I prepared this sermon for my first time preaching at C.U.B. Church Under the Bridge in Waco, Texas, on Superbowl Sunday, 9 February 2025. It ended up being the longest sermon I’ve ever preached so far! I was gauging this very diverse crowd as I went and they were following me so I kept going and shared what I prepared. (Diverse at C.U.B. means different things like: age, race, socio-economic class, ability… just to name the obvious differences AND YET we were there all together, sitting (or standing) under Interstate 35 for church service as one beautiful body.) This message was a collection of stories about different people and situations to illustrate how all of us are invited to, “Be Yourself“, “Use What You Have” and “Be Ready To Shift because God’s Going to Grow You.” At the end I read a poem* written by Michel Quoist called, “Help Me To Say Yes.” That prayer and his book can be found here. *Note: I added ‘daughter’ after reading ‘son’ to signify that all were included in this reading and prayer.
I was able to stay after church and connect with several different people who resonated with something that I shared. I love hearing what stands out to others from my preaching and through that, I am again and again reminded of how God works in and through us for the Lord’s purposes of which I know only a part (and not the whole)! The Lord is working in each of us in different ways.
As usual, scroll to the end of this blog to watch my after-sermon ‘preaching tips’ video recorded immediately after I got back home. I openly share my biases and assumptions and how I initially struggled to be me and use what I had. (Was I preaching to my own self???) (Watch the preaching tips video and you will see what I am referring to.) And then, BONUS, revisit my social media posts about my January 2024 Christian Community Development class experience for students at Truett & SMU Perkins. This is really when I got to see Professor Jimmy Dorrell’s experiential teaching style and scope of ministry through the nonprofit he and his wife founded called, Mission Waco.
I am always hopeful that these offerings would bless and encourage you in your own journey with God and in your ministry of service to others. Let me know how this format is helpful or what could be improved. Thanks!
Joshua 2 (NIV) (story of Rahab)
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
John 8:1-11 (NIV)
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Sermon Summary
Pastor Rev. Dr. Jimmy Dorrell of Church Under the Bridge, Waco, lives out his Christian faith and the Christian Community Development (CCDA) principles. He has written several books from his experiences up close with poverty and the church here. You can learn more about him here and here or just look up his name! It was a great honor to be invited to preach at C.U.B.
Preaching Tips Background Video
I’m still wanting to talk to those more knowledgeable and experienced than me about the biases and assumptions I realized I was making and responding to when I first arrived. I second guessed what I had prepared because of my assumptions. I recognized this and I want to address it in order to be more mature in this area. If you have ideas about what I can read or watch that might be helpful, do share them with me. Thank you.
2024 Christian Community Development class with Professor Jimmy Dorrell with seminary students from Truett & SMU Perkins
You can find the rest of my sermons here! https://sejanashines.com/preaching/
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