Here are the slides for the sermon.
Here is the audio of the sermon.
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Showing posts with label sermon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sermon. Show all posts
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
What Christ Has Done For Us
As I was getting ready for and praying over this Easter Sunday, my mind kept coming to a tract I was introduced to in the 1970s written by a man named Bill Bright for the Campus Crusade for Christ titled The Four Spiritual Laws. In reflecting on the lectionary texts I kept seeing how the points Bright made in that tract appropriately fit in with the theme of this year’s Easter service of the Resurrection of the Lord.
The sermon is titled, What Christ Has Done For Us, and I am making it available for you in the following formats...
Read more...Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Risk of Faith (Sermon)
Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17
In our texts today we consider the challenge of Jesus call to discipleship. When he challenges us to follow him, we have to do so without being weighted down by our pasts. How is that possible? We have to let go of the past.
Additional Notes and Scripture References for the sermon. (These notes will not make much sense by themselves. They are meant as references to check while listen to the sermon - or after having listened to the sermon).
I recently went back to Pennsylvania and it was an experience that was quite unique for me. It was the first time I had been back since my grandfather had died. For the first time I would see my grandparent’s home since it has been sold to another family. This house that was built in 1945 and served as a childhood home for my father’s generation and my generation would no longer be home. There would be no going back.
The tie to the past — the tie to land.
Abraham’s call to leave his home — his land: “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘;Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.’” Genesis 12:1 (NRSV)
Forgetting what lies behind...
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 (English Standard Version)
“Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Luke 9:62 (ESV)
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night because he doesn’t want to jeopardize his ties to his past.
Letting go of the past can be healing.
“Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.”. Hebrews 3:6 (NASB)
Jesus warns that a life of discipleship will not be easy...
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22 (ESV)
Read more...Monday, February 11, 2008
Facing the Temptations of Our Day (Sermon)
Texts: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11
Today we take a look at the temptations of Jesus. These three specifically mentioned temptations address both patterns of ministry rejected by Jesus and temptations we continue to deal with today.
The first temptation: turn these stones into bread. One of the temptations we struggle with is the desire to possess and own things we do not have. We have built tremendous shrines to this desire. We call them department stores. Jesus rejects a model of ministry where he will be a savior who simply provides for people's desires.
When Jesus does supply for physical needs and desires it usually results in people who follow him for what he provides rather than people who wish to be disciples - followers of Jesus. Jesus will not be a Savior who is there to cater to the needs and desires of people. This stands in sharp contrast with some preachers of today who offer a Gospel of Wealth. This is not the Gospel of Jesus.
The second temptation: Satan takes Jesus to a high place of the temple and challenges him to throw himself down and let God send his angels to lift him up. This would certainly make Jesus famous. Remember, Jesus is unknown at this point. But, Jesus rejects a model of ministry that depends on fame. Even when he touches the lives of people and brings them wholeness and healing he tells them to keep silent about it. When his fame does spread he again attracts people who follow him in an attempt to seem something miraculous - a show. When the people demand to see signs, he jrejects their request.
We, too, deal with a desire to be famous. The dream of so many young people is to be the next superstar: the next big quarterback or rock star. Auditions for shows like American Idol (the title is telling) gathers hundreds of people who certainly must know they have no talent whatsoever - but they come anyway.
Jesus rejects a glitzy style of ministry that seeks to attract people with show.
The third temptation: Satan finally takes Jesus to a high mountain and shows Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world and offers them to Jesus if he would only bow down and worship him. After all, hasn't Jesus come to lay claim to the lives and souls of people? But this promise of power and a coersive claim over our souls is rejected by Jesus. He rejects a model of ministry that is based on power. He rejects an opportunity to claim souls by force. Jesus comes to offer life.
We deal with the temptation for power as well. How many times have we seen individuals, institutions, and nations impose their will on others for what is best.
After Jesus rejects these model he moves on with his ministry. He begins by walking along the shore and calls out to some fishermen. “Come and follow me and I will make you fishers for people.” He begins by gathering a small group around himself. People he will commit himself to. People he will prepare for continuing the work of his ministry.
Read more...Monday, February 04, 2008
Most Popular Sermon
I was looking at the statistics on archive.org (where I store my sermons) and the most popular sermon (the one most listened to) is "We Have a Faith that Works" from September 24, 2006. You can listen to it here.
Read more...Mountaintop Light in the Valley of Shadows (Sermon)
1. Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet
2. Jesus said "I am the Light of the World"
3. Jesus said "You are the Light of the World!
You put a light on a stand that all may see
A City Built on a hill cannot be hid"
4. How are you a Light in the Valley?
The Power of Your Witness -- A Life of authenticity!
Exemplifying the Godly Act of Forgiveness!
Read more...Sunday, June 17, 2007
Getting What We Want (Sermon)
June 17, 2007 - Proper 6c
1 Kings 21:1-21a
Ahab was king of Israel. Imagine that. King! Think of what he had as king. Imagine the prerogatives and privileges he enjoyed as king. Yet Ahab became an emotional basket case when he was unable to take possession of a little vineyard next to his property. What is it about having to get what we want even if we are destroyed in the process?
Technorati Tags: lectionary, preaching, Elijah, Elijah Narrative
Read more...Monday, June 11, 2007
Do We Have to Make a Choice? (Sermon)
June 10, 2007 - Proper 5c
Why can’t we compartmentalize our lives with competing priorities? A look at the story of Elijah and his confrontation with the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel and what that has to do with us.
Text: 1 Kings 17:8-24; 18:1-2, 17-39
Technorati Tags: lectionary, preaching, Elijah, Elijah Narrative
Read more...Tuesday, May 29, 2007
What God Has Given Us in the Holy Spirit (Sermon)
Pentecost Sunday - May 27, 2007
Listen to the Sermon
Text: Romans 8:14-17
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. (World English Bible -WEB)
This week’s lesson reminds us of the following advantages we have been given in the Holy Spirit.
- As God’s children we are led by the Holy Spirit.
- We have received a Spirit of Adoption and not of bondage.
- The Holy Spirit assures us by witnessing to our spirits that we are God’s children.
- We are joint-heirs with Christ.
- We will share in Christ’s glory if we share in his suffering.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Mark of Christ (Sermon)
The Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C)
May 13, 2007 (Mothers' Day)
Texts...
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
John 14:23-29
Revelation 22:4 "They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." World English Bible (WEB).
In our society there are many people who are concerned with the mark of the beast, but the real question should be if you bear the mark of Christ. Today we take a look at what it means to be marked by Christ.
Read more...Sunday, April 29, 2007
Christ's Shepherding Ministry (Sermon)
The Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C)
Acts 9:36-43
Psalm 23
Revelation 7:9-17
John 10:22-30
Our image of the Good Shepherd is usually not influenced by modern practices of shepherds since we are just not exposed to them (at least here in the US). We tend to have a romanticized view of shepherds based on the Sunday School images we have learned and applied to King David and Jesus. But, that image is probably not so far from the practice of shepherds in biblical days.
It is Jesus who is the Good Shepherd. He is the incarnate God who will “ seek the lost, ...bring back the strayed, ...bind up the injured, ...[and] strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:16). By claiming the title, Jesus is making a political statement as well as a theological and religious one. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who has laid down his own life for the sheep. He gathers us. He protects us. We belong to him and recognize his voice as he calls us by name (John 10:3-4).
Remember that Jesus makes this statement during the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22, better known to us as Hanukkah) a celebration that recalls the liberation of Israel from the Syrians in the Maccabean revolt. It is a feast day of religious and political significance. His statement (“I am the Good Shepherd.”) would not only be threatening to the religious and political leaders of his own day, but should also serve as a warning to the flock today to be wary of “hired hands” as well as “thieves and robbers” who only look out for their own needs and come to “kill and destroy” (see John 10:8,10,12). Combine this with people clamoring to know if Jesus is the Messiah (10:24), that is the anointed one who would come and liberate the people of God.
The first lesson is about Peter being called to the bedside of Dorcas/Tabitha, a disciple who had just died in Joppa (modern-day Jaffa). Dorcas is a disciple who has poured herself into the work of the Gospel by doing “good works and acts of charity” (Acts 9:36, NRSV). Specifically, she was known for the clothing she made for the poor. Peter prays for Dorcas and she is brought to life.
The final verse of this reading mentions that Peter stayed in the home of Simon the Tanner, which is quite remarkable of itself. Tanners and Fullers often worked with public urinals to collect what they needed for their work. What are the implications of this invitation of Simon the Tanner to Simon Peter for us as disciples? And of Peter's acceptance of the act of hospitality that the tanner offers?
Read more...Monday, April 16, 2007
The Vigor of a New Life
Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007
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Acts 10:34-43
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
John 20:1-18
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The first witnesses crossed the threshold into a vigorous new life by believing. Some believed by seeing. Some believed when they heard Jesus call them by name. Yet others believed on the witness and testimony of others. Today we still have that opportunity to cross that threshold into new life.
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