Photo courtesy of Jeanine Nordlund
We are excited to begin our new series, “From the Pulpit,” sharing sermons from around the Covenant. We begin with a classic from the Covenant history vaults from Rev. Douglas Cedarleaf, originally preached at North Park Covenant Church in Chicago, Illinois, on June 16, 1963. Delivered during a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement, his prophetic words are as compelling today as they were then as he asks, “What does it mean to pray, ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10)?”
Amid social upheaval and racial injustice, Cedarleaf asked what it truly means to long for God’s kingdom. Do we seek God’s justice and righteousness as earnestly as we pursue our own comfort and security? He confronted the temptation to pray these words out of habit, urging listeners to examine whether they genuinely desired God’s transformative will in every area of life—including in systems of power and privilege.
Cedarleaf’s prophetic voice resonates today as much as it did in 1963. His sermon challenges us to move beyond complacency and embrace a faith that seeks God’s justice on earth, echoing the call of Amos 5:24: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” In wrestling with what it means to live under God’s reign, Cedarleaf invites us to a courageous and active discipleship, one that confronts injustice and lives out the radical love of Christ.
This message, rooted in the Lord’s Prayer and the call for justice, invites us to consider how God’s kingdom breaks into our present reality. Cedarleaf’s words remind us that this prayer is not merely a hope for the future but a summons to action today.
Have you recently preached or heard a compelling sermon? The Companion is seeking submissions for our new series, “From the Pulpit,” as we highlight sermons from around the Covenant. Please email us a link to a recording or a transcript of your recommendation.
