Preaching in the Crimson Kingdom

What is it we are really hoping for in Advent? Are we willing to look at the darkness of the world so that we really understand what the light of Christmas means? Or do we simply want to drown out the troubles of our lives and of the world with bright lights and forced holiday cheer? Or, can we acknowledge both: that celebrating in the midst of a dark world is a form of resistance - an experience of God's kingdom, while still paying attention to the world that needs Emmanuel to come and be with us again.

"Crowned in Glory" - Luke 23:33-43. Jesus is dying between two criminals. Both of them use these last moments of their lives to speak to him. But there is a world of difference between what they ask of Jesus. We can see in their words a model of our own faith. So, which kind of thief will you be?

Jahman Hill - a nationally known slam poet, and friend of FCC, comes back to Tuscaloosa to share his poetry with us and the experiences that lay behind his work. Jahman speaks about being enough and knowing we are new creations in Christ, even in the dark times of life

"Laughing at God's Promises," Sermon from Sunday, September 15, 2019. Tim Trussell-Smith: Senior Minister. Why do we do often see Sarah as lacking in faith? How would we respond to such an impassible promise? Don't God's promises often seem unbelievable?

Sermon for August 25, 2019: Rev. Tim Trussell-Smith, Senior Minister. "God is Love:" I believe this is the entirety of the Christian faith expressed in three words. But love isn't just a feeling. It isn't romance it sentimentality. Love is powerful and even hard to accept at times. Love overwhelms the barriers that we all have in life. It calls us to be more than we think we can be. It exposes our sin and cleanses us. Love is an actual. It is only real when something happens.

Sermon for Aug 4, 2019. Rev. Tim Trussell-Smith; Senior Minister. The author who has traditionally been known as John is writing on behalf of a group of church leaders to encourage the churches they are connected to to maintain faith in a savior who was truly divine but also truly human in the face of the development of Gnosticism. Gnosticism (the word means "of knowledge") isn't all bad, some of the Gnostic writings are very intriguing and even spiritually enlightening, but it has some major pitfalls as a philosophy. Why does it matter that our material reality isn't lesser than our spiritual reality - but one and the same? How are we the light of God in the world?

Sermon for July 28, 2019. Rev. Tim Trussell-Smith; Senior Minister. Paul writes a letter to his friend Philemon and sends it via Philemon's slave, Onesimis. But in the letter, Paul advises Philemon to treat Onesimis not as a slave but as a brother because their identity in Christ supercedes all else. Can our identity in Christ overcome the false narratives about our fellow children of God?

Sermon for July 21, 2019. Cole Woods; UA Student, church member and leader of the Disciples student ministry. Cole tells the story of one life that - like all lives - has the potential to be a masterpiece by living in the light of God.

Sermon for July 14, 2019. Rev. Rob Davis; Firehouse Shelter homeless ministry and member of FCC. Rob follows preaching luminary Fred Craddock's advice to preach a yearly sermon on the preacher's own faith. Rob uses a series of striking stories to illustrate his understanding.

Jonah proves that he's still a jerk after all. He rates at God for sharing the city after it repents. God tries to teach Jonah a lesson. God's mercy is big enough for a city of over 100,000 people. But it's even big enough for a solitary, heartless, grump who cares more about his own shade-plant than he does for the people of Nineveh.

Sermon for June 30, 2019. Rev. Tim Trussell-Smith; Senior Minister. After Jonah is vomited up onto the shore, he finally gets down to business - but he's still less than enthusiastic. Being covered in fish vomit might dampen anyone's spirit! Jonah preaches a very short sermon (cough, cough...unlike this one). How has our nation responded to our national sins over our history? Has our initial fight for freedom blossomed into a nation that repents and seeks justice?

Jonah, at his lowest point (literally), is rescued from death by a Great Fish. For Jesus and then the early Christians "the sign of Jonah" became an important metaphor for Jesus' Resurrection and the hope of eternal life.

Sermon from June 16, 2019. Rev. Tim Trussell-Smith: Senior Minister. First of a four-part series on the unique, quirky, and frankly hilarious Book of Jonah.