Fall Sermon Series - God Taps

It is a big question. It wrestles with the meaning of life. It is also a highly personal inquiry. What should I do with my interest and skills? What function ought I play in the wider society? What is my calling?

In the Bible, God gets involved in answering this question. The Holy One has a habit of interrupting people’s lives and offering suggestions as to what they might do with their talents and time. God taps Hannah on the shoulder. God taps Gideon on the shoulder. God taps Lydia on the shoulder.

Protestant reformer, John Calvin, described heaven’s meddling ways like this: “God assigns everyone to a sentry post.”

These “sentry post” stories are pivot points in our tradition. And they sizzle with modern relevance. We read them and wonder: Is God reaching out to me? How? Why? What might Jesus want of me?

This autumn, the clergy of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church are going to study moments in the Good Book when God taps people on the shoulder. We are going to connect these stories of divine commissioning to our own lifelong search for purpose and direction.

We are going to commit ourselves to asking: “What sentry post does God want me to stand!?”

The journey begins on…


September 13, 2026, Homecoming Sunday (one service at 11 am ET)
Scripture Text:        Isaiah 6:1-8
Sermon Title:          “Send Me”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

September 20, 2026 (Chapel Church resumes – Worship at 9:30 am and 11 am ET)
Scripture Text:        Numbers 22:1-35
Sermon Title:          “Wayward”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

September 27, 2026           
Scripture Text:        Esther 4:9-17
Sermon Title:          “Such a Time”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

October 4, 2026, World Communion Sunday
Scripture Text:        Judges 6:11-24
Sermon Title:          “Wonderful Deeds?”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

October 11, 2026 
Scripture Text:        Jonah 1:1-17
Sermon Title:          “Call Me Ishmael”
Preacher:            The Rev. Chris Palmer

October 18, 2026 
Scripture Text:        Luke 4:14-30
Sermon Title:          “Amazed”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

October 25, 2026           
Scripture Text:        Mark 1:17-20
Sermon Title:          Fishers of People
Preacher:            The Rev. Natalie Owens-Pike

November 1, 2026, All Saints Day
Scripture Text:        Ephesians 4:1-6
Sermon Title:        “Called to Hope”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

November 8, 2026
Scripture Text:        2 Timothy 4:1-15
Sermon Title:          “Persist”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

November 15, 2026           
Scripture Text:        Luke 7:18-23
Sermon Title:        “Re-Called”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston

November 22, 2026, Pledge Sunday
Scripture Text:        Acts 16:9-15
Sermon Title:          “Make It Purple”
Preacher:            The Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston