The Table Church, D.C. - Sermons: Embodied: Disability and the Justice of God

The Banquet Where Everyone Belongs

Tonetta Landis-Aina — Sun, 18 May 2025 10:30:00 +0100

The Banquet Where Everyone Belongs

Series: Embodied: Disability and the Justice of God

Preacher: Tonetta Landis-Aina

DC Bilingual

Date: 18th May 2025

Passage: Luke 14:1-24

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Our society has become eerily comfortable with hiding disabled bodies and experiences from view. With 25% of people living with disabilities, why do we make them invisible in our communities and even in our religious spaces? This sermon examines how ableism functions as a system that ranks bodies and assigns worth based on constructed notions of "normalcy."

Drawing from Luke 14, we explore Jesus's radical invitation to center marginalized bodies at the table. What if disability isn't something to be fixed, but an identity to be honored? What if our task isn't to worry about our own seat at the table, but instead to become "table setters" who create spaces where everyone belongs as they are? The banquet of new creation has plenty of room—and the house isn't full until everyone is present.

Limping Toward Liberation: Rethinking Disability

Matt Collinson — Sun, 11 May 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Limping Toward Liberation: Rethinking Disability

Series: Embodied: Disability and the Justice of God

Preacher: Matt Collinson

DC Bilingual

Date: 11th May 2025

Passage: Genesis 32:22-32

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What if being "fixed" isn't the point? In this sermon, Matt explores how our narrow definitions of "normal" actually prevent collective liberation. Through the biblical story of Jacob, who received both a blessing and a permanent disability in the same divine encounter, we're challenged to question our assumptions about healing and wholeness.

One in four Americans experiences disability, yet our churches and communities often approach disability as something to overcome rather than embrace. Discover how shifting from a medical model to a social model of disability might transform not just how we see disability, but how we understand God's vision for humanity. What if heaven includes wheelchairs, hearing aids, and all the beautiful diversity of human bodies?

Beyond Brokenness: Reimagining Disability Through a Sacred Lens

Tonetta Landis-Aina, Panel — Sun, 04 May 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Beyond Brokenness: Reimagining Disability Through a Sacred Lens

Series: Embodied: Disability and the Justice of God

Preachers:

Tonetta Landis-Aina
Panel

DC Bilingual

Date: 4th May 2025

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What if disability isn't something to be "fixed," but rather a divine aspect of human diversity? In this candid conversation, Pastor Tonetta leads a community panel with Madison, Udim, and Gwyth as they challenge conventional religious narratives about disability. They discuss how churches often miss the mark by connecting disability with sin or promising its erasure in heaven. The panelists share their personal experiences with ableism, from bizarre healing prayers to everyday access barriers, while offering practical ways for everyone to resist harmful narratives. Whether you're disabled, neurodivergent, or simply want to understand how to create more inclusive spaces, this episode offers fresh perspectives on how disability intersects with spirituality, justice, and genuine community. Hearing these stories will change how you think about bodies, accessibility, and what it truly means to be made in God's image.

Divine Wheelchairs: Reimagining Disability in Faith and Community

Amy Kenny — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 10:30:00 +0100

Divine Wheelchairs: Reimagining Disability in Faith and Community

Series: Embodied: Disability and the Justice of God

Preacher: Amy Kenny

DC Bilingual

Date: 27th April 2025

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What if disability isn't something to "overcome" but a source of wisdom and creativity? Dr. Amy Kenny flips the script on ableism with humor and insight, showing how disability appears throughout scripture and nature—not as punishment but as divine design. From God's "wheelchair" in Ezekiel to Jesus keeping his scars after resurrection, she reveals how accessibility isn't charity—it's justice. Whether you're disabled, know someone who is, or just want to build more inclusive communities, this talk offers practical wisdom for seeing the sacred in all bodies.