God's Hope Does Not Disappoint

God's Hope Does Not Disappoint

In a culture increasingly shaped by cynicism, despair, and a sense that our institutions are beyond repair, Christian hope can seem naïve or even foolish. Drawing from Romans 5, this sermon explores Paul’s surprising claim that suffering can produce endurance, character, and ultimately hope. Far from being blind optimism, Christian hope is the trust that God is at work even in the midst of pain, injustice, and disappointment. Through the witness of Paul, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Gene Robinson, and others, we see that hope is not the denial of suffering but the conviction that God can bring life, renewal, and redemption from it. The resurrection of Jesus stands as God’s declaration that evil, suffering, and death do not have the final word. Hope does not disappoint—not because circumstances always improve, but because God’s promises endure.

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.