Sermons from 2017
Not What We Expected
In this special Holiday edition of the podcast, John covers the nativity and what the birth of Christ means to us!
When we picture the birth of Jesus, we look back to the familiar scenes that adorn Christmas cards and lawn decorations. It’s depicted as serene and almost sterile. Historically we know this wasn’t so. The King of all Creation was born into this world in a dirty, drafty, smelly barn essentially. His crib was a container for feeding cattle. Is this what you would have expected from the birth of our God? Probably not.
God so often does things in a VERY unexpected, but more effective way than what we would do.
Learning to Listen
When you are conversing with someone, do you listen or do you just wait to speak? Everyone wants to give their opinions or advice. We are so quick to speak and do so without thinking about what we are actually saying. This can be seen in political commentary shows on the networks regularly.
This week John speaks on the other half of the art of conversation: listening. We have forgotten how to listen. The Word has much to say on this subject. So keep your ears open!
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
This week we had one of our “Friends and Family” days at Newland Street. Appropriately enough Richard talked about the resurrection of Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus. He speaks about how, as friends, we connect and bond. We trust our friends implicitly. Having a friend such as Jesus has much deeper implications and a more profound affect on our lives.
Soul Food
When we think of soul food, we think of mac and cheese, creamed spinach maybe, chicken fried steak; all the kinds of fair that put southern cooking on the map. But what Jesus is talking about in this week’s lesson, and what John is delving into, is true soul food. A kind of food that sustains salvation and eternal life.
Amazed by Faith
In this week’s lesson, Richard goes into all the great things that can be done through faith in Christ. When we truly have faith, anything is possible. After all faith can move mountains, can’t it?
I Am Not Ashamed
Are you ashamed of sharing your faith? Are you ashamed to let people know about you being a Christian? Are you ashamed of Jesus and what he did for you? The answer “no” may pop out of your mouth pretty quickly. But This week Richard goes into the Word and asks us to use it to examine our life and behaviors.
It Starts With You
This week John uses the story of the Titanic to illustrate what can happen when we all take responsibility for the souls of the world. The crew of the Titanic did not do all they could to save the lives of most of the passengers of that lost ship. Will we be any different? Will we take action? Our duty is no less grave than the duties of that crew. Our efforts, bolstered with the awesome power of God, can change the world if we would only take action.
It Starts With You
This week John uses the story of the Titanic to illustrate what can happen when we all take responsibility for the souls of the world. The crew of the Titanic did not do all they could to save the lives of most of the passengers of that lost ship. Will we be any different? Will we take action? Our duty is no less grave than the duties of that crew. Our efforts, bolstered with the awesome power of God, can change the world if we would only take action.
The Challenge of the New Atheists
This week we have a special guest speaker! Welcome Mr. Allen Jang. He brings us an interesting and difficult challenge. The challenge is one that seems to be more prevalent in recent times that in the past. This challenge is atheism and the new breed of atheists. Scientists are becoming celebrities and people like Neil Degrasse Tyson and Richard Dawkins and Bill Nye are using their celebrity status to forward the ideology that science is greater than God. However, God created science so this cannot be true.
God on the Move
This week, Richard delves into Ezekiel to show God’s awesome power when he is on the move to help his people. This awesome event displays that, truly all things are possible when God is on the move!
