ONE Sermon Challenge
We’re inviting you to lift up your voice and inspire others to join and act with ONE in the fight against extreme poverty.
The ONE Sermon Challenge, part of ONE Sabbath, invites leaders and members of congregations across the country to create and submit sermons connecting their own faith to these vital issues and lift up the important role of advocacy as an act of faith.
Today we are faced with a global financial crisis in which the world’s poor are the first and most adversely affected. Yet we have proven solutions: Two million people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa receiving lifesaving medicines. Millions of families protected from malaria thanks to simple bed nets. Tens of millions of African children going to school for the first time. and YOU.
Continuing through May, the ONE Sermon Challenge will accept original and inspirational sermons, d’ivrei torah, and khutbas related to global poverty and collect them online at ONE.org. Through the ONE Sermon Challenge, pastors, rabbis, imams and other faith leaders have the chance to share their message to ONE’s millions of members and congregations nationwide, inspiring advocacy and action. At the ONE Sermon Challenge you’ll find inspirational preaching from many traditions, including original Christian, Jewish, and Muslim messages all lifting up a call for action against extreme poverty and treatable, preventable disease.
At the ONE Sermon Challenge you can read Rev. Abby King Kaiser’s inspiring word on the “Work to Do,” download and listen to Rabbi Eric Solomon’s reflections on the role of prophetic leaders like Martin Luther King and Abraham Joshua Heschel, or watch Imam Johari Abdul-Malik’s inspiring Friday khutba on the vital role advocacy plays in fighting global poverty and treatable, preventable disease.
Participants that send us their inspired message will receive a ONE Sabbath Action Pack, resourcing them and their local congregations with next steps to act with ONE.
Last week I caught up with Pastor Eugene Cho, of Quest Church in Seattle, at the Sojourners Mobilization to End Poverty here in Washington DC – he shares his challenge to you to do your part and join the ONE Sermon Challenge:
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May 6, 2009 at 2:37 am
Very cool.
May 6, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Sounds all nice and warm and fuzzy. Didn’t hear the name JESUS once. You can quote scripture till your tongue falls out. You can raise more money than Trump. You can feed more hungry mouths than Taco Bell. If it isn’t built on the cross, the sacrifice of death, that Jesus paid so that you could know God, then it’s empty. Good works and good intentions don’t count. Why? Because we have free will. And so does God. But He’s perfect, and we’re not. That’s our choice. Jesus makes it right.
Do not be misled by people, groups or organizations that speak of doing good works in the name of God. Unless the name of Jesus is lifted up. Unless His sacrifice is trumpeted. It is counterfeit.
May 6, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I quite agree with you, isson3000, and I’m sure that message is bound to come out in at least some of the sermons submitted. Bear in mind we’re trying to get everyone involved, not just us followers of Jesus
Shine the light in your corner, and the darkness will flee.
May 6, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Personally, isson3000, you are COMPLETELY full of it. I am a very faith oriented person. I believe in God 100% and I base my life around him, but you are holier then thou. I bet you go around trying to make everyone feel less important than you. You try to make everyone do exactly what you want to do the way you want to do it. Well guess what, what you were just preaching about you aren’t practicing. All church related organizations whether it be muslim or christian are based on the principle of helping people. ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO IS HELP PEOPLE!!! They are trying to make the world a better place one step at a time. No they may not preach about Jesus saving us, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. This site is not about God its about God’s family. These glorious people go out everyday and live the word of god UNLIKE YOU. All you are doing is bashing poeple instead of trying to make a difference. That 20 minutes you spent typing that horrible message could have instead been used to go and work at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Now you may call me holier than thou, and I guess I am, but then again EVERYONE is. But NEVER bash people for doing exactly what you are doing!!!!
P.S. you’re statement about the free will made no sense whatsoever. Yes we have free will and these people are using there free will the right way. They are trying to help unlike you. IF YOU READ THE BIBLE ALL THE TIME IT DOESN’T MATTER. YOU HAVE TO LIVE THE BIBLE ALL THE TIME TO MAKE IT COUNT!!!!
May 7, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Take it easy, folks! no need to flame at each other here. Thats not going to accomplish anything.
May 10, 2009 at 1:53 am
isson3000 is right.
The most important thing for all human beings is the salvation of their sins through Jesus Christ and His blood.
Thus, the matter is not “good works” themselves, but who and why they are done. We, true christians, can and should do “good works”, but in the name of Jesus. We can do it by ourselves, through our churches, without associating with unbelievers.
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Cor 6.14)
“One Sabbath” (and One itself) seems to be an instrument of the Antichrist, who will come; a religious Babylon. “Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matt 10.16)
May 13, 2009 at 1:03 am
I agree with isson3000 – Pastor Cho never mentions/references Jesus? Things that make you go hmmm. Perhaps he was trying to stay sensitive to other faiths i.e, Muslims? He did however reference “the good news” – Mark 16:15 – “He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” The “He” being Jesus of course.
This discussion leads me to reference a book I JUST came across yesterday entitled “Unfashionable” by Tullian Tchividjian – who just happens to be the grandson of Billy Graham heading up a new church in South Florida.
Google the words “unfashionable book” and click on the Amazon.com link: Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different” and then click on the related media for a great little clip from him on his book….as true followers of Christ we need not fear to be “unfashionable” when spreading the good news of Jesus.
May 13, 2009 at 2:26 pm
One must wonder, however, how the name of JEsus is supposed to be exalted while so many of his commands (and the commands of the prophets he recognized) go unfulfilled. One needs only read the gospels to hear countless calls to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and care for the poor. Read Isaiah 58-61, it says explicitly that God doesn’t acknowledge your fasting or hear your prayers unless caring for the poor is a major part of your worship. Micah 6:8, the book of Amos, the book of James, the scripture references commanding the people of God to care for the poor are almost innumerable (the actual number is slightly over two thousand not counting contextual implications). Therefore, while exalting the name of JEsus is important, is vital, to the Christian faith, one must also realize, as ONE realizes, the potential that ONE has to accomplish so many of JEsus’ commands. Will his name not be exalted then? Only if his people were part of the solution.
May 14, 2009 at 2:07 am
I’d say theres no wrong in helping out. Feed the poor, clothe them, teach them. All good.But ISSON3000 is right I believe.In all our good works Jesus/God should recieve the credit not us. Simply, I believe it’s MORE IMPORTANT to teach the truth/gospel then to help out doing this and that. Thats easy for me anyways, I’ll help out, give money all day. Thats just me though. SERVE GOD NOT HUMANS, one slave cannot have two masters. PEACE
May 21, 2009 at 6:03 pm
“If we understand what is happining millions light years awaya and we are exploring the vast universe .we are very much capable of helping our fellow human beings who needs help right here in this beautiful living planet”
peace on earth:)
May 29, 2009 at 11:37 am
Eric M. I absolutely agree with you. In doing The Lord’s work, we exalt His name! We could speak of Him all day long, but if we do nothing – then words mean absolutely nothing. How can anyone say that “it is more important to teach the truth/gospel than to help out doing this and that”? – Keep in mind that words will fall empty into the ears of those that are dying of starvation and preventable diseases… so heal the body in His name so that the soul can rejoice.
May 31, 2009 at 9:47 am
Christian is as Christian does. We don’t always have to be speaking the name of Jesus to do the will of Jesus. There are many religious people speaking out against what’s happening here. I believe Jesus would applaud this work. The harshest words of Christ were reserved for the religious leaders. They were the biggest block to the work of God. Two-thousand years later, that hasn’t changed.
May 31, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Did he really just say “it is more important to teach the truth/gospel than to help out doing this and that”?? I can’t handle it.
May 31, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I honestly am shocked to read this comment. isson3000 I think you have manipulated this situation and brought up your own personal beliefs. I think this whole project is not meant to preach about ANY religion, thus this organization is not asking help from a particular religious institution. Please let us focus on the mission of this organization to bring “Tens of millions of African children going to school for the first time” this is not a time to preach what has been the conflict within humanity and the cause of many wars. Let us rejoice on the good deeds, our fellows humans are trying to perform. In my own personal opinion, isson3000, if you want to make it to the year 3000, you better start by helping out instead of criticizing and believing you are the messenger of Jesus, because He might not even need your help.