Water Does It Again

Sermon Review

On the evening of May 15, 2026, a small group of congregants from Remington United Methodist Church met with via Zoom to discuss HyeRan Kim-Cragg’s innovative sermon, Water Does It Again. In addition to reading the sermon itself, participants also examined the pericope from II Kings 5:1-27, upon which the sermon was based. Overall, the feedback regarding the sermon was overwhelmingly positive, particularly celebrating its creativity, theological depth, and compelling focus on environmental justice.

Participants were especially intrigued by Kim-Cragg’s social location as a biblical theologian reflecting upon her childhood experiences in Korea and her relationship with the Han River. Within her narrative, the river emerges not merely as a geographical feature, but as both witness and participant in the changing tides of Korean history. Kim-Cragg writes from the perspective of a scholar shaped by the experiences of the Global South, and this perspective adds richness, authenticity, and nuance to her interpretation of the biblical text.

The group identified two central and interconnected themes within the sermon: environmental justice and healing. Kim-Cragg masterfully holds these two motifs in tension while simultaneously employing a highly effective inductive approach to preaching. She begins the sermon with one of the hallmark elements of inductive homiletics—a probing question. She asks, “By centering Naaman, what other groups are underrepresented or overlooked?” From this point forward, Kim-Cragg carefully constructs the sermon, gradually building narrative and theological tension before ultimately answering her question near the conclusion. The overlooked character in the story, she argues, is the river itself—the true focal point of her environmental reading of the text.

For Kim-Cragg, the biblical passage is not merely a launching point for discussing contemporary concerns. Rather, she remains deeply faithful to the pericope, thoughtfully exploring its nuances, tensions, problematic dimensions, and enduring truths. One participant insightfully described the biblical narrative as functioning “like a play” within the broader context of the sermon, with each character and symbol contributing to a larger theological drama.

The central argument of the sermon is a call for greater social and ecological awareness regarding the environmental threats that endanger the mutual flourishing of humanity and creation alike. Kim-Cragg reminds listeners that all people are called, collectively, to do their part in protecting rivers, oceans, and local ecosystems—not only for the benefit of the present generation, but also for generations yet to come.

Ultimately, Water Does It Again serves as an exemplary model of prophetic and political preaching through its artful and innovative exploration of the intersection between Second Kings 5 and contemporary environmental justice concerns. The sermon demonstrates how biblical preaching can remain both exegetically faithful and socially transformative, speaking meaningfully to the pressing issues of the modern world.