Sermon Texts:

Joshua 8:30-35

Romans 1:1-15

We look at the covenant renewal ceremony at Mt. Ebal. These are strange, ancient rituals that are foreign to us. I argue that these various rituals make sense of one of the key issues in Joshua - identity. Namely that the unity of the people is centered on the covenant. In this sermon we talk more about the covenant that is embodied and enacted in ritual and how that can help us understand faith which has become a very abstract concept in our churches. I argue for a more concrete understanding of faith that makes sense if we recenter the gospel away from us and personal salvation and to the Biblical understanding of Jesus as Lord.