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Your Congregation |Clergy & Lay Leaders |Sermons
Sermons
Sermon Ideas for the Sunday after
Earth Day
Biblical texts and Creation
Sample Sermons
Useful Links
Sermon Ideas for the Sunday
after Earth Day
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"Sermon Starters" from the National Council of Churches' Earth Day Sunday 2003 resource packet, "Waters of Life: Enough for All."
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Lectionary texts for Sunday, April 27, 2003:
Acts 4:32-35 -- A glimpse of the ideal Christian community in which equitable sharing and justice abound.
Psalm 133 -- Praise for God who helps the poor and needy.
1 John 5:1-6 -- Love for God displayed through our concrete actions.
John 20:19-31 -- After his resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples. -
The setting/orientation for April 27: This is the second Sunday of the Easter season in the Christian calendar and churches continue to celebrate the resurrection that has "made all things new." In the Northern Hemisphere, Easter Day comes every year on the Sunday following spring's first full moon. This is the season in which churches and the natural world celebrate rebirth and new life.
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Possible creation-honoring themes:
- Resurrection and "springtime" for all creation (also see Colossians 1:15-20).
- God as immanent: seen through the "touchable," risen Christ; God as immanent: seen through throughout creation (using John 20:19-31, also see Romans 1:20).
- Economic equity in the early Christian community (using Acts 4:32-35) as a foundation for economic justice today (e.g., global debt relief, supporting fair trade goods, etc.).
- The sacraments of baptism and Eucharist (based on the earthy activities of washing and eating) as a foundation for Christian community (using 1 John 5:1-6). Explore the literal and symbolic meaning of these activities. -
Sample sermon centering on Gospel reading (John 20:19-31).
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Sample of Biblical Voices on Creation -- This link takes you to a list of creation-related passages from the Hebrew Bible (or "Old Testament") and the New Testament.
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Three articles that look at the connection between creation awareness/care and the Bible:
- "Why Should Christians Care about the Earth?" -- A brief overview article by the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.
- "Jews, Jewish Texts, and Nature: A Brief History" -- An article by Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz (with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life) that explores Hebrew Scripture and tradition.
- "Three Biblical Principles for Environmental Stewardship" -- An article by theologian, Dr. Calvin B. DeWitt that weaves Scripture into a Christian, ecological ethic.
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Preaching Creation Throughout the Church Year, by Jennifer M. Phillips (Boston: Cowley Publications [2000]), provides creation-honoring reflections that coincide with the three-year lectionary cycle.
Sample Sermons
The following sermons come from Earth Ministry staff and colleagues.
Each listing below contains a link to the actual sermon, a list of texts
used in the sermon, and a brief description of the sermon.
An Earth Day
Sermon, by Steven
Whitney
Texts: Genesis 2:15, 9:8-11 and Job 12:10, 38:1-7
Looks at creation "as a manifestation of God in our
midst." This sermon serves as an example of one person's
look at the role of humanity within this broader creation.
"Christ in All
Things," by Rev. Nancy G. Wright
Text: Colossians 1:15-20
Explores the belief that God, in Christ, is holding the world
together. This belief teaches us several things about how we are to
live in relationship with God and with the rest of creation.
The
Comforting Whirlwind, by Bill McKibben
Text: Job 38-39
A powerful sermon that looks at the grandeur of creation, humanity's
rightful place within it, and currently how we are going beyond this place and beyond the
capacity of Earth to support us. It places particular emphasis on the
crisis of global warming.
"Compelling
Choices," by Joseph C. Hough
Texts: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Luke 4:16-21
In the face of immense ecological destruction and human poverty, Hough urges
listeners to "choose life" for the entire planet.
The Family of All
Creation, by Tanya Marcovna Barnett
Texts: Psalm 148, Colossians 1:17, and Romans 1:20
This contemporary reflection on Psalm 148, in which the entire creation
sings praise to God. In keeping with the image of a
creation-encompassing "choir," it looks at our role in this choir
and asks that (in the words of St. Basil the Great), "may
we realize that all creatures live not for us alone but for themselves and
for Thee, and that they love the sweetness of life.”
"In Love with
All Creation," by Rev. Rodney Romeny
Texts: Genesis 1:24-31, Deuteronomy 33:13-16, John 3:16; and Revelation
21:1-5, 22:1-5
A personal reflection for "Earth Sunday" 1995, which also happened
to be Mothers' Day. This sermon serves as a good introduction to
addressing the question "why should people of faith care about
creation?"
"A Matter of
Hope," by Rev. Peter S. Sawtell
Texts: Jeremiah 17:12-18 and 1 Peter 1:13-21
Looks at the act of "placing our hope in God."
With this act comes commitments to biblical and historic notions of justice and
peace, to appropriate power and humility, and to compassion and community -- one
that encompasses all of creation.
Nature as "The New Poor," by Rev.
Paul A. Magnano
Focusing on John the Baptist and on baptism, this sermon broadens the
concept of love thy neighbor to include love of all creation
The
Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota -- Hosts a pages devoted to environmental
and earth-centered reflections, sermons, and commentaries on the lectionary
readings. These readings are filed by liturgical year (A, B, or
C).
Eco-Justice
Ministries -- Explores "Three Layers of Environmental
Preaching."
Web
of Creation -- Their "Eco-Exegesis" page helps one read Scripture
with an "Eco-Justice Lens."
The Earth
Bible Project -- A project that helps one to "read the Bible from
the perspective of the Earth."
Creation Care for Pastors:
Evangelicals & Scientists United to Protect
Creation --
This site is to serve pastors who are interested in "Creation Care":
applying biblical principles of stewardship to the environment we share with
all living things.