Naming the Unknown God

Earlier this spring, I had the honor of preaching at my home church, First United Methodist Church in Pasadena. The sermon was entitled “Naming the Unknown God,” drawing on Acts 17:22-31 where Paul is speaking at the Areopagus in Athens. He was a Christian speaking in a land of diverse religious belief and practice, which is not unlike our context today.

I had recently returned from a trip to South Korea, where I learned about the expansion of the Methodist Church there amidst a religiously diverse culture. This inspired me to think more about the traditional concepts of mission and witness in the Christian (and specifically Methodist) context. This sermon is a product of those reflections. In part, I say:

The missions that we take on are part of the process by which God is transforming the world. We do not have to worry about completion; all we need to do is get started … Transformation is a long-term project.

You can read my outline and view a video podcast at the church’s Web site. I welcome any comments you may want to share.

Incidentally, another member of the church—Rev. Kirsten Oh—preached on Sunday, and I assume her sermon will be posted online in coming weeks. Rev. Oh is joining Claremont’s administration on July 1 as Associate Dean of Student Life, so I encourage you to keep an eye and ear out for her sermon.