Category Archives: sermon

“Jesus Christ for President,” a sermon for Reign of Christ Sunday, First Christian Church of Concord, 11/26/17

I have been in the justice movement for a long time. I do work on the hard edges. And yet until last year I never thought I would have to preach about fascism. I am glad Woody Guthrie gave me some insight into the subject.  The scripture for today was Matthew 25:31-46. 31“When the SonContinue reading ““Jesus Christ for President,” a sermon for Reign of Christ Sunday, First Christian Church of Concord, 11/26/17″

“Give Me Oil in my lamp,” a sermon at Broadmoore Presbyterian Church, 11/19/2017

This message was based on the gospel passage about the 10 bridesmaids, 5 of whose oil lamps burn out and they miss out on the big party. I hope that if you’re worried about getting all the details right in order to do good, this message will be an encouragement to you. Plus, I sing.Continue reading ““Give Me Oil in my lamp,” a sermon at Broadmoore Presbyterian Church, 11/19/2017″

“Fear and Bad Behavior” A sermon at Lafayette Christian Church 10/1/17

My sermons keep getting shorter. This sermon includes the scripture reading and intro. The passage is about Moses getting water from the rock when his people are thirsty, but also about how our fear causes us to do harm when it remains unchecked.

“The Back-to-Egypt Committee,” a sermon at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 24 September 2017

This sermon was based on the lectionary passage Exodus 16:2-15, where the Israelites who have just been led out of enslavement in Egypt complain that Moses has brought them there to die and how good they had it back in Egypt where there was really good stew and housing. My pastor used to call theseContinue reading ““The Back-to-Egypt Committee,” a sermon at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 24 September 2017″

“Call In the Midwife” — a sermon on the baby Moses

This sermon, preached at United Christian Church of Lodi, CA, is based on the passage in the book of Exodus about the midwives saving baby Moses’s life. Before I began to preach, I let the congregation know that the sermon had been shaped by our President having just pardoned a genocidal man who bragged aboutContinue reading ““Call In the Midwife” — a sermon on the baby Moses”

“Mothers of Islam” — a sermon preached at First Christian Church of Concord, CA

Sermon can be found HERE. A description from the church’s website: “One of our favorite guest preachers, Rev. Sandhya Jha, preaches on the story of Hagar and weaves it in with the story of Khadijah, the prophet Muhammad’s first wife.  She invites us to stand with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters, living inContinue reading ““Mothers of Islam” — a sermon preached at First Christian Church of Concord, CA”

sermon to youth and young adults in the Pacific Southwest Region during their winter retreat

I actually shared some personal and vulnerable stuff in this message because I’m trying to figure out how to model that for others at a time when our national leadership is attacking the spiritual practice of vulnerability as what connects us to God.

“An Obnoxious Peace”

Preached April 26, 2015 at Rockefeller Chapel, Chicago IL, dedicated to the people of Baltimore. In the days following the Michael Brown verdict, that cold Thanksgiving week, there emerged a debate among my friends regarding the uprisings happening in my hometown and around the country. I called it the debate of the Kings. That is,Continue reading ““An Obnoxious Peace””