Posts in Jonathan Williams
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE | "Radical Equity"
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE | "Radical Equity"

Saying yes to new experiences brings about radical equity.

Jonathan Williams unveils the final of Forefront Brooklyn's new core values: Radical Equity.

Same is safe, different is dangerous -- or so the saying goes. We're afraid of new experiences because they take away our control and power, but God's kin-dom only comes when we're able to say "yes" to that which feels different. Our faith should always evolve and feel a bit dangerous, and we can only bring about radical equity when we're willing to say "yes" to that which feels different.

This is the fourth sermon in our "Make A Joyful Noise" series.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsForefront Churchleadership, gender, progressive, Forefront Vision
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE | "Worship Reimagined"
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE | "Worship Reimagined"

Believing we're worthy reimagines worship.

Jonathan Williams unveils another one of Forefront Brooklyn's new core values: Worship Reimagined. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the first preacher of the New Testament, and by believing she was favored by God, she reimagined worship.

Just like Mary, when we truly believe we're already favored by God, we can reimagine worship as well.

This is the third sermon in our "Make A Joyful Noise" series.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsForefront ChurchMary, worship, Forefront Vision
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE | "Radical Church"
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE | "Radical Church"

Why Forefront Church is as radical as Jesus.

In a time when duality and division is at an all time high, Jesus preaches a message about the radical love for all God's children. In the process he pisses everyone off. Perhaps we should do the same?

Pastor Jonathan Williams begins our “Make A Joyful Noise” series by sharing how Jesus’s first sermon changed his life and profoundly shaped Forefront.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsForefront Churchpolitics of jesus, progressive, Forefront Vision
HOW WE GOT HERE | "The Cross"
HOW WE GOT HERE | "The Cross"

The death of Christ on the cross does not change God's mind about us.

So many of us believe in a wrathful God. We believe that God is upset with us and needed the blood of Jesus to make things right. The good news of the cross is that God is not angry with us at all. The cross isn't so that God changes God's mind about us. The cross happens so that we change our minds about the goodness of God.

In this 5th sermon in our "How We Got Here" series, Jonathan Williams reveals a provocative view on the traditional fear of God.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsForefront Churchinterpretation, God, Cross, Rebirth
HOW WE GOT HERE | "Communion"
HOW WE GOT HERE | "Communion"

The incredible meaning of Communion.

Jonathan Williams reminds us of the origins, meaning and importance of communion. Communion is especially relevant today, as we fight to bring all people to the table of peace and prosperity. Communion is the reminder that we've never been separate from God, rather we've always been seen as sacred and holy. Communion is used too often to exclude. It's not a dividing line rather a unifying feast that reminds all of us that we're unequivocally qualified to be in the presence of God. Our activist, justice, and continued political work is a beautiful reflection of the communion table. Our work is holy.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsForefront Churchchurch history, communion, community
HOW WE GOT HERE | "Why God?"
HOW WE GOT HERE | "Why God?"

How we got God and the holy trinity.

In the second sermon of our "How We Got Here" series, Jonathan Williams tackles the big question: How we got God. God is largely a construct made up of time, place, and culture. So why are we here? Why church? Why even bother communing with God? Deep down we know that God is something greater. In finding out how God came to be, perhaps we find out that God is actually living in us.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsGuest Userchurch history, god, why god
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT | "Love"
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT | "Love"

Speaking truth to love.

The vitriol and divided discourse is at an all time high. We've lost the art of speaking truth to one another. What if speaking truth means having empathy for the pain and fear of others before anything else? Would it change our country?

In this third sermon in our Fruits of the Spirit series, Jonathan Williams talks about love, the greatest fruit of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13 1: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsGuest Userlove, truth, empathy, unity
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT | "Success"
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT | "Success"

What does it mean to be successful?

In the book of Galatians 5:22-23, Paul writes, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Many of us measure success by the actions and accomplishments in our lives. However, it is what lies behind these, or even lies far away from these things. It is one's character. Success is really about how well you live out the fruit of the Spirit. If you consider what people would say about you at your funeral, do they speak of your character? Is what you are doing today in line with what you find is truly important?

In this confronting and intense sermon, Jonathan Williams delves into these questions and in so doing celebrates the immense opportunities that lie ahead for us all.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsGuest User500, success, character, joy
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT | "Renewal"
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT | "Renewal"

The renewal of all things.

What's the first thing you think of when you think of God? Is that word "pleasure?" Yeah, probably not. But what if that's exactly who God is? God is a pleasure hound. God is not angry, wrathful, filled with rage, but rather taking pleasure in the way that we work to bring restoration to all things and to tell stories of renewal. Pastor Jonathan Williams talks of restoration and renewal in this first sermon of our "Fruits of the Spirit" series.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsGuest Userrenewal, restoration, hope, political, 500
POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES | "Justice"
POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES | "Justice"

Following Jesus means working for justice.

We are excited to present a first: a Panel Sermon with members of Forefront Church.

In this conversation, Keli Young, Denia Perez and lead pastor Jonathan Williams, bring light to the many examples that show us that a life following Jesus is also a life working actively for social justice. They examine how Jesus calls us to literally proclaim freedom for people who are imprisoned; set oppressed people free.

Read More
Jonathan Williams, Denia Perez, Keli YoungGuest Userblack lives matter, anti-racism, racism, justice
POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES | "Spirit"
POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES | "Spirit"

The Spirit is the ultimate disrupter.

The foundation of our country is built on a hierarchy of Humanity. White folks have 12.5 times the wealth of Black folks. Asian Americans are statistically less likely to be approved for home ownership. The mortality rate for Black infants is double that of white infants. The list goes on.

The Book of Acts speaks to these inequities and calls on the power of the Holy Spirit to be the great "disruptor." Listen to Jonathan's sermon as he shows us how the Spirit is absolutely present today.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsRobbie Kleinblack lives matter, holy spirit, anti-racism, jubilee, antioch
POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES | "Shame"
POWERS & PRINCIPALITIES | "Shame"

Shame is a lie.

In this first sermon in our series, Powers and Principalities, Jonathan explains how we can be immobilized by the notion we are not valued by God.

In order to bring about change to the Powers and Principalities that embrace unjust views and systems, we need to release our shame. We are loved, all are loved, no matter who we are or what we've done. When we can fully accept the never-ending, pure love of God and realize that our shame is a lie, we are able to convince others of the same.

Read More
Jonathan WilliamsRobbie Kleinshame, brené brown, demons, power