Sermons by Rev. Sally Steele
Sermons exploring belonging, liberation, moral courage, and grace from womanist and liberation theology perspectives.
Noe Valley Presbyterian Church, San Francisco
The difference between inclusion (giving a seat) and belonging (making space for full selves). Opens with campfire story connecting Outdoorithm and ministry.
"Do not ask people to shrink to fit the sanctuary. Ask how the sanctuary must stretch until every child of God stands inside breathing with both lungs."
First Presbyterian Church, Oakland
Moral courage for difficult times. We don't need unlimited courage. Just enough for today's choices. References MLK's "The Strength to Love."
"We don't need unlimited courage. We just need enough for today's choices."
First Presbyterian Church, Oakland
The potter metaphor: transformation through God's hands. Honest about the pain of change while celebrating grace.
"We are not perfect clay, but we are clay that God refuses to throw away."
Miriam's Song Church
Mary and Elizabeth as model of belonging and support. The Magnificat as liberation song, not submission. Part of Miriam's Song sermon series.
"The Magnificat is not a song of submission. It's a song of liberation."
Miriam's Song Church
Hagar's story centered. Your story is not an aside to the story of God. Womanist biblical interpretation for Pride Month.
"Your story is not an aside to the story of God. What you think are the margins are not the margins to me."
Bethel Community Church
Sally's first external guest preaching engagement. Biblical grounding for social justice and future-facing ethics.
"Do not take advantage of each other. How incredibly simple is that?"
Miriam's Song Church
Beautiful Olympic National Park / Roosevelt Elk story integrating nature and theology. Balances lament with hope for Black History Month.
"The prophecy doesn't have an end point. It appears that God won't relent until all the systems that oppress are flattened."
Miriam's Song Church
Wilderness as place of transformation. God breathes life into what seems dead and impossible. Part of Miriam's Song Lenten series.
"The bones that look bleached and beyond hope might just not be."
First Presbyterian Church, Oakland
Three dimensions of lavish love: practical (caring for), steadfast (journeying with), prophetic (moral courage). Reframes sin discussion toward love.
"Lavish love is a lot. The way God loves us is a lot."
Miriam's Song Church
Challenges patriarchal interpretation of Bathsheba as seductress. Centers her as protagonist with agency. Part of Miriam's Song Advent series.
"The stories we tell about scripture matter in very real ways. The telling isn't by accident. It's designed to keep some folks in power."
Miriam's Song Church
Moses' mother and the midwives as models of resistance and liberation. How do we birth freedom in impossible circumstances? Part of Miriam's Song Advent series.
"Making a way out of no way. That's FREEDOM."
Oakland Covenant Church
Trinity as relationship that moves and breathes. Law and forgiveness as dance partners. God invites us into community as participation in divine relationship.
"God draws us near. God who wants our vulnerability and died for our freedom. God who calls us into a relational dance of love and good works."
Oakland Covenant Church
"Living is Christ" as daily reorientation toward God and community. We live for Christ together, not alone.
"We live for Christ together."
Oakland Covenant Church
Fear drives us toward false securities like wealth and control. Wisdom leads to peace and freedom. Let God direct your steps.
"The promise of wealth and all that it brings can tether us to a life we don't want and that we're not called to."
City Church San Francisco
Challenges traditional interpretation of Mary and Martha. Martha's task was ministry, not just kitchen work. Jesus teaches us how to be present with people.
"This isn't just about sitting with God. It's about sitting with people."
City Hope San Francisco
Jesus prays for unity and expanding community. "We" is where "I" meets "you" and change happens. God's community keeps getting bigger.
""We" is powerful. "We" is strong. "We" is where "I" meets "you" and "us" meets "them" and change happens."
City Church San Francisco
Reframes Philemon through liberation lens. Onesimus may have been freed BY the gospel, not returned TO slavery because of it. God knows us intimately.
"People aren't "voiceless." They've just been refused the microphone."
Oakland Covenant Church
Preached at ordination service. Who has power to turn over tables? Women and people of color often dismissed when they speak prophetically. Fight for justice goes after power.
"Some voices dismissed as irrational and overreacting. Women, especially women of color and Black women excluded from this power."
City Church Long Beach
How we use our money and power matters. We all have capacity to oppress. What if we opened up our resources and kept our judgments private?
"God is asking us: are you using your power and resources as tools of oppression?"
Oakland Covenant Church
Equity requires recalibrating systems and how we see each other. Choose to follow those the world says we should lead. Trust takes time.
"Choose to follow those who the world says we should lead."
Audio sermons available on Spotify Select sermons include audio recordings. Click the "Listen on Spotify" player below the sermon description. Additional sermon recordings will be added regularly.
Looking for a guest preacher who brings prophetic challenge held in pastoral warmth? Let's talk about your congregation's needs.