I Pray That This Works

Pastor Dan continues the discussion on deconstructing faith, focusing on how the community can replace the “bad soil” of fear, shame, and exclusion with new soil marked by inclusion, love, and hope. The sermon is anchored by two phrases from the song “Plowshare Prayer”: “I pray that you are heard” and “I pray that this works”. Drawing on James 1:19, the speaker emphasizes the commandment to be quick to listen and slow to speak and become angry. Pastor Dan notes that for those who have experienced harm from high-demand faiths, healing often begins with the simple yet powerful gift of being truly heard. He explains that listening to one another, offering presence rather than just answers, is “holy work” and a vital way the community loves like Jesus. People, especially those on the margins, are “screaming to be seen and to be heard” after living lives where they were often confined to a box rather than being asked who they truly were.

Pastor Dan contrasts the community’s current endeavor with past forms of religion based on scarcity, fear, and shame, which he affirms “does not work” and has often produced more harm than good. While acknowledging the uncertainty, he expresses the earnest prayer that “what we’ve got going on here does work,” noting the necessity of trying something that closely resembles the words of Jesus. The message encourages listeners, particularly those tentative due to past negative experiences, to stop holding back and “get all in,” giving this movement the fullness of what they have to offer. Citing the scripture about the rushing Jordan River, the speaker asks the congregation to consider “dipping a toe back in” before the miracle happens, choosing to trust and risk again. Ultimately, the hope is that by cultivating a soil of love, inclusion, and kindness, the community can successfully produce something beautiful, leading people past deconstruction to reconstruction and revival.