All Are Chosen: Faith
Confessions of a Presbyterian Minister in Waco, Texas
A Book Written by Our Pastor, Jimmie Johnson

An Introduction to All Are Chosen
Echoing through the faith confessions of this Presbyterian minister is the good news that all are chosen. It is the theology of a God with long arms, arms long enough to embrace the whole world. Often, religion and religious houses have tried to shorten God’s arms, and preachers and believers have been made uncomfortable by God’s reach.

The sermons in this book were preached in Waco, Texas Waco is the buckle of the Bible belt, the Jerusalem on the Brazos. It is the center of the universe for that old-time religion. And old-time religion often, though not always, announces "born again exclusivism” and claims to have the mystery of God all buttoned up.

These sermons tell of a generous God. They announce that God has no taste! All are welcome. All are chosen. All are embraced. These faith confessions tell of a God whose compassion is limitless They call for a church to run from tribalism, which defines who is in by defining who is out. These sermons call for a church to grow arms as long as God’s arms, so that all, indeed, are chosen.

In the most real sense. These sermons are not mine. They belong to others. Others like the preachers and scholars who have nourished me through their sermons so that I could think in my believing and believe in my thinking. These sermons belong to preachers like Presbyterians Robert McAfee Brown and Frederick Buechner, United Church of Christ proclaimers William Sloane Coffin and David Buttrick (who earlier were Presbyterians), Episcopalians Barbara Brown Taylor and John Claypool, Roman Catholic Henri Nouwen, and United Methodist Torn Trotter.

Were it not for being able to immerse myself in their work and words, I flinch at the thought of my own preaching. I make no claim to senses of creativity or depth. However, I do have enough sense to get the very best help. I stand on the tall shoulders of others, women and men I have never met in my life, but whose preaching continues to change my life.

These sermons also belong to the elders, deacons, and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Waco, Texas. They own these sermons in that they helped birth them by their open-minded and openhearted support for me, their pastor. Waco, Texas, is a conservative town, and certainly so in regards to religious thought and belief. My own voice is liberal. This congregation laid the power of its listening ears upon me. Never once in fourteen years of preaching here has anyone tried to rein me in, but, rather they have been willing to hear and decide in their own hearts and minds. No better gift could be given a preacher.

Georgia Brady, Patricia Farrell, and Randy Preddy, these three homiletical musketeers, made this book happen And thank you to Linda Filgo for the jacket design.

Once printing expenses are met, all monies from the sale of this book will go to the First Into the Twenty-first Building Fund. This fund is for the purpose of preparing the facilities of the First Presbyterian Church of Waco, Texas, for mission and ministry in the twenty-first century.

Jimmie Johnson

How to Buy All Are Chosen
This book is available only in person and via mail order. They cost $20.00 each. If you would like a copy, either drop by the church office during regular office hours or mail us a request accompanied by a check for $20.00 for each book plus $3.20 shipping (for one through four books, $6.40 for four through ten). Our address is First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX, 76701. Please remember to include your own shipping address on written requests.