Creativity
Pentecost art
On Pentecost the fire of the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles. Debbie installed this multi-layered representation of the Pentecostal fire for our celebration of "the birthday of the church!"
Worship
Prayer
Commencement Prayer at Hargrave Military Academy
I was asked to offer the "Senior Prayer" at Hargrave Military Academy's 103rd commencement ceremony today. In the past few years I found that writing my prayer for a public event helps me focus my thoughts more clearly. Here's the prayer I prayed today
More Sermons
Baccalaureate Sermon: Standing Out From the Crowd
Last Thursday night I was asked to deliver the baccalaureate sermon at Hargrave Military Academy. About 340 seventh through twelfth graders are enrolled at Hargrave, and all were present for this last convocation of the school year. Here's the message I shared with them. Standing Out From The
1 Samuel
Podcast: A Mother's Sacrifice
The Bible features several accounts of mothers, but my favorite Old Testament story about mothers is the story of Hannah and Samuel. Found in 1 Samuel 1, Hannah's story recounts her willingness to give her son, Samuel, back to the Lord. Samuel, in turn, heard the voice of
1 Samuel
Sermon: Sacrifice Demands Responsibility
On Mothers' Day, I delivered the chapel message at Hargrave Military Academy. The 800-seat chapel was filled with cadets and their families on a beautiful Sunday morning. Sacrifice Demands Responsibility 1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I
Matthew
Podcast: Worshipping and Doubting
In Matthew 28:16-20, we usually miss verse 17: "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted." What did the 11 disciples doubt during this post-resurrection appearance of Jesus? Did they doubt that he had been resurrected? Or that he was the Messiah, the Son of
John
Podcast: If You Love Jesus
In John 21:15-19, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Most Bible scholars agree that Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to atone for his betrayal of Jesus during Jesus' arrest. But what does this mean for us today? How do we know if
John
Podcast: Living in Light of Easter
Now that Easter Sunday is behind us, what do we do next? How do we as followers of Jesus live in light of Easter's message of hope and joy? In John 20:19-31 we read the story of Jesus' first encounter with his disciples after his resurrection.
Isaiah
Easter Podcast: The God We've Been Waiting For
On this Easter Sunday we hear the words of Isaiah 25:6-9, written over 600 years before the birth of Jesus. In Isaiah's day, the nation of Judah believed that God has left them. Isaiah reminds them what will happen when the God they are waiting for returns.
Isaiah
Easter Sermon: The God We've Been Waiting For
The God We’ve Been Waiting For Isaiah 25:6-9 NRSV 25:6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 25:7 And he
Lectionary Yr A
Easter Sermons From Past Years
As we approach Easter Sunday, here are the manuscripts of the sermons I have preached at Easter for the past five years. I hope you have a glorious Easter celebration this year! * Seeing Jesus Again For The First Time, 2007, John 20:1-18 * Now We Understand, 2008, Acts 10:34-43
Lectionary Yr B
Palm Sunday Podcast: Sharing in the Suffering of Jesus
In Mark 15:1-39 we read the story of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. The descriptions of the suffering of Jesus remind us that we should not trivialize the sacrifice of Christ. The apostle Paul reminds Christians that we share in the suffering of Christ. This passage provides us