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Introduction I want to take us on a little thought experiment. Let us picture a person who has committed many sins in their life. Sins such as burglary, murder, arson, kidnapping, addiction, sexual promiscuity, and many others. Basically a person who has done everything they have ever wanted for the…

How to dodge the pitfalls of poisonous piety built on a foundation of pride filled religion

God cares more about who you are than about who others think you are.

Those in Christ behave differentlyfrom teh way they did when they were in and of the world.

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that…

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the church are for all people. Every soul is equally lost, without purpose, and equally condemned to an eternally empty and suffering state. The Gospel — the good news about what God did for you through His Son, Jesus Christ, is for all people. But God demonstrates His…

Limited resources The church has limited resources and must be a good steward of those resources. Our passage today will look at a general principle regarding those resources. Our focus is on widows which has always been important to God. God’s direction on care (Deu14:29; Act6:1 ; Jm1:27 ) Deuteronomy…

Fear, in the bible, is referred to in many different definitions and contexts. Fear of judgement or wrath Fear as awe: being in awe of God for who he is. Fear in reverence and respect It is a religious expression conveying either devotional piety or the dread of punishment. The term “Lord” in this context…

Public Piety vs. Private Audience Baseball is back! I have always loved baseball. There is nothing quite like the sound of the crack of the bat to announce that Spring has arrived. When we lived in Cambridge, we lived close enough to the park that we could sometimes hear the ping of the bat from our…

(S) — INTRO — Familial characteristics Thomas…Dan, Mark... Why? Come from the same DNA — Adopted son/daughter Series — Followers of Jesus — Adopted into his sonship as God’s children You are his dear children — There is a familial likeness — Created in His image — Made for this — Holy (yikes) Ephesians…

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” The question was about fasting. In the law, the fast of the Day of Atonement was the only required fast. After the…

2 Peter 3:8-18 The Christmas season is a time of anticipation. We anticipate the parties we will attend the presents we will give and receive the time we will spend with our family possibly a trip we will take the seeing loved ones we do not often see and possibly many more things. As Christians we anticipate…

There is a tavern in a small college town that — every Parent’s day — runs this ad in the campus newspaper: “Bring your parents for Lunch Saturday. We’ll pretend we don’t know you!” The campus chaplain came up with a brilliant ad of his own: “Bring your parents to chapel on Sunday. We’ll pretend we know…

CRITICISM #1: LONG-WINDEDNESS Pay attention to the other person’s body language while you tell your story. Are their eyes darting? Are they slowly crossing their arms and inhaling deeply as you drone on? Keep your story brief and allow your listener the chance to ask a few follow-up questions. Leave…

I want to welcome everyone to this Easter morning service... Clearly this isn’t your typical Easter Sunday... Where we might see people wearing their Sunday best... And where colorful bonnets would fill the room... INSTEAD - the room is empty and you’re watching from home... NONETHELESS - the truth we…

What I needed to hear . . . but didn’t want to hear. A good friend confronted me on my lack of gratitude. At times, the truth hits like a Blacksmith’s hammer. We can either let it shape us and grow or we can resist and be tossed into the scrap heap. Last week we witnessed the healing of the man born…

As you all should know by now we have been participating in the Vital Congregations initiative of our denomination for the past year and a half, and we will continue to do so for at least the next year. There are 7 marks of a Vital Congregation, and I want to review these here today as we are about to…

The mission of the church is centered in God’s love for the world; our connection to the love of God frames our actions as followers of Jesus.

This morning I wanted to preach a sermon which does justice to both Father’s Day and the Second Commandment. The heart of the Second Commandment is found not simply avoiding the use of graven images in our worship, but worshipping God only in the way He has ordained in His Word. One of the ways that…

Hypocrite — Actor — One who pretends to be what one is not 1 “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Everyday, we have a choice to make… Amen? Either we will place ourselves in obedience to God, or to our own…

Introduction Give yourself fully to the Lord Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to…

Introduction This mornings message is on the advent theme of Peace. As I pondered what direction to take this theme and keeping with the idea of stories that lead up to or prepare us for the Christmas story, I was taken no farther than that of Joseph Joseph was asked to be the earthly father of God’s…

Introduction Years ago in Germany, there was a young Jewish boy who had a profound sense of admiration for his father. His family’s life centered on the acts of piety and devotion prescribed by their religion. The father was zealous in attending worship and religious instruction, and he demanded the…

Our first Scripture lesson this morning comes for Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 : For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and…

2 Timothy 3:10–15 (ESV) — 10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued…