She Said What!?

How do we wake up the God within us? In today's episode of She Said What, Pastor Debbie Griffin explores the story of Jesus calming the storm. 

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is often told as a parable of judgement against the LGBTQ+ community. But a closer reading of the text reveals that it is more concerned with the denial of love than the sharing of it.  What’s the Sodom and Gomorrah story really about? 

From prison John the Baptist wonders about the identity of Jesus.  “Are you the one?”  When we look around our world and see the violence, injustice, poverty, and division, we too question.  “If Jesus was the Christ, why is the world such a mess?”  In this sermon, Pastor Debbie invites us to question our own identity, the identity of Jesus and the nature of God. Luke 7:18-35 Music by Mary Beth Mardis-Lecroy #faithfulquestioning #SheSaidWhat      

Why would Jesus help the oppressor? Must we be worthy in order to experience the grace of God? How is God calling you to be a liberator?  Pastor Debbie Griffin explores the stories of Jesus’ healing the Centurion’s slave and raising a widow woman’s son from death to life. Luke 7:1-17 #liberation # compassion #SheSaidWhat

What did Jesus mean when he said “Do not judge?” Aren’t we called to judge somethings as unjust or even evil? Pastor Debbie invites us to look closely at Jesus' teaching, and challenges us to think about what it means to follow Jesus.  Luke 6: 36-49 Music interlude by Dang Felton.

Jesus’ teaching to love the enemy and turn the other cheek have historically been misinterpreted and misused in ways that oppress and victimize. Pastor Debbie Griffin’s sermon and interpretation of Luke 6:27-36 empowers us to creatively resist bullying, physical abuse, oppression and systemic injustice. #Resist

The word “blessed” can conjure up a lot of spiritual baggage!  In this week’s podcast, Pastor Debbie Griffin interprets Jesus’ well known, but often misunderstood beatitudes. Was Jesus merely offering comfort to the afflicted, or is there something more subversive going on? Luke 6:17-26

What does it mean to be a progressive Christian, trying to follow Jesus way of justice in today’s divisive political and religious climate? In this sermon, Pastor Debbie wrestles with Jesus parable on new and old wine and confesses the times she’s been embarrassed to identify as a Christian.  Luke 5:27-39

Alleluia! Christ has risen! Raise your spirit, remember and embody the Good News! Are you finding life by remembering? True to his mission and ministry Jesus proclaimed before his death the Good News, God comes in Peace and Love.   Love is more powerful than hate, even from the cross. Life is more powerful than death. Forgive and remember, we will rise.      

What does a progressive Pastor believe about evil and temptation? Are you ever tempted to deny your identity?   In this episode of She Said What, Pastor Debbie Griffin enters the wilderness with Jesus to wrestle with these questions and more.  Luke 4: 1-13

Luke 3 vs 15-22  Many thought John the Baptist might be the Christ and waited expectantly. John, with many words, preaches the Good News.  What have you waited for? What have you prayed for to come? How do you embody the spirit of God and spread the Good News?

John the Baptist is known for his fiery preaching, and often his call to repentance is used to burden people with guilt. But what if repentance is precisely the opposite, a way to move from guilt into fullness of life? downtowndisciples.org @DTdisciplesDSM

Though it can be difficult, middle school is also a pivotal time of identity formation, curious inquiry, and deep pondering about who we are and where we belong in the world. In this brief story of Jesus' twelfth year, we are able to relate to His experience of that tricky time in a way that queers the idea of family and belonging. downtowndisciples.org @DTdisciplesDSM  

We tend to think of salvation as an individual, other-worldly endeavor. But what if it was communal? What if it was something that affected the life you have today? downtowndisciples.org

The Magi's visit to the Holy Family reminds us that change comes from the margins, that we all have gifts we bring to others, and that creation is worth responding to in wonder.   downtowndisciples.org @DTdisciplesDSM

Mary visited Elizabeth as a vulnerable young girl in a precarious position. What she brought to the encounter was the powerful presence of the spirit inside her, and what she found was deep affirmation and encouragement. downtowndisciples.org @DTdisciplesDSM

Thinking about the birth of Jesus as told by Luke as a parable gives a spectrum of subversive insights, such as the affirmation of women, queer families, and those on the economic margins.

A Group of starving, desperate people cry to their God for help. And that God provides them with all they need to sustain themselves.

Joseph the Dreamer rose to one of the most powerful positions in Egypt, but not until after being sold into slavery by his brothers, being sexually assaulted by his boss' wife, and serving time in prison. Part two of Joseph’s story is one of powerful and surprising.

Noah and the flood is a story of a culture wrestling to understnd why disaster happens and who God is in the middle of them. Pastor Debbie offers her insights into these questions.   downtowndisciples.org @dtdisciplesdsm