Sermons: Recent Episodes
King of Kings: Charlotte, NC
Greatest Commandment, Mark 12, religious dos and donts, Deuteronomy 6, Leviticus 19, Shema, love your neighbor, decalogue, 10 commandments, grace of God, Luke 10, Parable of the Good Samaritan, Not far from the kingdom of God, love hurts, mission, risk and faith, love acts
seats of honor, Mark 10, The Way of the Cross, Sons of Thunder, James and John, What do you want me to do for you, what do you want, selective listening, are you able, cup of blessing, cup of suffering, cup of wrath, baptism of purification, cleansing of sin, baptism, cup of salvation, worldly power, biblical authority, servanthood, servant leadership, ransom for many, desiring the benefits of God more than God Himself, Isaiah 53
cost of discipleship, Rockefeller, Just a little bit more, wealth and Jesus, money and Jesus, Jesus and possessions, Rich Your Ruler, Mark 10, the way of the cross, inherit eternal life, love of neighbor, loving others as yourself, Jesus the Great Physician, the kingdom of heaven, who then can be saved?, spiritual blessings, corrie ten boom, You can never learn that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have, golden calf, not all loss, stewardship, a new home, a new family, a new mission
Psalm 8, hymnbook of Israel, no ordinary people, the weight of glory, true worship, Psalms, hymn of praise, praise the lord, wonder, gratitude, wonders of creation, God as artist, Creativity of God, God's good earth, imago dei, made in the image of God, crowned with honor and glory, glories of creation, doxology, subdue rule be fruitful and multiply, dominion, Lord over all
Rabbi Jesus, Following Jesus, Faith of a child, the way of the Cross, Who's the greatest?, servanthood, suffering Messiah, downward spiritual mobility, kingdom of God, humility in the church, ask God, dependent upon God, heavenly father, God gives good gifts, human vulnerability, human weakness, asking God to meet our need, unashamed dependence upon the Lord, James 3, James 4
James 2, faith without works is dead, favoritism and partiality in the church, I Samuel 16:7, Deuteronomy 10:17, Leviticus 19:15, rich and poor, God's heart for the disenfranchised, God's preference for the poor, injustice, Biblical justice, faith and works, talk is cheap, East Charlotte, mission of the church
The Usual Suspects, Charles Baudelaire, does the devil exist, be strong in the Lord, Be strengthened by God, human strength, the world the flesh and the devil, whole armor of God, our battle is not against flesh and blood, human beings are not the enemy, forked lightning Christians, standing together, belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the Gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of righteousness, sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, God provides, spiritual armor, spiritual weapons, the power of prayer, spiritual warfare, satan is defeated, John Donne, It is not in the power of the devil to do so much harm as God can do good, gospel, mission of the church, God saves
John 6, Mark Heard, Strong Arm of Love, I AM, Bread of life, Living bread of heaven, eucharistic, scandalous faith, scandal of the Cross, the Spirit gives life, when flesh fails God saves, belief, the gift of faith, to whom should we go, the words of eternal life, Keep going, remain in me, abide in Jesus, God asking the impossible, sanctification hurts
Mark 6, Mission, Sent out two by two, given the authority of Jesus, hospitality, evangelism, grass roots evangelism, people are the medium, shake the dust off your feet, practical mission, preaching the gospel, plumb line, Amos 7, faithful church, missional church, the mission of God, Gospel proclamation, holistic mission, mission of word and deed, healing the sick, exorcism, unclean spirits, casting out demons, anointing with oil, relationships, table fellowship, call to mission, the cost of mission, shake the dust off your feet, new beginnings, replant, east Charlotte
Death is a painful subject, Personal pain robs perspective but worship restores it, Pain moves with clarity into the foreground and pushing God out of view, Jesus works in these moments to replace the old perspectives of personal status and shame that keep us from him, Revealing to us his worthiness have a new perspective and life in His name, No longer death but sleep
Anna Karenina, life is messy, relationships, broken relationships, Corinthian Church, Paul the Apostle, conflict resolution, ambassadors for Christ, reconciliation, be reconciled to God, make peace, the love of Christ compels us, the love of Christ for us, reconciling all things to Himself, new creation in Christ, new creation, no longer according to the flesh, Leo Tolstoy, in Christ, ministry of reconciliation, ambassadors for Christ, All happy families are alike but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way
gospel, seed, seed to sow, the sower, good soil, sowing seeds, kingdom of God, parables of Jesus, spiritual growth, fruitfulness, parable of the mustard seed, parable of the seed, Great oaks from little acorns grow, Zechariah 4:10, small beginnings, the power of the seed, the seed as Gospel, being faithful in the small things, underdog, foolish things of the world the shame the wise, I Corinthians 1:27, mustard weed, a harvest awaits, 2nd coming
I resolved that however long I might remain a slave in form the day had passed forever when I could be a slave in fact, a house divided, household of God, family of God, who is my brother?, who is my sister?, who is my mother?, binding the strong man, bondage, freedom in Jesus, living in bondage, the power of Jesus, slaves no more, no longer a slave in fact, Frederick Douglass, bondage of humanity
Trinity Sunday, Trinity, Trinitarian, Triune, Father Son and Holy Spirit, Imago Dei, image bearers, made in the image of God, male and female, John Donne, in our image, after our likeness, dominion and rule, be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, original calling, communion with God, human community, marriage, one flesh union, it takes two, it takes two to make a thing go right, made for relationship, relationality, biblical community, fellowship with God, hardwired for relationship, human connection, friendship, very good, the weight of glory, CS Lewis, no ordinary People, personhood, identity, holy sonnet number 14
Pentecost, a new age, who is the Holy Spirit to you, who is the holy spirit for us, charismatic, filled with the Holy Spirit, holy fire, waiting, a mighty wind, I AM, first fruits, harvest, feast of weeks, pilgrimage to Jerusalem, tongues of fire, power, glory and presence of God, corporate filling of the Holy Spirit, birthday of the church, body of Christ, household of God, the new temple, unity of the Holy Spirit, fellowship of the Holy Spirit, all nations under heaven, foreign tongues, foreign languages, new wine, Christian Pentecost, Jewish Pentecost, The Promise of the Father, transformation of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, Romans 8:11, Ephesians 1:19-20, in our hearts, dwelling in our hearts, empowered for mission
The Ascension, victory lap, fulfillment, mission accomplished, suffering messiah, resurrected messiah, in Jesus' name, in His name, Gospel for all nations, great commission, witnesses, testify, mission of the church, waiting, clothed with power, equipping, discipleship, cloud of glory, worship of Jesus, Semisonic, Closing Time, new era, working and waiting, not our true home, dual citizens, sojourners, faithfulness to the end, preparing for the Holy Spirit
John 15, Abide in me, Gospel, friendship, agape, what is love, eros, philia, abiding, CS Lewis, the four loves, greater love has no one but this, best friends, common mission, common goal, journeying together
Acts 8, Africa, African Christianity, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, PEAR, resurrection, resurrection stories, unlikely, chance meetings with God, Apostle Luke, Philip the Evangelist, Ethiopian Eunuch, baptism, desert, wilderness, Philip the deacon, religious outsider, a place to belong, the household of God, the family of God, Isaiah 53, asking for help, unashamed ignorance, suffering Messiah, who is Jesus, gentile, mission to the gentiles, gentile project, ACNA, AMIA, PEAR USA, Anglican, forerunner, a gospel for everyone, welcomed in, invited in, Christ's ambassadors, Ashley null, the kingdom of God is within you
gospel, resurrection, resurrection stories, resurrection images, shepherd as leader, God is the shepherd, leading the flock, calling his sheep by name, open pastures, Ezekiel 34, Ezekiel 35, Ezekiel 36, Ezekiel 37, I AM, I am the door, Rod and staff, false shepherds, I know my flock, my flock knows me, lay down my life for the sheep, sacrifice, gather my flock, love my flock, love my sheep as my Father loves me, love is never far from danger, listen to the good shepherd's voice, follow the good shepherd, wherever God leads, life to the full, John 10, Psalm 23
8th day, gospel, resurrection, life on the 8th day, new creation, new life, tragicomedy, mysterious stranger, more than a prophet, breaking of bread, sacramental, word and sacrament, God the host, 4 fold action, took, blessed, broke, gave, takes, blesses, breaks, gives, burning hearts, revelation, open eyes, genesis 28, Jacob's ladder, God was in this place and I did not know it, undercover Jesus, Hidden Jesus, Hiding God, Emily Dickinson, God is playful, God is winsome, tell all the truth but tell it slant, divine restraint, truth must dazzle gradually, catechesis
Acts 3, Psalm 111, 1 John 5, John 20, the name above all names, the name of Jesus, the name that saves
The empty tomb, signs, evidence, easter story, Mark 16, witnesses, women disciples, resurrection, angels, celebration, celebrate, stone rolled away, angel, he is not here, he is risen, holy fear, message from God, go to Galilee, breadcrumbs, faith, belief, converts, last at the cross, first at the tomb, in the dirt, mundane, it is finished, George Herbert, Death used to be an executioner, but the Gospel makes him just a gardener, oriented to life, resurrection life, people of the resurrection, eastertide, grow in faith, practice faith, faith in action, alleluia, hallelujah, good news, gospel, stewards of joy, testimony, faith passed down
Passion of Jesus, John 19, Crucifixion, Holy Week Story, Pilate, Jewish Leaders, Sanhedrin, King of the Jews, King of Kings, Gospel, Passover Lamb, Paschal Lamb, Behold your king, Behold the man, Ecce Homo, It is finished, physical suffering, God-forsakeness, crushed for our iniquities, Jesus became sin, Jesus became a curse, spiritual suffering, Golgotha, Jesus understands, humiliation, torture, scourging, flogging, beaten and despised, Good news, gospel, His beloved, cry of victory, song of our salvation, the world, the flesh and the devil, Hebrews 12:2
Passover, Upper Room, A Long Goodbye, Passover Meal, Communion, Eucharist, Last Supper, Betrayal, This is my body, this is my blood, serve, servant, humility, get low, foot washing, love, this is my command, give and receive, John 13, Gospel, sacramental
Mark 11, Holy Week, Inhabit the Story, Inhabit the Holy Week Story, Hosanna, Salvation, Passover, Jerusalem, pilgrims, pilgrimage, what kind of king, messiah, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Psalm 118, Hallel, prince of peace, donkey, Zechariah 9, palm branches, who do you say that I am, royal procession, triumphal entry, war and peace, following Jesus, Come and see, Holy Week journey, Palm Sunday
Mark 2, Healing, Friendship, Care enough to act, life and death, defy human conventions, risk, faith, radical hospitality, holy urgency, passion for the Gospel, more than moralism, challenge the ordinary, overcoming obstacles, new wineskins, Jesus will act, God will act, He will do it, your sins are forgiven, Jesus meeting us at our point of need, step of faith, expecting Jesus to act
Point A to point X, going too far and falling too short, God is rich in mercy, Boasting in necessity, boasting in the Cross, Born again in Christ, Plan and purpose before you were born, equipped for the journey, CB radio, sandwich, coke, Coca Cola, pellet gun, parachute, purpose in Christ, Larry Walters, hot air ballooning
Wordsworth, Jesus, cleansing the temple, clearing out the temple, John 2, Righteous anger, Passover, Pilgrimage, temple, 2nd temple Judaism, holy place, sacred ground, worship, devotion, business as usual, my Father's House, marketplace, McChurch, Christian schwag, Jesus gear, religious goods and services, temple courts, one perfect sacrifice, sacramental acts, in bed with Rome, signs and wonders, Herod's temple, new temple, new temple community, seduction of worldly power, the way of the Cross, the way of the world
, Who do you say that I am, Mark 8, The Cost of Discipleship, Son of Man, Suffering Servant, Suffering Messiah, Resurrection, Rejection, Rejected Christ, Get behind me Satan, rebuke, kingdoms in conflict, lose your life to save it, save your life to lose it, Gospel, Kingdom of God, forfeit your life, forfeit your soul, the soul's worth, shame and honor, take up your cross, deny yourself, service, sacrifice, into the wilderness, the wilderness way, Peter, lay down your life, comfort instead of the cross
Jesus as the new Israel, Lent, Wilderness, Wilderness Wanderings, Temptation, Testing, Trials, Mark 1, Matthew 4, Repentance, Tempted by the devil, temptation of Christ, temptation of Jesus, Deuteronomy 6-8, fasting, 40 days and 40 nights, no fear in the wilderness, the world, the flesh, the devil, let the Holy Spirit drive you, preparation for ministry
Imposition of ashes, Penitence, Penitential, Lent, Inhabiting Lent, Ash Wednesday, Sacrifice, Empty-Handed, Isaiah 58, Matthew 6, Letting Go, Giving Up, Fasting, Fast, Sabbath, Sabbath People, Generosity, Alms Giving, Contemplation, Study, Prayer, Devotion, Sin, Holy Grief, Holy Sadness, Repentance, Return from Exile, Turning Around, Surrender, Forgiveness, Appearance vs. reality, ashes, mortality, remember that you are dust, humility
Transfiguration, Feast of the Transfiguration, The way up is the way down, glory and suffering, Moses, Elijah, Mark 9, Epiphany
Great Commission, Matthew 28, Revelation 7, multi ethic church, racial reconciliation, all tribes, tongues and nations, mission, missionary people, missionality, love your neighbor, everyday missionaries
Knowledge puffs up, love builds up, legalism, corrective theology, Paul, Epistles, Corinthians, known by God, food sacrificed to idols, weaker brother, weaker sister, guilty conscience, Chesterton, rights, freedom in Christ, American civil rights, pride, judgment, how well do you love, I corinthians 9, I Corinthians 8, lay down your rights, service, Jesus, Gospel
Baptism, Baptism of Jesus, Gospel, Mark 1, John the Baptist, John the Baptizer, Epiphany, 3 Magi, 3 Wise Men, Mission, Missional, Missionality, Light of the World, Light for the World, Jordan River, Solidarity, Emmanuel, God with us, God for us, identification, Holy Spirit, signs and seals, sign, sacrament, sacramental, Trinity, Holy Trinity, Trinitarian moment, The great exchange, mission of God, East Charlotte, mission field
Jeremiah 31, Matthew 2, Christmastide, 12 day of Christmas, Emmanuel, God with us, God for us, slaughter of the innocents. Isaiah 53:3, Holy Family, Flight to Egypt, exile, refugees, darkness pushing back, out fo Egypt, Nazareth, from the margins, God of the margins, Over the Rhine, Bluer, Love is never far from danger, Malcolm Muggeridge, The End of Christendom, The end of our rope, vulnerability, God is our help in times of trouble
Incarnation, John 1, Galatians 3, Psalm 147, Isaiah 61, Isaiah 62, Christmas, Christmastide, 12 Days of Christmas, He's Here, John's Prologue, New beginnings, Holy Trinity, Colossians 1, In the Beginning, Genesis 1, Light of the world, Light shines in the darkness, the darkness has not overcome it, battle of dark and light, Word made flesh, tabernacle, Emmanuel, God with Us, God for us, Song of the Father's Glory
Virgin Birth, Luke 1, Gabriel, angels, Mary, Theotokos, Immaculate Conception, The Annunciation, Faith, Surrender, Advent, Waiting, Do Not Be Afraid, Messiah, Son of God, Son of the Most High, Holy Spirit, Nothing is impossible with God, There's Something About Mary, Preparation, the Christ Child, 2 Samuel 7
John 3, Psalm 126, Waiting, Advent, How to prepare in the waiting, how to wait, I Thessalonians 5
John the Baptist, forerunners, roadies, Mark 1, Gospel of Mark, Isaiah 40, Advent, waiting, repentance, Beginnings, Jesus Christ the Son of God, Backstory, Fulfilled prophecy, New Exodus, wilderness, baptism, forgiveness, Repent, exalting Jesus, baptism of the Holy Spirit, Good news, Gospel, slow down, listen to God's voice, prepare the way of the Lord, ache for a savior, need for a savior
Advent, Waiting, Biblical Waiting, Yearning, Anticipation, Hope, Ache, Isaiah 64, Psalm 80, Mark 13:24-37, God is worth waiting for, Preparation, Pentential Season, God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him, God waits upon us, Liturgical calendar, new year, church calendar, COVID waiting, Isaiah 40:31
Christ the King Sunday, Shepherd-King, Suffering and Glory, 20th Anniversary, Divine Kingship, Servant Leadership, A Different Kind of King, Counter Cultural, Remembering, Ezekiel 34, Matthew 25, I Corinthians 15, COVID sermon
The Day of the Lord, Second Coming of Christ, Amos 5, Wedding Feast, Faith Has Hands and Feet, True Worship, Justice and Righteousness, Word and Deed, Love of Neighbor, Loving East Charlotte, Loving your neighbor, Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy, Belief and Action
baptism good shepherd End Times All Saints Day Revelation 7 John the Revelator Who is able to stand? sealed by God the church militant the church triumphant technicolor church every tribe nation and language the lamb God is our shelter the hope or revelation we will stand God being our Helper