Our journey changes us too, and not always in ways that we welcome, but God's blessing often lurks in the obstacles we meet.

Bryant Anderson preaching.

Referenced in this sermon:

• Frederick Buechner, "The Magnificent Defeat" (published in Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons, 2006)

Current Series: Fellow Travelers

Many important things happen in the Bible on journeys—on the road to somewhere. The life of faith is a life in motion toward the aims of God's kingdom, but it is not an easy journey. During the season of Lent we walk alongside some fellow travelers—those who have walked the road before us, and for whom the road was not always easy—so that we can grow as we navigate our own journey.

Fellow Travelers (Part 1)

1 Kings 19:1-13

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Elijah is a prophet on the run, exhausted and lost, yet met by God's quiet presence. Elijah's story invites us to pause, reflect, and seek spiritual direction in the midst of life's distractions. With perseverance, faith, and the power of silence, we are called to embrace the journey itself, discovering meaning not just in the destination, but in every step along the way.

Bill Wildey preaching.

Current Series: Fellow Travelers

Many important things happen in the Bible on journeys—on the road to somewhere. The life of faith is a life in motion toward the aims of God's kingdom, but it is not an easy journey. During the season of Lent we walk alongside some fellow travelers—those who have walked the road before us, and for whom the road was not always easy—so that we can grow as we navigate our own journey.

The God of Old (Part 7)

Isaiah 55:10-11 & Luke 9:28-36

Sunday, March 2, 2025

One of the most apparent and consistent attributes of God throughout the Old Testament is that God is very clearly a God who speaks: God speaks directly, God speaks through messengers, and God speaks through the prophets. But as true as that may have been once upon a time, it's hard not to feel that God has fallen silent. Where is God's voice today? Where are the messengers and the prophets? If God is in fact a God who speaks, why does it feel so hard to hear God's voice?

Bryant Anderson preaching.

Referenced in this sermon:

• Craig Keen, After Crucifixion (2013)

Current Series: The God of Old

As Christians we believe that the best way to understand the nature of God is to look at Jesus. But that doesn't mean that Jesus is the only way to know God; we learn a lot about God's character and work through the many stories and writings of the Old Testament. This series looks at some of the key attributes that we discover about God long before God is revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 & 2 Kings 6:10-23

Sunday, February 23, 2025

This message explores the power of seeing through God's perspective. Using the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6, Dr. Kennedy unpacks how we can acknowledge life’s challenges, recognize God’s presence in the midst of them, and respond with faith and action. With powerful stories from the Middle East, this message will inspire you to embrace hope, courage, and transformation in your own journey.

Visiting theologian Dr. Darren Kennedy preaching.

About Darren Kennedy

Rev. Dr. Darren Kennedy is a professor of theology and the academic dean at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC). He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister of Word and Sacrament and has been serving as a PCUSA co-worker in Egypt since 1999. Darren studied the politics and economics of the Middle East as an undergraduate at Princeton University. He earned his M.Div. at Princeton Theological Seminary and later his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. He is married to Dr. Rev. Elisabeth Kennedy and both of their boys were born in Cairo (Calvin in 2000 and Sammy in 2003).

The God of Old (Part 6)

Joshua 6:1-5, 15-21

Sunday, February 16, 2025

The Old Testament presents us with images of God that are lovely and loving, and which conform to modern sensibilities quite naturally. But there are other images of God that we find in scripture that challenge our sensibilities and even outright contradict our deep convictions about who God is and how God works. Chief among these more troubling presentations is God's apparent use of violence. Is this who God is? If it isn't, then do we throw these stories out altogether? These are some of the difficult questions that we must ask if we are going to read scripture honestly and grow in our understanding of the God we find there.

Bryant Anderson preaching.

Referenced in this sermon:

• Philip Jenkins, Laying Down the Sword: Why We Can't Ignore the Bible's Violent Verses

Current Series: The God of Old

As Christians we believe that the best way to understand the nature of God is to look at Jesus. But that doesn't mean that Jesus is the only way to know God; we learn a lot about God's character and work through the many stories and writings of the Old Testament. This series looks at some of the key attributes that we discover about God long before God is revealed to us in Jesus Christ.