Last week, Dr. Gloria and I discussed the teachings of Jesus Christ and how they have endured for more than 2,000 years. She made a lightbulb moment that stuck with me, which I plan to use in a sermon or Bible study: “That alone should instill faith.” (You would think the lightbulb should have been on already, lol!)
You know she’s right! The words and wisdom of Jesus have carried through wars, cultural shifts, and generations of change. They still call people to love, compassion, justice, and hope. That kind of lasting truth shows the living presence of Christ among us.
I love that the United Church of Christ gathers around that very same faith. We don’t rely on rigid rules or identical beliefs. We stay connected through our shared trust in Jesus, who is the head of our church: the very same Jesus, the One who teaches us to love God and our neighbors. In a world full of noise and distraction, His voice still speaks through Scripture, community, and acts of service.
We live in a time when many people post, protest, and speak out, but fewer put faith into practice. Some of us can remember marching for changes we want to see in the world. However, social media has made it easy to look active without doing much that matters. That’s performative activism! When we focus more on being seen than on serving others, who are we serving? Last week, the Rev. Dr. Toni our conference minster along with other UCC conference minsters in Washington DC. I wasn't performative, it was their faith in action.
Jesus never worked for attention. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and welcomed the outcast. He showed what genuine faith looks like in action. When we follow His example, we move past appearances and step into genuine service. In today’s divided world, steady and quiet faithfulness can speak louder than any post or slogan.
Jesus was more the kumbaya type, and clergy can use Jesus’ teachings to help congregations wrestle with real issues such as justice, mercy, forgiveness, and faith. Churches can live out those teachings by creating spaces of welcome and healing, where people practice love, forgiveness, and service every day.
Every sermon, Bible study, and outreach effort gives us a chance to show that faith still works. The teachings of Christ shape who we are, how we live, and how we love. When we live them out together, we keep the Gospel alive in the world.