Fall, 2004 Entrants, keep this sheet.
Sermon Contest Guidelines
The contest theme is "Justice and Simple Living," specifically social and economic justice from the Biblical perspective.
Entries are welcome for texts in contemporary English, 10-20 minutes in length. The entries must be appropriate for a group of various ages, such as public worship.
Entries may be previously-used or brand new. Please do not send sermons that are owned by someone else, i.e. whose copyright is held by another publisher. If you send a sermon you wrote, you are giving us permission to publish it. If you send as sermon by someone else, please include complete contact information.
Texts should typed or printed; good photocopies are acceptable. Send preferably by email (within the body of the email AND as an attachment) or by mail. No materials can be returned.
The entry deadline is May 1, 2005 (postmark). The winners will be announced by August 31, 2005. Publication is scheduled for 2006.
Texts will stress the theme "Biblical Justice Through Simple Living." Sample titles might be "Voluntary Simplicity: What Christianity Looks Like" or "Simple Living and Justice: The Way of Jesus."
Seasonal texts (especially related to Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter) are welcome. Sermons based on the Common Lectionary (Cycle A, B or C: Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle or Gospel) are preferred.
Texts will be judged on clear presentation of the theme (rather than esoteric ideas or images), including God's passionate love for the poor, and Christians' appropriate action on behalf of the poor through economic justice, including, but not limited to, voluntary simplicity. Only texts that use inclusive language for humankind and are ecumenical in nature will be considered. Some changes in wording may be negotiated after judging but before publication.
Prizes: All published entries will receive a $25 gift certifcates for Alternatives' Resource Guide. Each of the top five entries will receive a certificate of special merit and a $50 gift certificates (instead of $25).
There is no entry fee, nor any limit to the number of entries.
Upon receipt, each entry will be assigned an identification number and separated from the application, to protect the anonymity of each entrant, until the winners are selected.
The writer (or the writer's agent) of a winning entry retains the copyright to the entry but agrees to license it perpetually (but not exclusively) to Alternatives for Simple Living for no additional fee. Alternatives may publish and sell any or all entries in printed or auditory form or in any other medium, such as a collection, as part of a curriculum, etc.; translate any/all of the winning entries into other languages and sell and distribute them in any language anywhere in the world.
Sponsor Background
Alternatives' mission is to "equip people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly." We produce resources for Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, weddings and other celebrations, some in Spanish. Since 1973, Alternatives has promoted responsible living and celebrating through voluntary simplicity.
The five "life principles" of voluntary simplicity, as enumerated by Doris Janzen Longacre in Living More with Less, are:
- Do Justice
- Learn from the World Community
- Nurture People (not things)
- Cherish the Natural Order (Care for Creation)
- Non-conform Freely.
As privileged North Americans we have a choice to live simply. Most people on Earth live simply INvoluntary. Simpler living 1) reduces our use of the Earth's natural resources, 2) allows us to stand with the poor, 3) is a testimonial to Jesus' way of living, 4) reduces taxes for military spending, 5) highlights joy instead of stress and debt, 6) focuses on relationships instead of possessions, and 7) has many other benefits.
Direct all inquiries to:
Gerald Iversen, National Coordinator
For a list of Biblical passages related to hunger and justice, see Beyond Guilt and Powerlessness by George S. Johnson. Contact Alternatives for details.
A Statement on Biblical Justice
The prophet Micah writes, "And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) John the Evangelist tells us that Jesus said to his disciples, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)
God's people have always been given the task of showing God's Love to others... all others. We understand this in our personal relationships. If a member of our family or of our church is hurt or offended, the biblical course of action is to come together in a spirit of love and forgiveness.
But how do we love in a world where love and forgiveness are not the norm? For this difficult task God has called us to do justice.
In the real world, most people are exploited and hurt by corporations large or small, by governments and by power groups. Some are discriminated against because of race or gender. Some are abused economically, physically or emotionally, and many are asked to live without dignity or worth. How do we show love in this world with all its pain and injustice?
If we go to people in power speaking of Jesus' love and forgiveness, we may soon be dismissed. We may claim to be suffering for the faith, but the injustice and the pain of people continues. On the other hand, if we speak to employers, government officials and people in power in terms of what is fair and just, then we may begin to get a hearing. We may begin to change the conditions and causes that result in suffering and exploitation. When we speak on behalf of those who have little or no voice, when we seek justice, we speak a word of love on behalf of God.
It is God's intention to show love to all the world. This love is not only meant to be expressed privately, in our personal relationships, but it is also to be proclaimed in a world that does not know God or God's Love. Doing justice is proclaiming God's love in the world, a love that puts ourselves and others in right relationships with God, with each other and with the Earth. Justice brings God's love to those who foster greed, racism, and violence. . . and to their victims.
Justice is a gift that God gives us. . . to proclaim love to a world that detests justice. Biblical justice holds that God's love is for everyone and that all have dignity, given first in creation, and established forever through the death and resurrection of Jesus. - Chuck Hazlett, Custer, SD
"The Lord of Hosts is exalted by justice." -Isaiah 5:16
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