Christian

Mainline Protestant | Catholic | Evangelical and literalist Protestant | Historical sermons

Comment: Let me emphasize that I did not exclude anything from this page or others on purpose. If you have relevant material, please email [email protected]. Note that debates on creationism, geology and so forth are found on other pages.

Mainline Protestant

How Are We to Understand Noah's Ark? by Victor Shepherd (no date, but labeled a sermon). Shepherd is a Canadian Presbyterian, and a Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies at the Tyndale Seminary in Toronto.

"We have to understand that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are best understood not as history but as parable. To say that the story of Noah's Ark is a parable doesn't mean that it's "untrue" any more than the parables of Jesus (fiction) are untrue."

"Noah's Ark isn't just a story for children. It is very much a story for adults. It's a story, a parable like the parables of Jesus. It's about our deep-seated violence, about God's grief, about God's judgement. It's also about God's promise — he will never abandon his world, and therefore neither must we.

Noah's Ark and the September 11 Attacks preached by April Stanley, St. Pauls Anglican Church of the West End, Vancouver, BC (September 30th, 2001).

"I side with certain biblical scholars who see a progression in our understanding of God within the Hebrew Testament. … And that actually the Noah story reflects one of those shifts in understanding. The story begins with God's anger and desire to destroy everything and ends with the rainbow as a sign of God's covenant with the people of God that God will not destroy creation."

"People keep saying — and it seems true to me — that the world has changed since the events of Sept 11th. One of the ways that I think it has changed is that a certain kind of religious fundamentalism and scriptural literalism has been forever discredited."

Wake Up From Sleep preached by J. Mary Luti, First Church in Cambridge, Congregational UCC, Cambridge, MA (28 November 2004). Sermon launches from Matt. 24:36-44, on staying "awake," and which also retells the Noah story in those terms. Luti describes the ghoulish "Noah's Ark" ride at Oral Roberts' theme park, pokes sharply (but amusingly) at "rapture" enthusiasts, and rattles off a number of political and socio-political issues about which she, her congretation and the nation has "fallen asleep." As a lifelong Cambridge resident, I offer some criticisms.[1]

"Lessons from Noah's Ark" preached by Dr. Gary A. Wilburn, First Presbyterian Church, New Canaan, CT (October 10, 2004). Sermon meshes Fulghum's All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten and the ark story, including a very funny "Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark." I particularly enjoyed number seven:

"Don't be intimidated. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals."

How to Make Your Life Count preached by Pastor Ken Kelly, Chapin Baptist Church, Chapin, SC (March 16, 2003). Sermon identifies Noah's five virtues, and exhorts the congregation to follow them.

Sermon outline: Lessons from Noah's Ark from Kearny Baptist Church, Kearny, NJ (1/30/05)

Beliefnet: Ask Pastor Paul. For teens. Amen:

"There are many people of faith who do not believe that this scripture is historical, but rather it's meant to convey several important theological themes. ... People of faith who believe that the Bible relates historical fact view this story with much the same moral conclusion, but believe that God makes possible things that seem impossible—even a boat ride without a cookout. "

Catholic

Comment: I cannot find much substantial on the topic. Considering that I am Catholic, I think this should remove any suspicion that my omissions are malicious. If you have something, Catholic or not, email me at [email protected].

Catholic Catechism mentions Noah in sections 56–58, 71, 845 (with a handy list of comparisons between the church and Noah's ark in Augustine and Ambrose), 1094, 1219.

Evangelical and literalist Protestant

The Valley of Decision, preached by Dr. Daniel Harrel, Park Street Church, Boston, MA (October 24, 1999). Strong words from an evangelical pulpit, but at least the Boston left and right can agree on their hatred of suburbanites:

"A nice guy God is a figment of the suburban imagination where those nurseries are decorated with floating zoos and other such cherished illusions."

The Ark of Faith, preached by Pastor Kent Crutcher, McDonald Road Seventh-day Adventist Church, McDonald, TN (September 14, 2002). Compares Noah's Ark with the Ark of the Covenant, and discusses tricky issues surrounding faith and works.

Sermon outline: Noah and the Ark by Don Martin, mostly about the ark's "carrying capacity." What would Jesus preach? Volumetrics, apparently.

Sermon outline on Noah, "an example we should emulate," from Tom Moore, North Main church of Christ, Malvern, AR.

Historical sermons

The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul is to be Sought by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), one of the architects of the "Great Awakening."

"You have been once more warned to-day, while the door of the ark yet stands open. You have, as it were, once again heard the knocks of the hammer and axe in the building of the ark, to put you in mind that a flood is approaching. Take heed therefore that you do not still stop your ears, treat these warnings with a regardless heart, and still neglect the great work which you have to do lest the flood of wrath suddenly come upon you, sweep you away, and there be no remedy."

The Ark by Robert Murray M'Cheyne (December 5, 1842), on Hebrews 11:7. Well-written fire and brimstone sermon, with extensive comparison of the Ark and Christ. Ends with:

"The flood came upon Christ, and oh, how fearful was his agony! But if you are his, it will not come upon you - if you are in this ark, you will be saved; but, if not, you will be lost. God pity you, dear friends, I cannot. God grant that he may do it, before the flood come and sweep you all away."

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation by C. H. Spurgeon (June 1st, 1890). Protestant sermon on Hebrews 11:7 and the character of Noah's faith.

The Ark by William Branham (1955), delivered at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, IA. I can't get the audio to work, but it may be my player. Folksy old-fashioned revival style:

"Now, this soft gopher wood, when they poured this hot pitch over it, it soaked it up right quick, inside and out, and made it a sealed. Amen. Oh, you see it? A seal: soft, soaking in the Word of God, Christ pouring the Holy Spirit, het up. Amen. It won't run when it's cold. It's got to get hot. What we need today is an old fashion, Holy Ghost meeting, het up, poured down."