Kent Radio: Recent Episodes
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What does justice look like? How do we restore justice in our life and society? The Bible is not silent. Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, 6/21/2020. Text: Micah 6:8; Exodus 20:1-17; John 3:3.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, June 14, 2020. Text: Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:8. How does God value us? What does this mean about the way we treat others?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, May 3rd, 2020. Text: Malachi 3:2-3. One of the primary aspects of the Christian life is becoming refined, that is purified and perfected for service to God and others. In this sermon I address this topic, and also discuss my recent cancer diagnosis, and how it also is calling me to further refinement.
As we face this worldwide pandemic, we need to recall that in the darkest moments God is still winning.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church Dec. 1, 2019. The Bible foretells the future with pinpoint accuracy. Just another reason to have faith in the Word of God.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Nov. 17, 2019. Jesus begins to explain the plan of salvation to Nicodemus, and to us.
I grew up under unique circumstances in the midst of Methodist academia in a largely Free Methodist community. Later I would venture into Calvinism for a period, only to eventually return to my Methodist roots. This journey may be of interest to people curious about contemporary Methodism and Calvinism, and what happened to my generation raised in a more legalistic and conservative time in small town America.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, November 10, 2019. Text: Genesis 2:4-9. God has breathed life into us, given us a place to live in, and a fundamental choice to make with that life.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Nov. 3, 2019. Text: John 1:29-34; Genesis 22:10-14. Jesus has a holy title that means much for humanity. Learn to love this aspect of Jesus, and let God provide you salvation through Him.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, October 20, 2019. Text: Genesis 2:1-3 Why does the Bible mention God rested on the seventh day? Listen and hear some of the reasons the Bible gives us.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, October 13, 2019. Text: John 1:9-18. Jesus, the light of the world, has come with grace and truth to make us children of God. What does that mean for us?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church. October 6, 2019. What are the ramifications of excepting the truth in Genesis chapter 1?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Sept. 29, 2019. Text: Duet. 5:7-21; Eph. 2:8-10; Philp. 2:12-13. Just because we are saved, it does not mean we can live a lawless life. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sin.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, September 22, 2019. Text: John 1:2-5. Jesus is the source of all light and all life.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Sept. 15, 2019. Text: Genesis 1:2-5. Is science incompatible with the Christian faith? No! Follow me as I argue that science can in fact increase our faith in God and His Word. (All my sermons have minor grammatical flaws and occasional missteps. I hear them and pick them out better than others because they make me cringe and wish I could repreach the sermon. In this one I gave C.S. Lewis a professorship at an American university. See if you can catch it, and find out what British university I meant instead.)
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Sept. 8, 2019. The incarnation of God in the person of Jesus Christ means a new beginning for those who believe.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Sept. 1, 2019. Text: Genesis 1:1. The first verse of the Bible is profound in what it establishes: That time and space are created, that there is a God, and that He is the creator of all we survey.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, August 25th, 2019. Text: Matthew 25:31-46. Out of Jesus' prophecy about future judgement, we get a glimpse of an ethic about loving others. Where do your ethics come from?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, August 18, 2019. Holy means to be set apart for God, and God's work, to be sacred. All Christians are made holy upon regeneration, that is salvation. So being holy, holiness, is about who we are through the grace of Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Are we allowing God's holiness to grow in us?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, August 11, 2019. Text: Ephesians 4:11-14. How do we become well trained, well equipped Christians, able to keep a steady course? Listen and find out how to get started.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Aug. 4, 2019. A synopsis of the Biblical perspective on racism and diversity, and why the church must stand against racism, and embrace racial and ethnic diversity.
There are times in our Christian walk where sin just seems to overwhelm us for a moment, and it can be tempting to just give up. Don't! Jesus is bringing our salvation to completion, and He will be faithful to do so.
- Place all your hope in Jesus Christ alone. 2. Never give up that hope. 3. See your hope fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
You must be born again. That is the central theme of the third chapter of John. But why? Because we are broken, even an intelligent and moral man like Nicodemus needed to be reborn. Have you been born again? (Excuse poor audio quality.)
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, July 14, 2019. Topic: Salvation. Texts: Romans 10:17, Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 26:18.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, July 7, 2019. Texts: John 17:17; Psalm 119:160; Romans 3:23; John 8:31-32. There is only ONE Truth, and only it can set you free.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, June 30th, 2019. Topic: Lost Causes. Texts: 1 Corinthians 1:27; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 20:16. God is glorified through lost causes, and as Christians we need to look for God at work in so called lost causes. We also need to realize as his beloved children we are never a lost cause to Him. If we stay lost, it is because in our pride we refuse to humble ourselves before His loving grace.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, June 23rd, 2019. Text: Matthew 25:14-30. God has given us an investment in trust, and He is going to hold us accountable for it. Do you have a good investment strategy?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, June 16, 2019. The end is coming, but we have a patient Father in God who wants us to win in the end. Questions? Listen to the hope in 2 Peter 3:1-9.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, June 9th, 2019. Jesus continues to tell us to be prepared. Are you really ready to meet the Lord? No one knows the day or hour. Be prepared, be out on the front porch waiting for Jesus, because He is coming back.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church June 2nd, 2019. Text: Matthew 24:36-51. Run away from anyone who tells you they know precisely when Jesus is coming back. No one but the Father knows.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, May 26th, 2019. What does Jesus want us to know about His second coming?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, May 19th, 2019. Jesus begins to speak to the disciples of the end times. What can we learn from what he says?
Mothers Day Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, May 12th, 2019. What are some qualities of a godly mother?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, May 5th, 2019. Text: Matthew 23:16-39. We need to be sure we are not blind guides, leading others away from God, instead of closer to Him.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, April 28, 2019. Text: Matthew 23:13-15; Mark 12:40. In the "woes" Jesus applies to the scribes and Pharisees in the temple courts is a warning for us as Christians. How should we behave, what things should we be doing? Although Jesus speaks of the negative aspects of these rotten, religious leaders, we can learn the positive goals of Christians by applying the inverse principles to our lives. Whatever Jesus told these men they were doing wrong, we as Christians need to do the opposite.
Easter sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, April 21, 2019. Text: Various. How did we even get to Easter in history, and what does it mean for you and me?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, April 14, 2019. Texts: John 12:12-19; Revelation 19:11-16. We often concentrate on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on this day, as we should, but did you know there are two triumphal entrances spoken of in the Bible?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, April 7, 2019. Text: Mathew 12:1-12. God has a structure for individual humans, and humanity as a whole to work in. Part of that structure includes spiritual leaders. When the spiritual leaders become corrupt, searching after the wrong things in life, there is structural failure from the top down. Are you a Pharisee or a lover?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, March 31, 2019. Text: Mathew 22:34-46. Jesus is surrounded by a pack of wolves, but He gets the last word. Jesus silences the wolves of the world. Those who resist the truth will be overcome by the truth. Choose Jesus, he wins every time.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, March 24, 2019. Text: Matthew 22:23-33. Be careful not to impose your preconceived notions, ideas, or beliefs on the Bible. Let the Bible lead you to the truth. The Sadducees denied themselves the hope of the resurrection because they did not know the Word, and they denied the power of God.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, March 17, 2019. Text Matthew 22:15-22. Be careful if you are trying to run a defensive game against Jesus. It cannot be done. He always wins. Also, be sure you are giving to God what is God's. The religious leaders in the temple were not paying their due to God, and that left them fully exposed.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, March 10, 2019. Text: Matthew 22:1-14. The kingdom of God is like a royal wedding reception. You've been invited. How do you respond?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, March 3, 2019. Text: Matthew 21:33-46 Jesus has come into Jerusalem for a slam dunk. He is on the offensive, and he has a word with those who were supposed to be taking care of the kingdom, but were not. He is The Rock, The Cornerstone, and you don't won't to be on the receiving end of his wrath. The church needs to learn from the rotten renters, and become terrific tenants instead.
Revelation 3:7-13. This letter shouts to the church today, "Keep the Word, and do not deny the name of Jesus!" Those who can do that will become pillars immovable by thw way. Want to hear more? Click and listen...
Revelation 3:1-6. Just because a church has a reputation for being alive doesn't mean it is. Listen as Jesus warns the church to wake up, repent, and pay attention to the laundry.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, February 24, 2019. Text: Matthew 21:23-32. God doesn't listen to lip service. He wants doers, not talkers.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, February 10, 2019. Text: Mathew 21:18-22. Topic: Bearing Fruit. Jesus is demonstrating that if you are going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk. He does not tolerate false advertising.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, February 3, 2019. Text: Matthew 21:14-17. Be careful of the indignant spirit. Be sure when Jesus is working in your midst, you join Him, not oppose Him. We are battling an oppressive spirit in the United States today.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, January 27, 2019. Text: Matthew 21:12-13. What is the temple and why must it be holy? How does the temple revealed in the Bible apply to my Christian walk?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, January 20th, 2019. Text: Matthew 21:1-11. Who entered Jerusalem that day? Does the answer matter?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church. January 13, 2019. Have you asked Jesus to let you see, to really see? Two blind men reached out to Jesus in faith, and He responded by giving them sight.
Communion Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church. Jan. 6, 2019. How can death pass us over? How do we obtain eternal life? Who is our substitute for sin, and the redeemer of our lives?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church. Dec. 30,2018. What is wisdom, how do we get it, and how do we walk in it?
Revelation 2:18-29. Love, be patient, and endure for Jesus. Do not tolerate evil. Fun sermon to listen to because I cannot pronounce Thyatira.
Christmas Sermon for Covenant Community Church, Dec. 23, 2018. Luke 2:1-39. A historic look at the motive for Christmas.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church. December 2nd, 2018. Text: Jeremiah 17:12-14. Topic: 1st Sunday of Advent: Hope. Where is your hope? What keeps you going?
Does the church need to repent? What is Jesus' estimation of those churches that hold to His name, and to the Christian faith in spite of being surrounded by a pagan culture? What is God's special name for you? Listen and explore these questions.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, November 18, 2018. Text: Matthew 20:17-28. Topic: Following Christ. Can you drink from the cup Christ drank?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, November 11, 2018. Text: Matthew 19:30 - 20:16. Topic: Eternal Life, Salvation, Jesus the Generous Master, The Equality of Wages, The first shall be last, and the last shal be first.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church - November 4th, 2018. Text: Matthew 19:13-30 Topics: Coming to Jesus, Salvation by Faith, Good Works, Wealth. Don't be deceived, you must come to Jesus in humility and repentance, having faith He can save you, and nothing else can.
So, Christians should look like like saints, but they also should look like warriors. Say what? Listen to this episode to find out why.
Christians look like loving saints. Doesn't sound cool? Doesn't sound like the Christians you know? Doesn't sound like you? Listen to my notes on the subject...
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church October 28, 2018. Topic: Marriage Text: Matthew 19:1-12 Jesus is asked about divorce, and responds with the theology of marriage.
For the final episode of Premises of Christianity, I summarize the series with a set of summaries: The Creeds. These ancient documents accurately summarize what Christians believe, and are second only to the Bible as the authoritative source of those beliefs.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church October 21, 2018. Text: Matthew 18:15-35. Topic: Sin, Confrontation, and Forgiveness. As Jesus wraps up His "Little Child" lesson, he expalins how to confront, but most importantly, how to forgive sin.
What is the Biblical origin of Christinaity? Is it man made, or God made? The answer matters as we continue to explore what a Christian looks like.
Christians believe that there is only ONE GOD who exists as three co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is one of the most difficult premises of Christinaity to understand. However, it is essential to every other premise of orthodox / apostolic Chrsitianity. In the podcast I refer to two references whic are listed below:
- For a basic and sound overview of this Christian belief I recommend, What Is the Trinity?; by R.C. Sproul.
- For those who want a deep, systematic development of this doctrine on a scholarly level I recommend, Classic Christianity: A Systematic Theology; by Thomas C. Oden.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church October 14, 2018. Text: Matthew 18:10-14. Topic: Reaching the lost.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church October 1, 2018. Text: Matthew 18:5-10. Topic: Sin. Sin is no laughing matter.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church Sept. 30, 2018. Text: Matthew 17:22-18:5. Topic: Being a child of God.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church September 23, 2018. Text: Matthew 17:14-20. Topic: Faith and coming down off of moutaintop experiences. Have you had mountaintop experiences with God and then met with discouragement on the way down. Follow Jesus off the Mountain in Mathhew 17 and see what happens.
Poverty, suffering, and slander can all be part of what it means to be the church, and to be a Christian. What does this letter say to us about those topics?
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, Sept. 9, 2018, Title: The Reveal X (times) Infinity. Text: Matthew 17:1-13. Topic: The Transfiguration.
Could you identify a real Christian? What do they look like anyway? We will begin a multi-part series on that subject today.
God's plan for humanity has a finish line, a point where the plan is completed. Christians look with hope towards that day of accomplishment.
The rerecorded portion of the The Reveal concluding the lost half of the live recording.
Sermon for Coveanat Community Fellowship Church, Sept. 2,2018. Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples, what does that mean for us today? (The recording equipment failed before this sermon was finished, and the missing half was rerecorded later for broadcast.) Text: Matthew 16:17-28.
Be patient when looking at the covers of the books around you, but when it comes to your own cover be sure it advertises and delivers true Christianity.
It is a good thing to be a hard working, productive church, bearing up and enduring in the midst of this evil world. However, it means nothing if you have lost your first love.
It really is all about the big picture. The big picture is revealed in the Bible, and it gives us purpose. Here is a glimpse of the big picture from the prophet Isaiah.
Earlier we spoke of that fact that God has a plan for humanity in spite of our brokenness, and that plan involved the descendants of a man named Abraham. In this episode we are going to expand on that plan, and the hope that it gives Christians.
Sermon for Covenant Community Felllowship Church, August 19, 2018. Text: Matthew 16:5-12. Topices: Faith, Providence, Hearing God, Maturity of Understanding, False Teaching.
Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church, August 12, 2018. Topic: Staying perceptive to the signs of God. Text: Matthew 15:29 - 16:4.
Why is Western culture weak before opposing idealogoies that subscribe to indiscriminate violence, and where do we go to find the strength and authority to eradicate violence in ourselves and others?
So, Christians believe humanity is currently broken. Do we give up hope? No, because we also believe God has a plan. In this episode we a take brief look at that belief and why we believe it.
A Biblical response to the world's idea of being complete. Sermon for Covenant Community Fellowship Church 8/5/2018.
Covenant Community Fellowship sermon for 7/29/18. Topics: Humility, approaching Christ, Faith, Love. Text: Matthew 15:21-28.
So, humanity is broken and so is the planet. God's response should be predictable, but is it?
Humanity has a heart problem only Jesus can fix. Covenant Community Fellowship Church sermon for 7/22/2018. Text: Matthew 15:10-20.
We now look at a premise which is at the core of Christian teaching, preaching, theology, and practice. Christianity believes there is something terribly wrong with humanity, and it believes the reason is we have rebelled against God.
Covenant Community Fellowship Sermon for July 15th, 2018. Text: Acts 2:42. Topics: Vision, Fellowship, Church, Devotion. This was a sermon of vision and response to our bi-annuel international conference.
Did you know God has given humanity a choice to either obey or disobey Him? We will look at Genesis 2:15-17 and see how the gift of this choice relates to love, and to death.