Douglass Blvd Christian Church

an open and affirming community of faith

n open and affirming community where faith is questioned and formed, as relationships are made and upheld. 

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Sermon Podcast: Crossing Borders

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Where is Legion today and what responsibility do we have when we hear Legion’s voice? Where are those who’ve been held in bondage by the powers and principalities, those who need to hear the voice of Jesus and to be set free from the chains that tie them to the tombstone society has made for them?

Because Legion still runs the graveyard wherever people’s race, or immigration status, or sexual orientation, or gender identity, or physical or mental capabilities prevent them from flourishing the way God intended.

Legion’s still in power wherever the poor are kept in their poverty by those who believe they have everything to gain and nothing to lose, wherever children are bullied, and the elderly are forgotten.

Legion still lives wherever people are made to believe that the way they have been created by God is not good enough—either for God or for us.

So, here’s what I think: I think that we who would be like Jesus, we need to take the risk and cross the borders to go looking for the people Jesus himself went out in search of, and to speak the words and do the work necessary to see them free.

We need to brave the wasteland and go into the graveyards that house so many, and find ways to break the chains that keep them in bondage.

We can’t afford to wait and let them come to us.


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Guest Preacher: Dr. Glenn Hinson

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You won't want to miss this!

Join us this Sunday as Dr. Glenn Hinson, retired professor of Church History brings reflections on his relationship with Thomas Merton in Sunday School (9:45). Afterward, he will be preaching on "Is Your God too Small?" (11:00).

Biographical Information

Glenn Hinson has come a long way from his roots in the Ozarks of Missouri. For most of his elementary education he attended a one-room country school with about a dozen fellow students. Things improved after high school, however, as he attended Washington University in St. Louis (B.A.), the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (B.D., Th.D.), and Oxford University (D.Phil.).

His life course has confirmed Douglas Steere’s observation that “Life’s interruptions often turn out to be God’s opportunities.” Intending to study law, he found himself sidetracked and rerouted toward Christian ministry during his third year of college. Expecting either to serve as a pastor or a missionary, he spent most of his life training ministers. After teaching Church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, for thirty years, he took part in the development of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (1992-1999). Choosing to retire from his position as Professor of Spirituality and John Loftis Professor of Church History in 1999, he subsequently taught at Candler School of Theology, Emory University; Louisville Presbyterian Seminary; Lexington Theological Seminary; and the newly founded Baptist Seminary of Kentucky.

Glenn is married to Martha Burks. They have two children—Christopher and Elizabeth—both of whom received Ph.D.s in 2002.

With work as his “play,” Glenn is the author or editor of 29 books and more than a thousand articles and book reviews. His most recent books are The Early Church (Abingdon), Love at the Heart of Things: A Biography of Douglas V. Steere (Pendle Hill/ The Upper Room), Spiritual Preparation for Christian Leadership (The Upper Room). and A Miracle of Grace (Mercer), his autobiography. He served for many years as Editor of Review & Expositor. He has served on the Board of Weavings from its beginning and is a frequent contributor to it.

Glenn was a member of the Faith and Order Commissions of both the National and World Council of Churches. He took part in numerous dialogues, including the international dialogue between Baptists and Roman Catholics. He was a member of the Ecumenical Institute of Spirituality founded by Douglas Steere and Godfrey Dieckmann.

He has served as a faculty member for the Academy for Spiritual Formation since its founding in 1983.

Sermon Podcast: What Does This Mean?

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"Because if we could ever learn the lessons of Pentecost about healing divisions, maybe the rest of the world might finally be interested in listening to what we have to say. If we were ever to embody the life of Jesus—who in his death showed that he was more concerned about drawing all people unto himself than about being right—I think we might be surprised to find a world much more ready to hear what we have to say.

"I say we give it a shot.

"I don’t know. What do you think?"


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Sermon Podcast: The Second to Last Word

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What if we were known as the folks who, when the rest of the world turns its back, are the ones who say, “Come on in. There’s room in here for you?”

You thirsty? Come on in.

You been stepped on? Sit down right here?

You hungry to be loved for the person God created you to be? We’ve got a table right here with room enough for everyone … for anyone. Come on in!

Wouldn’t that be something? If people knew us as the place where everyoneanyone is welcome?


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Sermon Podcast: Just Trying to Hear

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So how can we hear what he has to say? How can those who earnestly seek to be his sheep know what his voice sounds like?

You want to hear Jesus? His voice sounds like a hungry child being fed.

You want to hear Jesus? His voice sounds like an undocumented worker being treated like a human being—with kindness and dignity.

You want to hear Jesus? His voice sounds like the hand of an old woman being held as she struggles to take her final breaths.

You want to hear Jesus? His voice sounds like a gay teenager being treated like a normal kid in a world intent on treating him like he’s got something wrong with him.

You want to hear Jesus? His voice sounds like a poor mother finding medicine for her sick children.

You want to hear Jesus? His voice sounds like an eight year-old boy holding a sign that says, “No more hurting people. Peace.”


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