Sermons
The Gift of God’s Presence
All that has come before is preparation, and now is the day the gift is unwrapped and we meet God. All of the wrapping has come off. The prophecy of a coming forerunner in John, the dazzling annunciation from a heavenly being, Joseph the loving and faithful fiancé, and the virgin birth are all just…
Read MoreA Holy Conviction Upon Hearing the Word
Nehemiah 8:9-10 Somewhere between Ezra’s first word and his last, something unusual happened. The people began to weep. This is so like God to break in upon His people when they have a hunger for His Word. When all pretense melts away, and open hearts precede open mouths, God can then proceed to open the…
Read MoreChrist’s Victory Over Death
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 Now I know we’ve come together with a variety of spiritual beliefs this afternoon. We come with a variety of beliefs about death and about life. Nonetheless we’ve gathered, because there’s actually a lot we do agree on: that the death of someone we love is a poignant time. Memorials are what…
Read MoreA Gift the World Cannot Give
Marvin A. McMickle Galatians 5:19-26 Not many months ago I read about a poll that was done by radio listeners and disc jockeys concerning the #1 Rock “N” Roll song of all-time. Since the roots of that kind of music stretch back to the time of my own teen-age years I wondered if my idea…
Read MorePreaching Points with Hershael W York
“It’s like, well, you know… right?” People of a certain age will remember David Spade’s comedic role of Dick Clark’s receptionist on a repeated Saturday Night Live skit. The premise was that famous people, usually including that week’s guest host, would stop in to see the legendary producer only to discover that the pretentious person…
Read MoreHE CAME BACK
Mark 16:2-7; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb . . . . As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, . . . he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed;…
Read MoreThe Crown and the Call
During the coronation of King Charles of England, staged within the ceremonial splendor of Westminster Abbey, I couldn’t help but focus on the crown as the Archbishop of Canterbury placed it on the king’s head. I think it’s safe to say, that was no ordinary headgear. I had to know more! The crown is the…
Read MoreSermon: What? Me Worry?
I want to confess a sin to you. I struggled with this sin when I was a little boy. I was unable to conquer it as a teenager. As a young husband, I found myself wrestling with this sin every day. And even now, I occasionally struggle with it. I don’t think I’ve committed this…
Read MoreSermon: Purpose and Distractions
We went on vacation last summer to Pawley’s Island on the coast of South Carolina where my family has been going since long before I was born. We pursued the most important things you do at the beach — boiled shrimp and drawn butter, fried flounder, fried oysters, and all the accompaniments. On of the…
Read MoreSermon: Meaning, Purpose
It’s a Frustrating Life Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; 12:9-14 One of the surest signs that Christmas is once again just around the corner is television’s re-airing of that beloved classic movie produced and directed by Frank Capra, starring Jimmy Stewart as the banker George Bailey and Donna Reed as his devoted wife Mary. You know the movie. …
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