Oak Lawn: Simply the Sermons

Oak Lawn UMC

Big questions. Real life. No pressure to have it all figured out. Oak Lawn Sermons is a weekly message from Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX shared as a video podcast for anyone who wants space to think, wrestle, and reflect. These talks explore justice, doubt, belonging, culture, grief, hope, and what it means to be human in a complicated world. You don’t need church background. You don’t need perfect beliefs. You don’t even need to call yourself religious. Each episode is the sermon pulled straight from the center of our live gathering — honest, thoughtful, and grounded.

  1. 6d ago

    Trinity Sunday | Created by Love. Sent with Hope.

    Trinity Sunday often raises questions about how God can be Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. In this message, Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison suggests that the Trinity is less about explanation and more about relationship. Drawing from Genesis 1 and Matthew 28, she explores a God who creates through love, delights in diversity, and calls humanity into community. This sermon reflects on belonging, human dignity, Sabbath, discipleship, and what it means to embody a faith rooted in relationship rather than domination. Scriptures: Genesis 1:1–2:4a and Matthew 28:16–20.

    19 min

  2. May 24

    Pentecost Sunday | Every Language, Every Heart, One Spirit at Oak Lawn UMC

    Pentecost has always sounded like disruption. In this Pentecost Sunday sermon, Rev. Rachel reflects on Acts 2 and the arrival of the Holy Spirit as a moment of radical belonging. The miracle of Pentecost is not uniformity. The miracle is that every person hears the good news in the language of their own heart. This message explores fear, empire, public faith, diversity, courage, and the church’s calling to build communities where people do not have to erase themselves in order to belong. Recorded live at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Text 'OLUMC' to 77977 and support Oak Lawn. Your gifts have an impact!

    18 min

  3. May 19

    Stop Staring Upward | Ascension Sunday at Oak Lawn UMC

    What happens after resurrection? On Ascension Sunday, Pastor Rachel explores the moment Jesus leaves the disciples with a difficult truth: the work now belongs to us. This sermon wrestles with public faith, courage, Christian nationalism, justice, mercy, and what it means to follow Christ in a fearful world. The church is not called to domination or silence. The church is called to love publicly. “Stop staring upward. God has work for us to do.” At Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, we believe faith should look like compassion, justice, truth-telling, radical hospitality, and beloved community. If this message spoke to you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and join us live every Sunday. Give to support the ministry of Oak Lawn UMC: https://olumc.org/give Learn more about Oak Lawn UMC: https://olumc.org #ProgressiveChristianity #AscensionSunday #OakLawnUMC

    16 min

  4. May 11

    Easter People | Building Longer Tables | Mother’s Day Sermon

    On this Mother’s Day Sunday, Reverend Rachel reflects on Lydia, hospitality, and the sacred act of making room for one more at the table. This sermon explores resurrection through welcome, care, and communities where people are truly seen and nourished. Support the ministry of Oak Lawn UMC:Give Online

    18 min

  5. May 5

    Easter People Reflection | Faith in Troubled Times | Love Must Get Louder

    As we review the Easter People series, we reflect on what it means to trust Jesus’ words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” in a world shaped by violence and uncertainty. This sermon invites us to live a faith that speaks truth, resists harm, and chooses mercy—showing up with courage and refusing to let love stay silent. We are Easter people, living resurrection in a wounded world. And resurrection looks like love that refuses to stay quiet. 🔗 https://www.olumc.org/give #EasterPeople #FaithInAction #LoveLouder

    20 min

  6. Apr 27

    Easter People Ep. 4 | Food Justice

    In Week 4 of the Easter People series, we turn to food justice—and the deeper call behind “I was hungry and you gave me food.” This sermon invites us to see every meal as sacred, every table as holy ground, and every person as worthy of dignity and belonging. It also asks a harder question: not just how we feed people, but why hunger exists at all. We are Easter people, living resurrection in a wounded world. And resurrection looks like a table where all belong. 🔗 Give & support the mission: https://www.olumc.org/give #EasterPeople #FoodJustice #OpenTable

    20 min

  7. Apr 20

    Easter People Week 3 | Climate Justice

    We are Easter people—living resurrection in a wounded world. This message explores climate justice through the lens of breath—reminding us that the air we breathe is a shared gift, and that when breath is restricted, life is threatened. As people of resurrection, we are called to notice, respond, and take part in the healing of a world struggling to breathe. So what does resurrection look like here? Pay attentionMake one small changeLearn one storyBecause resurrection isn’t just something we celebrate. It’s something we live. Give: https://olumc.org/give #EasterPeople #ClimateJustice #FaithInAction

    20 min

  8. Apr 14

    Easter People Week 2 | Living Water

    We are Easter people—living resurrection in a wounded world. This message explores clean water as both a spiritual truth and a real-world justice issue. From Genesis to Revelation, water is life—meant to be shared, protected, and accessible to all. So what does resurrection look like here? → Pay attention → Make one small change → Learn one story Because resurrection isn’t just something we celebrate. It’s something we live. Give: https://olumc.org/give #EasterPeople #LivingWater #FaithInAction

    20 min
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About

Big questions. Real life. No pressure to have it all figured out. Oak Lawn Sermons is a weekly message from Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX shared as a video podcast for anyone who wants space to think, wrestle, and reflect. These talks explore justice, doubt, belonging, culture, grief, hope, and what it means to be human in a complicated world. You don’t need church background. You don’t need perfect beliefs. You don’t even need to call yourself religious. Each episode is the sermon pulled straight from the center of our live gathering — honest, thoughtful, and grounded.

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