Sermons

Having just come though Thanksgiving, I was drawn to this morning’s text because it is so relatable.  Some might say it’s an example of dysfunctional dinners, deadlines and other company related disasters, which all seem multiplied during the holidays. If you could choose anyone to come for thanksgiving dinner at your house, who would you…

This coming week we celebrate Thanksgiving. Have you heard that some stores will be open on Thanksgiving night for “holiday” shopping? It’s upsetting and disappointing that opening at midnight Thursday or 1:00 am or 4:30 am Friday apparently isn’t disruptive enough for folks who have to leave their families to work to appease consumers and…

This morning we’re looking at seeking the lost… Many times, we in the church become comfortable with being a part of a safe community, the community of believers that, as it were, are called out from the world. November 11, 2012 Luke 19:1–10, Seeking the Lost Charles Johnson, ABCUSA International Ministries Area Director for Africa,…

What a week it’s been. Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey and New York in ways that eerily resembled the movie The Day After Tomorrow. We’ve all seen the images of suffering, devastation, grief, and anguish. I was speaking with a man at the Church Fair yesterday who told me he was here because his business…

Late one night this past April, I was standing, in the rain by the side of an unfamiliar road in Bulgaria. I was waiting for a car coming up the hill to pass me so I could run across the street to the warmth of the hotel on the other side. 18 of us from…

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your…

“If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the…

Last Sunday afternoon a friend from BBC stopped by our house with some homemade cookies right as the kettle was boiling for me to have a cup of tea – it was a lovely treat. Monday afternoon visited with three BBC folks who were at Cape Cod Hospital then that night Jill and I had…

I mentioned two weeks ago that Paul and the Philippians had a strong and affectionate bond; clearly Paul loved them and was proud of them. I can relate to Paul’s feelings this week. Almost two dozen BBC folks have opened their homes and are hosting small groups for this series on Joy and Encouragement in…