thinking out loud

In this message, Katherine Sikma Wadsworth reflects on the story of Rebekah and Isaac in Genesis 24, framing God as the true "matchmaker" who guides Abraham's servant to Rebekah in the midst of a deeply patriarchal and broken system. She highlights Rebekah's extraordinary generosity, courage, and faith, drawing parallels to Abraham's own risky obedience while clearly naming the injustice and danger women faced then and still face today. The message concludes by affirming that God does not will our suffering, yet continually wrestles beauty and blessing out of brokenness—like a mosaic or kintsugi pottery—inviting listeners to trust God's redemptive work in their own vulnerable places.

In the fourth message of our "Blessed and Broken: God's Promise Through Imperfect People" series, Terry Timm explores the story of God testing Abraham in Genesis 22. He unpacks how this difficult and weighty text reveals God's provision, Abraham's radical trust, and the foreshadowing of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial Son. Terry invites us to consider our own "Isaacs" and what it means to trust God with what we hold most dear, even when we cannot yet see God's provision.

In this message, Richie Reeder preaches from Genesis 21 on the story of Hagar and Ishmael, showing how God sees, hears, and provides for those who have been pushed to the margins. He explores themes of broken families, rejection, and being an outcast, connecting the biblical narrative to the painful but familiar experiences many carry today. Richie concludes by emphasizing that even when others cast us out, God does not cast us aside, and he invites listeners to both recognize God's provision in their own deserts and pursue those who have been forgotten.

In this second message of our "Blessed and Broken" series, Terry Timm explores the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18, where God brings an impossible promise close to an aging, imperfect couple. He shows how their initial laughter of disbelief is transformed into joy as God proves that nothing is too wonderful or too broken for Him to redeem. Terry invites us to recognize God's presence in the ordinary places of our lives and to keep trusting God's promises, even when hope feels far away and painful.

This first message in the "Blessed & Broken" series explores the call of Abram and Sarai in Genesis 12, showing how God's promise moves through imperfect, unfinished people. It contrasts the human impulse to "make a name" for ourselves with Abram's shift to calling on the name of the Lord, highlighting faith as a step-by-step journey into the unknown. Terry's message  invites listeners to see themselves in Abram's story—blessed yet broken—and to come to the communion table as called, hungry people who are still learning to trust God.

In this message, Richie Reeder unpacks the Great Commission in Matthew 28, emphasizing that the mission of the church is to make disciples through everyday relationships rather than expert-level knowledge or formal programs. He highlights how discipleship invites us beyond our comfort zones, participates in God's transforming work, and is sustained by Christ's ongoing presence as we simply share what Jesus is doing in our own lives. Drawing on personal stories—from mentors like Pastor Terry to the legacy of his late father—Richie encourages listeners to see themselves not as heroes, but as faithful guides helping others take their next steps with Jesus.

In this Pentecost message, Terry Timm reflects on why the Holy Spirit's first gift to the church was language, exploring Acts 2 as God's radical move toward all peoples, cultures, and dialects with the "wonders of God." He contrasts Pentecost with the Tower of Babel and with modern tendencies to merge Christian faith with national or tribal identity, warning against any monochrome version of Christianity. How might the Spirit heal our speech, help us grow in hospitality across differences, and use our words to move toward others in love.

In this message, Katherine Sikma Wadsworth explores the holiness of the human body, challenging dualistic theology that elevates the soul while sidelining or shaming our physical selves. Moving through creation, incarnation, resurrection, and ascension, she shows how Scripture affirms that God meets us in and through our bodies, and that Jesus' ongoing embodied life is good news for our own flesh. She closes by offering a blessing over congregants' bodies, inviting them to receive their physical selves as sacred gifts and primary places of encounter with God.

This message by Terry Timm reflects on our deep human longing not to be abandoned, using the Still Face Experiment and the image of spiritual "orphanhood" to name our fears of being alone. Teaching from John 14, Terry shows how Jesus answers that fear by sending the Holy Spirit—the Paraclete, or "true friend"—who comes alongside us, lives in us, and unites us with God in love. Listeners are invited to notice where they live with an orphan spirit, receive the Spirit's presence, and embody that same coming-alongside love for others who feel isolated or afraid.

In this message, Terry Timm reflects on Jesus' words in John 14 to people with "troubled hearts," inviting listeners to move from mere belief to deep trust in Christ amid stress, grief, and uncertainty. He unpacks Jesus' promise of the Father's house and the many rooms as a picture of God's welcoming presence, made possible through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. 

This message from our series, "Five Ways of Being the People of God " was shared by Terry Timm at our June 11, 2023 gathering.

This message from our series, "Five Ways of Being the People of God " was shared by Katherine Sikma Wadsworth at our May 14, 2023 gathering.

This story was shared by Tadd Laughlin at the April 1, 2012 worship gathering of Christ Community Church of the South Hills.