All Saints Sunday Sermon
All Saints Sermon: Following the Footsteps of the Faithful
Hebrews 12:1-2
Introduction: Surrounded by a Cloud of Witnesses
Our life and our journey of the Christian faith is not one we travel alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. These are not just distant figures we read about from long ago; they are people of faith whose lives and stories inspire us and urge us to keep running.
Why are they called witnesses?
First, they bear testimony to the faithfulness of God in all of life’s circumstances. They bear witness, they testify to that. Second, they witness in a sense of being present with us spiritually as we run our own race of faith.
We are not alone.
We are to look to them for inspiration, hope, and determination so that we too can run with perseverance the race that is before us.
Much like the track and field event we watch in the summer Olympics, when the sprinters run a certain distance and pass the baton to their next teammate, so too for centuries each generation of Christians has taken the faith, run their race, and handed it to the next one. And when their leg of the race is completed, they take their place in the cloud of witnesses, being an inspiration to those who follow after them.
We are invited to see our faith as part of something much bigger than ourselves—a story that started long before we arrived and that will continue long after we’re gone. Our responsibility is to receive the faith, live it, pass it on, and to inspire others by our good example: in prayer and action.
That means that your life, your precious life, is a continuation of someone else’s impact AND you will have an impact beyond your time on earth. Unlike the Summer Olympic race, we don’t know how long our particular race will be. We don’t know how many days we will live. Therefore, run with focus and perseverance and look to those good examples who also looked to Jesus.
Saints of Scripture: Called to Persevere in Faith
The Bible’s roll call of saints gives us some of the most powerful examples of faith. Hebrews 11 is a roll call of the faithful. Instead of a hall of fame, my pastor growing up called it the “Hall of Faith.” It is a list and short explanation of these people who embodied the faith and witnessed the faithfulness of God in their lives.
Hebrews itself points to faithful figures like Abraham, who left everything to follow God’s promise; Moses, who led a people out of slavery despite his own insecurities; David, who rose from a shepherd to a king yet constantly sought God’s heart.
It’s important to point out, these weren’t flawless people. Abraham doubted, Moses stumbled, and David made grievous mistakes. But God is faithful, redeems the broken, and builds up the fallen. They testify to it. God is faithful. Because of that, they kept moving forward, trusting that God’s promises would hold even when everything around them was uncertain or they fell short.
Saints Across Time and Place: A Universal Calling
It’s not just in Bible times, though. Throughout history, this calling has been embraced by people from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe.
John Wycliffe lived in the early 1300s and is called the “Morning Star of the Reformation.” He was a theologian, philosopher, and reformer. He advocated that Scripture should have authority over Church tradition and if that took place, corruption would be rooted out of the church. He believed that the Bible should be accessible to all people, not just the clergy, so he translated the Scripture into English, which was unheard of in a time when the church held strict control over religious texts. He wanted the Word of God in the hands of the people
Jon Hus was a Czech who was influenced by Wycliffe. He was 12 years old when Wycliffe died, and though he was in a different part of Europe, the baton seemed to be passed to him. He advocated for reform, for the end of clergy corruption and the sale of indulgences. Instead of reading and preaching in Latin, he preached in the language of the people. He was martyred for this.
I think of Oscar Romero who served as the Roman Catholic archbishop in El Salvador. When he was appointed, he was seen as a status quo choice, however, after the growing violence and human rights abuses against the poor and marginalized by the military government and the right-wing death squads, he spoke out both inside and outside the pulpit. He held up the plight of the poor. On March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in a hospital chapel, he was assassinated by a sniper. His life and voice continue to inspire the church’s mission of social justice and the condemnation of political violence. A message we need now in our time of dischord.
Saints in Our Own Lives: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact
It’s not just in the bible times or in times long ago, that God gave us saints.
Did you know that in the New Testament, the word “saint” is used over 60 times and takes on a broader meaning? Paul, who was a rabbi who followed Jesus, wrote letters to Christian churches and he uses “saints” to refer to ordinary believers—to people just like us, who wrestle with the same challenges, doubts, and weaknesses.
By calling these early Christians saints, Paul makes the point that sainthood is not an unreachable life reserved for a few. It is a calling for every believer, no matter our backgrounds or our mistakes. We are all invited to live in a way that reflects Christ and connects to the entire family of God.
We give thanks for Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Elizabeth, Mary, the Reformers, and those who die in service to the Lord. We also give thanks for the saints we’ve known personally—the one’s who’ve impacted our lives in quiet, powerful ways.
Think about the people who’ve shaped your own journey of faith. Perhaps it’s a parent, grandparent, or a mentor. Maybe it’s a friend or someone in your church who modeled generosity, love, or perseverance. They will likely never make it into a history book, but as they simply lived their faith day by day, pouring out love and care, they have an impact beyond their own lifetime.
Their impact on us is extraordinary, not because of grand gestures but often because of their quiet, steadfast faith. These are the ones who showed us that a life rooted in faith is possible, no matter your age or the obstacles. They modeled perseverance, helping us to see that sainthood is about simple, consistent acts of love and grace. Their lives teach us that faith is not always about achieving something remarkable; often, it’s about being faithful in the ordinary moments, trusting that God is working through us.
When we reflect on these personal saints, we’re reminded that we don’t need to be famous to be influential. Each of us can be a witness to God’s love in the way we treat others. If we are willing to serve and say, “How can I help?”
It’s about being faithful in the basics, the small things.
Our Call to Be “Saints Who Inspire”
And that is what our Lord Jesus taught – be faithful in the small things and the big things will be given to you. Keep sainthood simple – be faithful in the small things. Show up for people. Be there. Reach out. Be active.
Barb and I were talking at dinner recently and we were remembering our lovely godson, Kenneth, who passed away at the age of 17. A young man of astounding faith. In the 4 months leading up to his passing, he was confined to a hospital room, but that didn’t stop him. There, in Oakland, California, he led bible studies and devotions for the nursing staff. He talked to his friends about their spiritual questions. He pointed people to Jesus.
The phrase that he used to talk about it was emblazoned on a bracelet and given to hundreds of people at his memorial, which I officiated. Kenneth would say, “You need an active faith, not a passive one.”
Don’t be passive. Be active. Take a step forward. Open your bible, start with a gospel, and read. Pray. If you would like to meet with me personally to talk more about how to start this reading and prayer routine, I’d love to. It’s easier than you think and it’s more rewarding that you’ve ever imagined.
Show up. The baton is in your hand. Sunday School teachers, thank you for helping us pass the faith to the next generation. Sunday School and VBS teachers of the past, thank you for your service. Church, thank you for what you do to help us connect with each other and the community.
We all need to “lay aside every weight” or anything that hinders us so that we may live faithfully and connected.
Church, we need to rise to the occasion and meet the moment that’s before us today and for the months ahead. Our call is to understand that there is a beginning and an ending. It’s defined yet mysterious. We have limited time to be connected and near so we can pass the baton to others.
When we live this way, we don’t just honor the memory of the saints before us, we too become part of that cloud of witnesses, offering an encouraging legacy for those who come after us.
May we rise to the call, inspired by all the saints before us and ready to inspire others as we walk in the footsteps of the Lord, who is faithful from generation to generation.
