Divine Currents in the Universal Stream
Faith Unfiltered
Divine Currents in the Universal Stream | Jonah 3:1–10 & Mark 1:21–28 What forces are shaping our lives—and how can we recognize where God is moving? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores what he calls the “divine currents in the universal stream of life”: the movement of God's healing, forgiving, and saving grace through the world. Jonah struggles against that current because he cannot accept God's mercy toward people he considers undeserving. Jesus, by contrast, embodies God's redemptive movement. In Mark's Gospel, his healing of a man with an unclean spirit becomes...
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Standing at the Back of the Line
Faith Unfiltered
No One Left Out | Matthew 20:1–16 & Genesis 12:1–3 What if God's grace isn't fair? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Chuck Williamson explores one of Jesus' most surprising parables, where workers hired at the very end of the day receive the same wage as those who labored from sunrise. Rather than teaching us about economics or fairness, Jesus invites us to see the world through the eyes of a generous God—a God who refuses to rank people according to worth, achievement, or status. Drawing on stories from a Civil Rights pilgrimage, reflections on Carl Sandburg's observation that "the ugliest...
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Defining Moments
Faith Unfiltered
Defining Moments | Jonah 1:1–17 & Mark 1:14–20 There are moments that change the direction of our lives—a door opens, another closes, and suddenly we're faced with a choice about where to go next. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the defining moments when God's call asks us to respond. Jonah hears God's call and runs. The disciples hear Jesus say, "Follow me," and leave behind what is familiar. Most of us probably find ourselves somewhere between the two. But calling isn't reserved for pastors or church leaders. Our vocation is the life we live in response to God,...
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Reaching Life's Goal
Faith Unfiltered
Reaching Life's Goal | Proverbs 3:1–8 & Philippians 3:4–14 The Christian life isn't a sprint—it's a lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ. In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's image of running a race and reminds us that while following Christ requires intention and discipline, it always begins with grace. Christ has already claimed us; our calling is to keep pressing forward, trusting that God is at work within us. Lewis explores three practices that have shaped Christians for generations: worship, prayer rooted in Scripture, and lives marked by...
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Being in the Right Mind
Faith Unfiltered
Being in the Right Mind | Psalm 1 & Philippians 2:1–11 In a world that often rewards pride, certainty, and self-interest, what would it look like to have the mind of Christ? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's letter to the Philippians and the beautiful hymn describing Christ's humility. Rather than calling Christians to think alike, Paul invites us to share a common way of living—one marked by compassion, service, and self-giving love. Drawing on stories of ordinary people whose quiet acts of kindness transformed those around them, Lewis explores how the pattern...
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A Life Worth Living
Faith Unfiltered
A Life Worth Living | Jeremiah 15:15–21 & Philippians 1:1–11, 27–30 What keeps us grounded when life feels uncertain? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's letter to the Philippians and the prophet Jeremiah, exploring what it means to live a life rooted in faith, strengthened by community, and worthy of the gospel. Along the way, Lewis introduces a striking idea: that we can suffer from a kind of spiritual amnesia—forgetting who we are, where we've come from, and the God who has remained faithful through every season. Drawing on stories from everyday life, the...
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What Belongs to God
Faith Unfiltered
What Belongs to God | Genesis 1:26–27 & Matthew 22:15–22 What if Jesus' famous words about Caesar and the coin are really about us? In this sermon, Rev. Anna Dickson explores one of Jesus' most well-known teachings through the lens of Genesis, where we learn that every person is created in the image of God. When Jesus asks whose image appears on a Roman coin, he invites his listeners to think beyond taxes and politics. If the coin bears Caesar's image and belongs to Caesar, what about those who bear God's image? This message is a reminder that our deepest identity is not found in what...
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The Shape of Freedom
Faith Unfiltered
The Shape of Freedom | Proverbs 3:3–8 & Galatians 5:1, 13–26 What does it really mean to be free? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul's letter to the Galatians and the surprising truth that Christian freedom is not the absence of responsibility but the freedom to become the people God created us to be. Through stories of everyday faithfulness, reflections on the Fruit of the Spirit, and the wisdom of Proverbs, Lewis explores the difference between a life driven by self-interest and a life shaped by God's Spirit. Too often, we think of freedom as the ability to do...
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God's Big Idea
Faith Unfiltered
God's Big Idea | Genesis 12:1–4 & Galatians 3:19–4:7 What if God's vision for the world is bigger than we imagine? In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores the promise God made to Abraham and Sarah, the freedom Christ offers through grace, and the remarkable invitation to become part of God's family. From the very beginning, God's purpose was never limited to one people or one place. Through Abraham and Sarah, God promised a blessing that would extend to all the families of the earth. Generations later, Paul reminds us that in Christ we are no longer separated by status,...
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A Faith That Lives In You
Faith Unfiltered
A Faith That Lives in You | 2 Timothy 1:1–7 In this special installation service sermon, Rev. Dr. Millie Snyder reflects on Paul's words to Timothy and the faith that was nurtured in him through family, community, and the care of those who walked alongside him. Whether we inherit faith from those who came before us or discover it later in life, this message reminds us that faith is rarely formed alone. It grows through relationships, belonging, encouragement, mentorship, and the steady presence of people who help us recognize God's work in our lives. Drawing on memories of Sunday School...
info_outlineDivine Currents in the Universal Stream | Jonah 3:1–10 & Mark 1:21–28
What forces are shaping our lives—and how can we recognize where God is moving?
In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway explores what he calls the “divine currents in the universal stream of life”: the movement of God's healing, forgiving, and saving grace through the world.
Jonah struggles against that current because he cannot accept God's mercy toward people he considers undeserving. Jesus, by contrast, embodies God's redemptive movement. In Mark's Gospel, his healing of a man with an unclean spirit becomes a visible sign of God's power pushing back against everything that diminishes and destroys life.
Through Scripture, prayer, and the story of historian Timothy Tyson, Lewis asks us to look beneath the chaos and conflict we see around us and discern a deeper movement—the love of God drawing creation toward forgiveness, healing, justice, and restoration.
And when we lose our way, we return to the source: to God, to worship, and to the stories that remind us that God's redemptive purposes are still flowing through the world.
The question is whether we will fight the current—or learn to move with it.
Preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte on August 16, 2026.