Sermons

St Mark, when writing about Jesus arrest, trial and crucifiction, is rather out of character. Mark’ usual writing style is to be short on details moving more quickly to the overview of the events he shares. Yet when he comes to this part of his gospel he goes, not only into detail, but rather graphic detail. It is almost “R” rated. Pastor Taylor in his sermon on this passage shares what might be St Mark’s motive.

In Galatians chapter 2, St Paul relates a rather public conflict between he and the apostle Peter. St Paul accuses Peter of hypocrisy: teaching that gentiles were reconciled to God based on faith, but then behaving as if specific efforts or behaviors also mattered. St Paul argues that you can’t have it both ways. Pastor Taylor explains this in this Sunday’s sermon.

Pastor Taylor’s text was Galatians 2:1-10. The key take-away: If we want the church to succeed we need to guard the true gospel. This involves putting priority on the gospel message, standing and defending against attacks which attempt to add to, take away, or change the gospel, and in all this demonstrate love as we go about the ministry, the mission of the church.

“The gospel message is about a new creation.” This was the first assertion Pastor Taylor made today in his sermon. Continuing his series in the Epistle to the Galatians, Pastor Taylor made three points: 1) the gospel is revealed through grace; 2) that God reveals Jesus by grace and from grace, and 3) the character of the gospel – it is unchanging!

Before we can know how to “bear another’s burden” you probably first need to know what St Paul means by ‘burden’. Dom Marko help the congregation understand just that in this sermon. He also went on to explain that there is correct way and an incorrect way to do this ‘bearing’.

The fourteenth chapter of St John’s gospel has occupied many, many sermons. Rarely is it preached through in one or two sermons. Yet, do to limited time, Jim Scullion as accomplished the task in three sermons. In this, the last of the three, Jim explains the impact of Jesus promising to send ‘another comforter’ after he leaves. With verses 15 and 31 as bookends, it is both and encouraging and challenging sermon.

The 7th chapter of St Paul’s letter to the Romans is one of the most controversial chapters Christians have wrestled with over the centuries. How is it that St Paul, REALLY???, struggling with sin? Struggling against sinful inclinations? Well, Randy Meyers shared his thinking on this chapter in this sermon.

The Rev. Dean Turbeville preached today’s sermon for the installation and ordination of Taylor Wright to the gospel ministry. 2 Kings 6:1-7 may seem like a strange text for this kind of occasion. And yet, Rev. Dean didn’t take long to help those in attendance see how the event in the life of Elisha in 2 Kings relates to what Taylor is embarking on.

True disciples, true followers of someone often ask for instruction, direction or guidance. This was true of Jesus disciples and should be true of believers today. Pastor David Menzel’s sermon focus Sunday was on the disciples’ request that Jesus teach them to pray. Why is praying important? How can we pray well?

St John chapter 14 consistently ranks very high as a favorite of believers in Jesus. And in many ways it is no surprise. The chapter is filled with hope; both for the present and for the future. But in v. 12 Jesus makes an incredible statement: Those who believe in him will not only do the works that Jesus has done, but will do even greater works that these! What to make of this statement?

If Christians have “died with Christ” and are supposed to have “a new life in Christ”, why do Christians (maybe not you) struggle with sin, or plainly “just sin” more than they wish they would? Randy Meyers’ sermon addresses this vary question.

Its almost February, but Eric Keel used an illustration of a well-known Christmas story to help illustrate truths from St Paul’s epistle to the Galatians. Sarah and Hagar, from Genesis ‘fame’ represent two covenants, and St Paul is arguing that if we are ‘children of the free woman’ we should behave accordingly.

What exactly does it mean- in the Lord’s prayer -“Why will be done”? And that followed up with “On earth as it is in heaven.” Pastor Jerry helped us see that it means a lot more than perhaps it seems on the surface.

Why would Jesus request “Let not your hearts be troubled…”? Its because human hearts do become troubled. We do fret, worry and become anxious. Jesus himself was ‘troubled’ on more than one occasion. Jim Scullion wanted to let this congregation know that Jesus urges his followers to not let their hearts be troubled because he is the solution to those troubles.

Randy Meyers challenged the congregation with a reading of Genesis 12 that most had not heard. Yes, God promised to bless Abram, but Randy argues that an equally valid reading is that Abram should be a blessing to others. There is support for this in other Scripture passages, including in 1 Peter 3.

What is the difference between Covenant Theology and Reformed Theology? Well, that is a good and fair question. Pastor Galardi takes up this question and a few more in Sunday’s sermon. He draws primarily from Genesis 12, 15 and 17 but slips in a few more references for good measure.