Dr. Jim Rigby's Sermons:
Lessons in Living

Join us Sundays at 8:30 or 10:45 for worship and at 9:30 for
Jim's Sunday school lesson on the same topic.


A New Series Begins Feb. 7

The Disciples' Prayer


Previous Sermons and Sermon Series

Humor in the Bible

January 3: Part 1: "Balaam's Ass"

This sermon is based on the story of Balaam and his donkey, found in Numbers 22:21-35.

January 10: Part 2: "Baldy and the Bears"

This story, involving the prophet Elisha, is found in II Kings 2:23-25.

January 17: Part 3: "The Incompetent Exorcists"

Acts 19:13-16 is where you can find this teaching story about some exorcists who got in over their heads.

January 24: Part 4: "When Pigs Fly"

A herd of pigs runs into the lake in this story. But who are the pigs, really? Matthew 8:28-34

January 31: Part 5: "The Algebra of Bigotry"

Paul attempts to jolt Titus from his prejudice. Titus 7:1-16


Advent/Christmas Series

November 29 (first Sunday in Advent): "Giving Birth to Hope, Part 1"

December 6: "Giving Birth to Hope, Part 2: Mary"

December 13: "Giving Birth to Hope, Part 3: Waiting"

December 20: "Giving Birth to Hope, Part 4: The Importance of Song"

December 27: "Giving Birth to Hope, Part 5: Hope Speaks"


Thanksgiving 2009

The Challenges and Hope of a Realistic Look at Thanksgiving



Finding Your Path

Genesis 2: Eden Song

The book of Genesis is not history or science. It is sacred poetry. The images of the creation story are not meant to shame us, but ask how we have "fallen" out of nature and how we might find our way back in.

“On Love,” based on I Corinthians 13.


July’s Super Summer Extravaganza

While Jim was on writing leave, these speakers brought us great sermons from diverse standpoints:

The Gospel According to Monty Python

British comedy group Monty Python made some of the most insightful critiques of religion ever. There is nothing more respectful of the sacred mystery than a good laugh at human efforts to capture it in religious forms. This series of sermons will examine the jokes of Monty Python as a way of understanding the teachings of Jesus.

Each sermon is based on an inoffensive scene from either “Life of Brian” or “The Meaning of Life” and a related Scriptural passage in which Jesus makes the same critique of religion.

Warning! Watch the full movies only if you are not easily offended. And watch “The Meaning of Life” only if nothing offends you.

May 24: The Journey: Learning to Re-Image God

Our special guest was the Rev. Nan Jenkins, retired minister from First Presbyterian Church in Elgin. Drawing from Genesis 12:1–2 and 4–9, Ruth 1:7–22, and Luke 9:1–6, Rev. Jenkins shared the experiences of her journey of faith. (Podcast and transcript (in Word) available.)

Resurrection Stories, the Risen Christ, and Life

Each of the Gospels relates a story of an encounter with the risen Christ — resurrection stories, as they are called. In many of these stories, the encounter comes in the form of mistaken identity. The disciples come to recognize the risen Christ in a mysterious stranger. Eventually, at Pentecost, they come to experience that same spirit in one another.

In this series, Rev. Rigby explores the message of these particular resurrection stories:

Is Easter the story of a walking cadaver or an experience of the spirit of life itself? When the risen Christ calls us, are we being called to the Christian Church? Or to the one life of us all?

Palm Sunday

Apr. 5: “When You Don't Know What to Do” (Podcast and transcript (in Word) available.)

The Biblical Roots of Activism

In March, Dr. Jim Rigby reviewed the Scriptural call to Jubilee and its significance to the way we are called to live today:

Working with the Emotions

In February, Dr. Jim Rigby explored what Scripture has to say about our emotions and how we are called to work with them:

The Book of James

Saving Christmas

The task of theology is to build a bridge between the sacred as presented in our scriptural traditions and the world in which people actually live. Rather than fight against secular aspects of Christmas, we must attempt to reclaim the secular elements of Christmas wherever we can without betraying the message Christmas is intended to proclaim.

This series includes five sermons from Nov. 30 through Dec. 28, 2008.

Bringing AGAPE to Life

This series presents the background for the model we use at St. Andrew’s to ensure that we follow a balanced approach in pursuing our mission.

Dr. Rigby gave these five sermons from Oct. 20 through Nov. 17, 2008.

Earlier Sermons

To find other sermons delivered at St. Andrew’s:

Please use these opportunities to share our progressive Christian message with interested friends, family, and those unable to attend our worship services.

You might also be interested in other articles about St. Andrew’s and our mission.

Coming Events:
(Click event for info)


Film Series:
The Century of the Self
Feb. 7, Part Two:
“The Engineering
of Consent”


New techniques
for building
peaceful communities
Begins Feb. 11
(with SafePlace)