Worship | Poverty Sermon Series

Bridging the Gap: An Invitation to Understanding

During our upcoming Poverty sermon series, we will discuss material poverty, not as a spiritual metaphor but as a lived reality for people in our city, our neighborhoods, and perhaps even our own families. We often talk around poverty rather than about it. We maintain our distance not out of unkindness, but because of the discomfort that comes with the unfamiliar.

The church has a long-standing call to stand with the vulnerable, and this series is part of our commitment to taking that calling seriously. We are approaching this effort with honesty, humility, and a desire to understand what it means to be faithful in the face of such a complex challenge.

A Condition, Not an Identity

Central to our time together is a core conviction: poverty is a condition, not a moral failure. It is the state of not having enough; unfortunately, it is often treated as a personality trait or a punishment. Like many conditions, there are contributing factors from the individual to the systemic level.  We believe there are also practical solutions. Our goal is to move beyond assumptions and toward a deeper understanding that leads to meaningful action.

The Poverty Simulation: September 12, 2026

To ground our theological study in real-world experience, we are partnering with SC Thrive to host a Poverty Simulation on Saturday, Sep 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Central Energy.

You should know that this is not an abstract exercise. It is an intensive, immersive, hands-on experience where participants navigate a simulated month of living in poverty. You will face the very real hurdles families experiencing poverty encounter daily:

  • Housing instability and utility challenges

  • Employment barriers and transportation limitations

  • Difficult choices regarding basic services and food security

The simulation is designed to build empathy by placing you inside the experience rather than looking in from the outside. We encourage you to walk into this morning asking yourself: What do I actually know about poverty, and what have I simply assumed?

Series Arc & Scripture

Following the simulation, we will spend five weeks in our sermon series exploring these themes through the lens of scripture:

  • Sep 13: What is poverty? 

  • Sep 20: Why is there poverty? 

  • Sep 27: Jesus was poor

  • Oct 04: The persistence of poverty 

  • Oct 11: What if I’m rich? 

Whether you feel economically secure or are currently struggling, this series asks something of all of us. It is an invitation to be open, unfinished, and real as we seek to become a more compassionate and informed community.

We hope you will join us for both the simulation and the series as we move from understanding to action.

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