Oconee Presbyterian Church: Recent Episodes
Oconee Presbyterian Church
This week we start a new Sermon series called “Word Became Flesh” From now all the way to Easter, we are going to stay with the Gospel according to John, and hear the stories of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. Today, we hear how he began calling and collecting others into ministry with him… making people into disciples. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaches from John 1
John the Baptizer is crying out in the wilderness. What does it mean for us to cry out today? John saw the ways the world was not in tune with the kingdom, and spoke boldly. Do we follow him, the one who cleared the path for the messiah, or are we quiet? Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaches from John 1
The prophet Isaiah was honest with the people about the dangers and evils all around them. Still, he found words of hope. That hope was meant to speak directly into a time of darkness, not around it. So whatever darkness we might be facing, know this Christmas, a child born long ago is still the hope that, one day, all darkness will finally fall to the light. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaches from Isaiah 9
The Love that God gives and promises is not the love we might expect. How can we recognize the difference between what we call love, and the love God gives, through ordinary people. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaches from Luke 2
What do you think would (finally) make you happy, or bring you joy? Well, this week, we look at the assumed short-cuts that we’ve heard will bring us joy, and compare them to the real life/way/truth that brings sincere joy. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaches from 1 Thessalonians 5
This second Sunday of Advent, Peace Sunday, we look for God’s unexpected way of bringing peace out of the broken pieces of our lives. Psalm 85, Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching.
Due to technical difficulties (again… sigh… ) this week’s audio did not record. We believe we have found the problem… a glitchy cord from the sound board to the PC, and we have a replacement installed. Hopefully next week, we will back up and running!
Faith… Faith IN Christ… isn’t that the most essential part of life lived for God? Well, in this parable of Jesus, it isn’t faith that matters most in the end. Its something else. Matthew 25. Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching.
We celebrate Kirkin of the Tartans, and in the midst of our celebration, hear a Jesus parable about “talents.” When a servant doesn’t trust the master, and doesn’t risk, the master responds with a Scottish, “Oh Do You Now?” Matthew 25, Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching
Guest Preacher Rev. Anna McArthur preaches from Matthew 6 and Exodus 16 on “Our Daily Bread.”
Guest Preacher Rev. Decatur Rodgers guides us through a conversation in being ordinary people, and all the benefits that come with being ordinary… with God. Matthew 23
Jesus’ preached and taught on two issues more than any others… the Kingdom of God… and Money. Today, in our 4th week of 4, we focus on our last key word… Give. Jesus encouraged us all to give freely of our material possessions. Why is that so hard? Why did he encourage us to do that? Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaches from Matthew 6.
In this 3rd week of 4, we focus our our third key word… Serve. Jesus served and taught us the greatest are not those being served, but those serving. Where are we in the story, as those expecting to be served, or as servants? Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaches a story sermon on Luke 22.
In week 2 of our Stewardship season titled Moving 4word, we look as the second key word in our church identity, Connect. Who are we connected to? What kind of connections are they? Do they produce fruit for God’s kingdom? John 15
Please note, we had audio/technical difficulties the last two weeks. You will also note a sound change/issue about halfway through this one. Please forgive our volunteers as they continue learning how to adjust levels for the live Sanctuary AND for the recording/podcast/livestream. Thanks!
Rev. Decatur Rodgers guides us through a reading from Matthew 21, and toward the Lord’s Table, as we celebrate World Communion Sunday, when the whole world meets at one table with each other and the Lord.
Warning: due to audio board malfunction, this audio is pretty rough. The content is still there, but the quality suffered. Please do your best to endure/enjoy this week’s message despite our technical difficulties!
We finish our sermon series “3=1, Our Triune God” with Rev. Joel preaching on Holy Spirit, the wind, breath, fire, and sustaining presence of God. John 14
We continue our sermon series “3=1, Our Tirune God” with a deeper study of the 2nd person of the trinity, Jesus of Nazareth, the Redeemer, Savior, Rabbi, Christ. Hebrews 1 and 2.
Rev. Joel begins a new sermon series, called “3=1, Our Triune God”. Today, he covers the first person of our triune God, God the Creator and Parent of us all. Psalm 104
In this, our last sermon in the Faithfully Asked Question series, Rev. Joel tackles two real toughies… “Is reading the Bible literally right or dangerous?” and “How do we deal with other people of faith who disagree on what the Bible says and means?” Joel lets the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7, gives us Jesus’ own response to these two questions.
Rev. Joel responds to the faithfully asked question, “How do we focus on the beautiful when bombarded with the cruel?” We find Jesus’ responses to cruel differ depending on the source and victim of the cruelty. Matthew 4, John 8, and Luke 6 help us follow Christ’s example.
Rev. Joel Tolbert responds to another Faithfully Asked Question… “Sin… what’s the deal?” We hear the creation story from Genesis 1, and try to understand sin as the difference between what we are and what we were created to be, which in God’s own words is “very good”.
Rev. Joel Tolbert responds to another Faithfully Asked Question… “Why are there so many different Christianities?” using Paul’s letter to the Galatians. This sermon also happened to fall on the weekend of the violent and racist events in Charlottesville, VA.
Rev. Joel Tolbert discusses our first “Faithfully Asked Question”… Why do bad things happen to good people?
Rev. Joel Tolbert guides us through the story of Jacob wrestling just before he crossed the waters and went home to face his brother. Genesis 29
(Unfortunately, the video/audio is corrupted on this Sunday. We are attempting to recover it and will post the podcast if we are successful!) This week, the Middle Schoolers return from Massanetta Middle School Conference in Virginia, and share what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown. Our two MS preachers this week are Cameran Butryn and Madden Lundy.
Paul Skinner reviews our trip to ASP (Appalachian Service Project). Dan Molnar reviews our trip to the Dominican Republic with Foundation for Peace. Then Rev. Joel Tolbert preaches from Mark 2.
Stephanie Loftin, a long-time member and now candidate for ministry, leads us in a conversation on Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Rev Joel Tolbert preaches on the faith Abraham had that led him to almost sacrifice his own son. Was that really faith in the God we know best in Jesus Christ? Genesis 22
Rev. Joel L. Tolbert preaching from Luke 2 about “God’s Heroes have WISDOM” and from Acts 2 about “God’s Heroes have POWER”. There’s a small pause and some guitar between the two half sermons this week!
Youth Preachers Michael Tolbert (12th), Betty Carol Nelson (11th), Andrew Stansell (10th), and John Hovell (11th)