The Rev. Dr. Bill McNabb

Preaching during Pride Month, the preacher celebrates God's inclusive love

and focuses on what he calls "the greatest verse in the Bible": Romans 5:1,

which declares that believers are justified by faith and have peace with

God through Jesus Christ. He argues that after describing humanity's

brokenness, Paul delivers the astonishing good news that God has reconciled

humanity to himself.

Using the humorous story of Chippy the Parakeet, the sermon explores how

suffering can suddenly disrupt life. Paul does not teach that suffering is

enjoyable, but that God uses it to produce endurance, character, and hope.

The Greek word hypomonē—the ability to "hang in there"—becomes a central

theme. The sermon concludes by affirming that God's love remains present

even in hardship, summarized in Karl Barth's famous answer: "Jesus loves

me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."