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In this sermon, preached October 4, 2026, at First Christian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, Loren Richmond Jr. reflects on Philippians 3:4–14 and our fear of being found out as less faithful, righteous, or capable than we appear. Rather than working harder to “look the part,” Paul points us toward the faithfulness of Christ. We can press on not because we will never be found lacking, but because Christ has made us his own and is already at work within us.

In this sermon, preached September 6, 2026, at Creede Community Church in Creede, Colorado, Loren Richmond Jr. reflects on Romans 13:8–14 and the good news that God’s new day is approaching. Therefore, the darkness does not have to determine our orientation. We can wake up, put on Christ, and begin living now in the light of the day God is bringing.

Text from a sermon given Sunday, July 26 at Loveland UCC. We live in a world marked by decay, suffering, and injustice, and while our efforts to make things better matter, they cannot ultimately fix what is broken. Romans 8 reminds us that God is already at work bringing creation toward a promised future where all things are made new. Because God—not us—will have the final word, we are freed from the burden of saving the world. Instead, we are invited to faithfully participate in God's work, letting every act of mercy, justice, and love bear witness to the future God has promised.

Audio from a message given at First Congregational Church UCC - Loveland, CO - July 19, 2026. Fear often traps us in unhealthy coping patterns that once protected us but now control us. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that through Christ we are no longer slaves to fear but beloved children of God. The Holy Spirit continually assures us that we are not alone, deeply loved, and already at home with God. Real freedom begins not when we fix ourselves, but when we trust that God has been with us all along.

Audio from a message given at First Congregational Church UCC - Loveland, CO - July 12, 2026. We all carry labels born from our worst moments. But Romans 8 reminds us that while failure may describe something we've done, it never gets the final word about who we are. In Christ, there is no condemnation.

Romans and Isaiah remind us that God's grace is a gift, not a reward. Throughout Scripture, people have tried to draw boundaries around who belongs and who is worthy of God's promises, yet God continually extends grace beyond those human limits. This sermon explores three promises: God's grace is for all people, God's grace does not depend on our performance, and God's grace keeps breaking through the boundaries we create. The question is not whether God is gracious enough—but whether we trust God's promise enough to let that grace be as expansive as God intends.

Are we really as free as we think we are? Drawing on Romans 6, this sermon explores why we so often return to the very habits, patterns, and behaviors that diminish us. While our instinct is usually to try harder, exercise more control, or develop better strategies, Paul offers a surprising alternative: trust the promise. Through Christ's death and resurrection, the old self has already died and sin no longer has dominion over us. True freedom comes not through greater self-mastery but through surrender, reception, and trusting what God has already done. The gospel is not ultimately about getting our lives under control—it's about receiving the freedom Christ has already secured for us.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

In this sermon, originally preached 10.13.24 at Northglenn United Church of Christ, Loren delves into the power of prayer and the concept of miracles in a secular age. Through the lens of a touching story shared by Dennis Sanders, a former hospice chaplain, he explores the challenges of maintaining faith in a world that often dismisses the supernatural. Listen in as he reflects on the importance of prayer, the teachings of Jesus, and the role of religion in providing hope and transformation beyond our human efforts. This episode invites you to reconsider the impact of prayer and the potential for divine intervention in our lives.

In this message, originally given 9/15/24 at Northglenn United Church of Christ, Loren delves into the challenges of breaking bad habits and the parallels between personal struggles and faith journeys. He explores the difficulty of letting go of unhealthy habits, the importance of asking hard questions, and the call to authentic discipleship from Mark 8.