“Holy Risk” Sermon Series, Week 1, Fifth Sunday of Easter – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer (First on Chatham)

About this episode

Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer discusses the risks of friendship and vulnerability in the context of faith and scripture.

First Cary UMC’s First on Chatham Sermon – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 3. 2026 The Risk of Friendship: Choosing Vulnerability: There’s a popular joke that Jesus’s greatest miracle was keeping twelve close friends in his 30s. In the digital age, analog friendships are becoming increasingly rare. True friendship requires risk - the risk of vulnerability, loyalty, and love that mirror the enfleshed heart of God in Christ, who walked with close friends. Cue Jonathan, the son of Israel’s first King, Saul. Jonathan could have easily sided with his father’s plot to kill David, but instead risked status, power and safety to befriend David, becoming his closest ally. Their covenant friendship mirrors God’s faithful love toward us. Faith grows when we risk being known and loved - and when we choose to love others without guarantee. Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1–5

People in this episode

Guest: Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer

Topics covered

• friendship
• vulnerability
• faith
• love
• risk
• scripture

Keywords

• friendship
• vulnerability
• faith
• 1 Samuel 18
• love
• risk
• covenant

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: First Cary UMC

Books & works: Holy Risk

More episodes of First Cary UMC

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• First on Chatham – Rev. Kollin Absher-Baer – May 31, 2026 · June 1, 2026 · 28 min
• Trinity Sunday – Rev. Carl Frazier (First Sanctuary) · June 1, 2026 · 19 min
• “Holy Risk” Sermon Series, Week 4, Pentecost – Rev. Ben Alexander (First on Chatham) · May 26, 2026 · 16 min
• “Holy Risk” Sermon Series, Week 4, Pentecost – Rev. Kristyl Kepley (First Sanctuary) · May 25, 2026 · 18 min