Sermons & Worship by Rev. Dr. Roberto Che Espinoza

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Scripture: Matthew 21:1–11

Scripture: James 3:13–18

Scripture: Romans 12:2 The Apostle Paul’s words call us out of what is and into what could be. Paul summons us to become a community that does not mirror the violence, domination, and injustice of the world, but dares to live a different way—the way of Jesus. This is the heartbeat of the Anabaptist tradition: a church not conformed to the world’s logic of power and coercion, but a people transformed by love, by mercy, and by courageous peace. This…

A Sermon on Unity, Wisdom, and the Hubris of Our Age Scripture: Proverbs 11:2; James 3:17; Luke 4:18-19 I have been meditating on Romans 12:2 for the past several days as I think about what I have prepared for today. Romans 12:2 says that we should not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The local church is a living organism that is called NOT to assimilate into Empire, or into…

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 (The Early Church) & Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission) The story we have before us today has been used in a way that has negatively impacted the Church. The Great Commission was taken literally and empires were created in the name of Christianity. Christianity has become a stumbling block in the West. The acceleration of White Christian Nationalism has now bubbled up in such a serious manner that we need to talk frankly about what it means…

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11; Luke 24:13-35 (The Road to Emmaus) I have been spending time with people and learning what they need in their spiritual life. I’ve talked with people inside the church and beyond the walls of the church. Everyone says something similar to me: they want connection and to know that a gathering is going to happen, again. I call this ritual.  This has got me thinking about the value of Sunday and why we come together as one…

Scripture: John 21:15-17 (NRSVUE) Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”  The conversation between Jesus and Peter isn’t just about love in the abstract; it’s about the vulnerable, ongoing process of becoming—of stepping into love when we feel uncertain, unworthy, or afraid.  1. Opening: The Tension of Becoming I want to begin with the tension Peter feels when Jesus asks, “Do you love me?”  When we read scripture, we do so with our bodies.  This moment with Peter is a…

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-13; Ephesians 4:26-27 This week, I’ve had countless conversations with people in the church and in the community who are terrified and angry. I find myself angry, too!  I am angry that the ruling class continues to compromise my and our futures. With a stroke of a pen, federal agencies were to pause payments that would impact my ability to receive healthcare or buy food. You see, Erin and I are one of those people who are “on…

Due to technical issues the video from today’s service is not available Scripture: Micah:6-8; Luke 4:16-18; Romans 12:21; Revelation 21:3-4 I have long been compelled by the magic of story, which is sometimes referred to as narrative thinking.  Not long before the pandemic started in 2019, I was asked to come speak at one of the Smithsonian museums located in Memphis, TN. It is one of the civil rights museums located at the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King, Jr.…