Alison Gerber delivered this sermon to those gathered for Truett Chapel on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Titled “Martha the Minister,” it is among the best three sermons I have heard this year, if not the best. Molly, seated next to me that day, declared this “a Word from God.” I wholeheartedly agree.
For those with ears to hear, listen.
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13
Alpha and Omega, Gentle Lion and Conquering Lamb,
Forgiver of our debts and Defeater of the evil powers in all times and all places:
We worship you and give you thanks, for yours is all blessing and honor and glory and might.
You are the strong God who became weak, so that we, who are weak, in placing our trust in you, might be made strong. In Jesus, we have cruciform victory.
Let us walk today in full freedom.
Freedom from sin and the powers that seek to enslave us.
Freedom to do your will.
Freedom to tell the truth.
Freedom to do what is just and right.
Freedom to boldly share the gospel.
Freedom to walk with you, as your beloved children.
We are free, because of the cross of Jesus.
Send us forth from this place filled with the Holy Spirit, rejoicing gladly.
Let us not be discouraged when we suffer, when we endure hardship, when we feel broken and defeated, for the victory is yours, and you have secured for us an inheritance that will never pass away, a place in your kingdom, and forever friendship with you.
You walk with us as we trod the path appointed for us.
We love you.
Increase our love for you. May this love abound.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
This prayer was offered in Truett Chapel on November 30, 2023.
This invocation was offered in Truett’s chapel service on April 26, 2022.
Lord of all creation,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:We enter your presence with gladness,
For all you have made is good.As we come before you to worship, as we enter into your courts, as we lift our voices in song, as we open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to you,
Grant us your grace, your strength, your wisdom, your guidance, and your power.We confess you as our Creator.
We confess you as our Redeemer.
We confess you as the one who sanctifies us, sustains us, preserves us, and as the one who alone brings ultimate peace, justice, restoration, and renewal.In a word: Salvation.
If we turn toward you, if we behold you as you truly are, we are compelled to lay our hearts low, to fall upon our faces and to admit we are unworthy, that we do not honor you as we ought, that we fail you, we sin. We serve other gods. We do not love our neighbor as ourselves. We do not keep your commands.
And yet, where we are faithless, you, O God, are faithful.
And by your great, unending, and unceasing mercy, you have unleashed the power of new creation through the life, death, resurrection, and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You have undone death.
You have cast down the devil.
You have disarmed the powers, principalities, and authorities.
You have renewed your covenant.
You have extended your salvation to those who were once far off.
You have taken our hearts of stone, and given us hearts of flesh.
You have mended bone and sinew, muscle and flesh, and you have moved us from death–death in our transgressions and sins–to life–life in and through Christ, and through the Holy Spirit, who indwells us and who has sealed us for the day of your redemption.
Your work of new creation is evidenced here. All we need to do is look around and witness those you have gathered as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
You have anointed, appointed, called, and equipped us for your kingdom work. You have gathered us to worship.
We trust you are sanctifying us, even making us perfect and complete in your love.
We know one day you will glorify us, and welcome us to your banquet table in the City of God, the New Jerusalem, the new heaven and the new earth.
We wait for that day. We hope in it.
Give us patience, Lord.
Grant us diligence, as workers in your field.
And as we wait, and as we work, remake us in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.
May we adore him, and worship him, this hour, and discover our hearts being made new.
We pray these things in Jesus’ name, the worthy one, the honored one.
Amen.
I had the honor and privilege of preaching at Truett Chapel yesterday. The message is entitled, “The Friends.” The readings are from Exodus 33:7-11 and John 15:9-17. Thanks to my friends Adam Jones and Michael Liga for serving as readers.
