Is God Real? Finding Truth Beyond Sunday

Is God Real? Finding Truth Beyond Sunday

This sermon was delivered June 9 in Charlottesville, VA as part of the Iowa Preachers Project preaching slam. After spending a year listening to people in pews, hospital rooms, and everyday conversations, I’ve become convinced that many people are asking two basic questions: Is God real? And if God is real, does any of this actually matter? Drawing on Andrew Root, Ryan Burge, and Paul’s words to the Corinthians, this reflection suggests that the church’s challenge is not merely convincing people that Christianity is true, but showing that it offers real life in a world shaped by loneliness, anxiety, consumerism, and the endless pursuit of “more.” The gospel is not simply about life after death—it is about life before death. And in a culture convinced that fulfillment comes through status, success, and acquisition, the good news of Jesus remains a surprising and much-needed alternative.

What If Evangelism Isn’t What We Think?

What if evangelism is not about pressure, persuasion, or fixing people—but helping them behold God’s presence? Reflecting on Matthew’s Great Commission, Andrew Root’s theology of consolation, and stories from hospital chaplaincy and everyday life, this sermon argues that true evangelism is accompanying people in sorrow and suffering as a visible reminder that they are not alone. God is already at work. Our task is not to force outcomes or manufacture faith, but to enter the pain of another with trust, compassion, and courage, helping them see: God is with you—even to the very end.

When Sacrifice Costs More than Gummy Bears

In this short Ash Wednesday sermon, recorded as part of the Iowa Preacher’s Project, Loren reflects on an unsettling moment, the social location of Jesus, and Isaiah 58’s challenge to rethink what faithful fasting actually costs us. A meditation on Lent, desire, and what it means to be taken by God’s story rather than shaping one of our own.

Faith Beyond Feelings: How Our Bodies Can carry our Faith

In a sermon originally preached at Broomfield United Methodist Church, Loren explores how physical faith practices—like kneeling, standing, praying, and singing—can sustain us when we don’t feel our faith. Drawing from personal stories and scripture, he challenges the idea that faith is just about thoughts and emotions, and reminds us that our bodies can carry belief even when our hearts feel distant.

Finding Hope in Uncertainty: Trusting God in an Anxious World

In this message, originally delivered at Northglenn United Church of Christ, Loren explores how apocalyptic fears have shaped human history, from failed predictions like "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988" to contemporary concerns about climate change, political division, and global conflict. Drawing from Mark 13, Loren reflects on how moments of uncertainty and anxiety often feel like the end of the world, emphasizing the biblical perspective that God, not humans, directs history and brings ultimate salvation. Loren encourages listeners to place their trust in God by engaging in prayer, reading Scripture, and showing love to others, even in times of fear or disillusionment. Highlighting passages such as Psalms 46 and 91, 1 Samuel 2, and Hebrews 10, he reminds us of God’s faithfulness and redemptive work throughout history. The message challenges Christians to resist despair, which denies God’s ongoing presence, and instead choose hope—living in trust that God continues to work in the world. Loren invites us to participate in this redemptive work through acts of faith, love, and kindness, even toward those who see the world differently, and to find peace by focusing on what we can control while trusting in God’s promises.