Jim Somerville: "On this Mother’s Day I’m reminded of a story I heard about a hospital chaplain who used to visit with patients in their rooms, and often, because she was a chaplain, the conversation turned to God. In one of those visits she referred to God as 'Father,' and the woman she was talking to shuddered and said, 'I can’t think of God that way...'"

Dr. Jim Somerville's "Talkback" from Sunday, May 7, 2017. In this visit with the Ed Hodges and Adams Fellowship classes, questions include, "What is the purpose of life?" and "Where should churches place their focus?" (Also included is an aside on tripartite theology.)

Jim Somerville: "We try to make it on our own, try to get along without troubling anybody, without asking anybody for help. And we do -- most of the time. We survive. But survival is not the same thing as abundant life..."

Dr. Jim Somerville's "Talkback" from Sunday, April 30, 2017. In this visit with the Bethany class, questions include: "When are we resurrected?" "Where is heaven?" "Can our deceased relatives reveal themselves to us?" and "Will we be with our family in heaven?"

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon to the children from Sunday, April 30, 2017.

Jim Somerville: "If you've ever looked at caterpillars and butterflies side by side, you know they don't look the same. Suppose that resurrection involves a similar metamorphosis. Suppose that you, when you are raised from the dead, aren’t exactly the same person anymore. You might have the same personality, the same memories, but your old body might be replaced by a new one, as different as a butterfly's body is from a caterpillar's..."

The third in Dr. Jim Somerville's Easter sermon series, "Vital Signs".

Brett Holmes: "On Easter, everyone went to church to celebrate. The service was always bright and joyful, and even as a kid I could tell there was a difference in excitement for actually being at church. The pews were full. But once Easter day had come and gone, we moved on to whatever came next..."

A sermon from Pastoral Resident Brett Holmes, and the second in the Easter sermon series, "Vital Signs".

Dr. Jim Somerville's "Talkback" from Sunday, April 23, 2017. In this visit with the Round Table class, questions include, "When a person dies, does his soul go immediately to heaven?" "Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden?" and "Who created God?"

Dr. Jim Somerville's "Talkback" from Sunday, April 16, 2017. In this visit with the New Beginnings class, topics include the PBS special on Jesus, contradictions in the Bible, and reflections on being the pastor of Richmond's First Baptist Church for nearly nine years.

Jim Somerville: "In my work I sometimes talk with people who are unhappy.  They've tried to make a life for themselves and fill it with every good thing they can think of, but it still hasn't worked. They still aren't happy. They come to me thinking I might have some clue about what's missing..."

Dr. Jim Somerville's sermon from Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017.