I spoke on Race Matters with Grace Community Church San Francisco (online). I’m including the two sermons below plus another for the Fourth of July, “Freedom!”

Race Matters

Do we have a race problem in the USA? In San Francisco?

It depends on whom you ask.

Some say No. We are a nation of immigrants and we all have equal opportunity. No matter your country of origin, no matter your race, you have a vote, you have the opportunity to better yourself and support yourself. The slaves have been emancipated, every adult has the right to vote, we have affirmative action and education.

Others say, Yes. Your skin color has a lot to do with how you’re able to make it in our society. Your accent, your country of origin, your birthplace – it all matters. Your race may be an anchor that holds you back…

Race Matters II

¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace…

Ephesians 2:8-22

Imagine the time in which the Apostle Paul is writing to the new believers, the followers of Jesus Christ in the town of Ephesus. Some are Jewish and some are Gentiles.

Each has a history! They are well aware of their history of enmity with each other. You have the oppressed and you have their oppressors in the same room, trying to pray together, learn together and worship together. How would that work?

Ephesians 2 – God provided reconciliation – not just with God – but with humanity.

It’s not just about reconciling Jewish people to God.
It’s not just about reconciling Gentile people to God.
But, reconciling people – divided by race, language, religion, history of enmity and massacres… it’s about reconciling these people to one another…

Freedom! – July 5, 2020

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…
…You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5:1-15

Check out my Sermons Playlist on Youtube