“Today … Something Has Changed”

ABSTRACT This dialogue sermon, based on Luke 4: 14–21, was preached on October 15, 2002, at daily chapel at Luther College, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Decorah, IA, as part of a week-long series highlighting the theme of Domestic Violence Awareness. In writing and preaching this sermon in dialogue form, Connie had the opportunity to tell her own story, and Deanna had the opportunity to use her authority and voice as pastor to make public space for Connie to be heard. In this dialogue sermon, they preach the gospel together–inviting others to claim their voices and to tell their own stories of abuse and violence within the church; challenging the church to take seriously the voices and experiences of those harmed; and calling the church to hold accountable those whose unhealthy and violent behavior causes the harm. The process of creating this dialogue sermon models and teaches through words and action that the gospel is not about fear and keeping secrets but about freedom a...