Chris Aho's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Rev. Christopher R. Aho
These are Chris Aho's Sermons.Most of these are offered to the congregation I serve, Oxford Baptist Church, in Oxford, North Carolina.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
What do we learn from Mary as she is called by God?
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Third Sunday of Advent 2020.
May we embody the promises and glimpses of hope, even as we away the full fulfillment of hope God promises.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church for the Second Sunday of Advent.
Today we look at John and how he might show us how to meet the Lord in the wilderness that is 2020.
If you find my cultural references funny, here are a few squares for your bingo card:
Video Game, culture, Dallas Cowboys, strategy, Mike Tyson, lunch, Carolina Panthers, Margins, leadership, organization, lunch, Nintendo, punched in the mouth, "We don't do things like that here"
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the First Sunday of Advent 2020.
Scriptures: Mark 13.24-37, Isaiah 64.1-9
This is a devotional offered to the deacons at their meeting on Sunday, March 15th, 2020. They met to discuss the church's actions related to the COVID-19 virus. It turns out, Moses is helpful on this one.
A sermon for the second Sunday of Lent at Oxford Baptist Church.
In life, we face uncertainty all the time. How do we proceed faithfully?
A sermon for the Epiphany season at Oxford Baptist Church.
If faith is like riding a bike, then maybe, sometimes, we ride the backward brain bike.
A sermon on the occasion of the Baptism of Jesus at Oxford Baptist Church.
Baptism brings together the tangible and the spiritual to refelct how God is at work among us all.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the occasion of Epiphany.
We can learn four important things from the Wise Men on Epiphany Sunday: to seek counsel, to act diligently, to give generously, and to cultivate wisdom.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on Christmas Eve.
Sometimes we feel out of place. If we think about it, most of the folks at the manger that night did too. But isn't that the good news of the Gospel? No matter who we are or how out of place we feel, God still meets us, no matter what.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Third Sunday of Advent.
The matter at hand is not merely that God's presence, work, call, and love overwhelm us at times, but that when we are overwhelmed, God is with us as well.
A sermon for the first Sunday of Advent at Oxford Baptist Church.
Advent reminds us about the gap between what is and what will be. What happened is not yet what will happen either. Advent helps us with that as it shows our need to fill in the gap between what is and what will be. Christians fill that gap with faith. Oh, sometimes it is anxiety, frustration, disappointment, trauma, or even busyness, but what we are called most to is to fill in the gaps with faith.
This morning's sermon is a series of testimonies given to me by members of Oxford Baptist and shared with the church. These are tithing testimonies and I hope they are helpful.
A sermon from Acts 5 for Oxford Baptist Church about generosity, giving, faithfulness, and being honest with ourselves and with God.
A sermon about Zacchaeus for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church.
Here are ways that this story goes deeper, but the long and short of it is when Jesus comes in everything changes.
This is a sermon from the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church from 2 Timothy on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost.
Our call as followers of Jesus is to be diligent disciples, not subsisting just on whims or on highs or on the things that make us feel good, but we are called to be devoted disciples who remain faithful through all of life so as to experience a life that leads to life.
A sermon on the Ten Lepers who were healed in Luke 17 for Oxford Baptist Church on the 18th Sunday after Pentecost. Are we really thankful? Are we actively thankful? Or are we the kind of thankful that just posts a cute meme on the socials and goes on our way?
A sermon from 1 Timothy 6 and the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus for Oxford Baptist Church on the 16th Sunday after Pentecost.
Are we like the Rich Man or Lazarus?
A sermon from the Parable of the Dishonest Manager for Oxford Baptist Church. This parable is about forgiveness. Anything we do not forgive will entrap us. So, as we have been forgiven so must we too, radically and graciously, forgive.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church about the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin and how we react to finding and being found.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost. Jesus calls us to consider how we interact with one another, who we eat with, and who we open our tables for. As we consider this call, it is a collective and an individual one. May we discern God's call to open our tables.
A sermon on Jesus healing on the Sabbath for Oxford Baptist Church, the 11th Sunday after Pentecost.
We want integrity. We want what we say, who we are, and what we do to all match up. This is a failure of the leader of the synagogue. Will it be ours?
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost. When we decide to follow Jesus, it may not be the easy path, but we know in following him, we will at least be nearer to the Lord.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the occasion of Baptism and the 9th Sunday after Pentecost.
Do we believe enough to keep our eyes open and see the unexpected places and unexpected times when Jesus may appear?
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church about the Parable of the Rich Fool on the occasion of Communion
A sermon for Trinity Sunday on Father's Day at Oxford Baptist Church.
The Spirit has a way, just like dad has a way (my way or the highway, right?). When we consider Acts 6, we see the Spirit's way and the offshoot of the Spirit's way. And we also see other ways. Another way that things often go which are not, at all, driven by the Spirit.
A sermon for Graduate Recognition Sunday and the celebration of Jesus Christ's Ascension at Oxford Baptist Church.
A sermon for Children's Led Worship and the Third Sunday of Easter at Oxford Baptist Church.
This was my meditation for the Ash Wednesday Service at Oxford Baptist Church.
I am thankful for the Jan Richardson Poem and for all who shared the service with me.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church during our Christmas Eve Candlight and Communion Service.
A sermon about hope and wishes from the First Sunday of Advent at Oxford Baptist Church.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on Christ the King Sunday, when we recognize Jesus is a different kind of king than what we might think we want, but is exactly the kind of king we really need.
Here is my sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 25th Sunday after Pentecost, 11-11-2018.
A sermon for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost for Oxford Baptist Church...it is a sermon about love.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the occasion of Deacon Ordination and the sixth sermon about our church covenant.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church about the fifth tenant of the church's covenant:
That, as stewards of the Lord, we will cheerfully contribute of our means as He has prospered us, and according to the plan recommended by the Church, for the maintenance of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us; for the relief of the destitute; and in cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention; for the extension of His Kingdom to all the world.
This is the third of six sermons on the Oxford Baptist Church Covenant. Today we explore how, as Salt and Light, we are to seek divine guidance and walk as witnesses while avoiding worldliness and ungodliness.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church about the first tenant of the church covenant adopted 106 years ago this week.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church, the fourth of four sermons on Back to School, Back to the Basics. There was a long intro about Christian Fellowship that was a follow-up to last week's sermon.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on Labor Day Weekend. It is the third of four sermons in our Back to School, Back to Basics series.
The first in a series of four Back to School, Back to Basics sermons. Today I addressed the basics of worshipping as the church for the sake of the Christian life.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost.
The transcript below is a new experiment buzzsprout is working on. I added it to this episode but have not messed with the transcript myself...it is all computer generated and updated. From what I have seen, it looks pretty good.
A sermon for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost and upon the return of our youth from Passport
A sermon for June 10, 2018, the third Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church. Of note, we had no power in the sanctuary due to a fallen tree and broken power line on Main Street. The laughing at the beginning of the service is in reference to that. If the sound is different, that is also why it is a little different. I actually think it is a little better.
A sermon for Graduate Recognition Sunday and the second Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church.
This is an audio recording of Louise Aho's funeral service from April 21, 2018, in Calumet, Michigan.
A sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter at Oxford Baptist Church and the conclusion of three sermons that reflect on the future in the wake of the resurrection.
A sermon for Easter Sunday at Oxford Baptist, and in a way, it is the first in a series of three sermons about looking to the future faithfully.
A sermon about our call to leave where we are in order to faithfully serve God and share the Gospel. And most of the time, leaving where we are mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, is harder than changing zip codes.
This is a sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the occasion of the Ordination of our Deacons and on All-Saints Sunday. Texts are Acts 6 and Matthew 5
A sermon for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Reformation Sunday, at Oxford Baptist Church.
A sermon from Philippians 4 for Oxford Baptist Church on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost. This Sunday we also welcomed Batts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church as they worshiped with us and we celebrated a partnership following our Matthew relief projects.
A Sermon from Philippians 3 on the 18th Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 14th Sunday after Pentecost. This sermon approaches Matthew 18 and the need for honest, deep, trusting relationships. The kind that are called for in our church covenant.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 13th Sunday after Pentecost.
If you see a burning bush, call the fire department. But then, listen for the Lord because God might be calling you to something. And if you are called to something, if you are called to act, you can never be fully satisfied by sitting still and avoiding that call.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost. If the beginning is Peter's confession that "You are the Christ!" then what is the end? If that is our profession of faith, what does the end look like?
A sermon for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church.
Are you afraid of getting wet? Then you will never walk on water.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost and on the occasion of Baptism and Communion. This message could also have been titled something like seeing with compassion. Please note also the abrupt beginning is due to me cutting off a portion of the intro that would not have made sense except to those present.
A sermon for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church.
Do you feel like you are in the weeds? Do you want to make a difference? Maybe you need to be in the wheat or in the weeds if you truly want to make change in your world.
This sermon for Oxford Baptist Church includes a parable, an idiom, and a Polish Proverb. How's that for a mid-July sermon?
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.
Maybe we don't need to swing the hammer better, maybe we need a different way to hold the nail.
This sermon was offered to the Aho Family Reunion in Rabbit Bay Michigan on July 2, 2017. I hope all who were there appreciated it, and if you want to listen as well, I think it might be a good word for your family as well.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Second Sunday after Pentecost and Father's day.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on Trinity Sunday and on the occasion of blessing our Youth Mission Team
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on May 14, 2017. This week we had a Parent/Child dedication and the sermon relied heavily on illustrations from my own family and my mother and grandmothers.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Fourth Sunday of Easter.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are to hear his voice, but it is all too easy to be fooled by the wrong shepherds. And the wrong shepherds and not always the obvious ones. It is the sneaky, subtle ones that pose the greatest threat to our lives, faith, and soul.
This is a sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Sunday after Easter, 2017.
I wonder if the reason Thomas doesn't believe yet has anything to do with the disciples who said Jesus has risen. I am indebted to Working Preacher for the commentary that gave birth to my idea.
A note about Easter Sunday. I did not record it because of a technical problem. I may be able to get a recording but if not, I am sorry.
A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Lent for Oxford Baptist Church. The reading of the resurrection of Lazarus is long but it is good. There is an introduction to the scripture at the beginning and the Sermon begins following the Gospel Reading at about the 7:30 mark.
A sermon for the third Sunday of Lent at Oxford Baptist Church. The scripture readings follow an introduction and are the Call of David by Samuel and Jesus healing a man born blind. The Scripture readings end at 11:30 if you choose to skip through them.
A sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent at Oxford Baptist Church. The length of the sermon and this file is tied to the length of the OT and NT readings. So, you can skip those if you would like. The sermon itself begins at 5:10.
A sermon for the first Sunday of Lent at Oxford Baptist Church. Lectionary Texts: Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7 and Matthew 4.1-11
A sermon for Transfiguration Sunday and the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper at Oxford Baptist Church.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 7th Sunday after Epiphany. This sermon has echoes in the sermon from two weeks ago, A Different Kind of Community, though they stand on their own.
A sermon from 1 Corinthians 12 for Oxford Baptist Church.
Will you be driven by competition and pacified by convenience? Will you be defined by compassion and commitment, forgiveness and faithfulness?
What kind of community do you want because you need to ba a part of a faith community.
A Sermon for Oxford Baptist Church as we celebrate Epiphany and the first Sunday of the new year.
A Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent at Oxford Baptist Church as we celebrate Joy. I open with a comment about Chris and egg nog. That was in reference to the children's sermon offered by the church intern earlier in the service.
A shoot will grow from the stump or Jesse. A sermon on the Second Sunday of Advent for Oxford Baptist Church.
A sermon for the 26th Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church.
Read til the end, stay til the end. Apocalyptic passages remind us that in the end, God is there when we remain faithful.
There is an election note in there as well.
A sermon for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church
The story of Zacchaeus is not just a story about good morals for our children, it is for us. We are to experience the power of God's presence and respond as well.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost and on the occasion of Children Singing in worship.
A Sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 21st Sunday after Pentecost. Scripture readings come from Luke 17.11-19 and Jeremiah 29.1, 4-7.
Seek the welfare of the place where God has sent you.
A sermon for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost for Oxford Baptist Church. The Rich Man and Lazarus. What's on your doorstep? Will you act, or will you keep taking chances by living as you want? It's no way to live.
A sermon for the 17th Sunday After Pentecost at Oxford Baptist Church. Luke 15.1-10, The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin.
A sermon for the faithful souls who attended Oxford Baptist on a holiday weekend, the 16th Sunday after Pentecost. Weeding out, Sorting out, deciding if we are going to be faithful...
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 13th Sunday after Pentecost. Scriptures include selections from Hebrews 11:29-12:2 and Luke 12:49-56
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 11th Sunday after Pentecost. Do you want to live well? Don't do the things spoken about in Luke and Colossians today.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost. This morning we think about the Lord's prayer, needs and wants.
A Sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost.
Note: this was preached immediately following our Middle Schoolers offering reflections from their week at Passport. Therefore, I used Passport as a big example. On a different Sunday, I would have certainly gone a different direction, but what has struck me more and more in the wake of offering this sermon is the role distraction plays in us being frustrated with our faith, our church and our connection to God. I hope, or maybe I don't, once you see it, it will be very clear.
"The biggest threat to God's presence is distraction."
A sermon for Father's Day as Jesus sends pigs into the pond in the land of the Gerasenes
An abbreviated sermon on the occasion of Pentecost and the celebration of our children in ministry as they lead us in worship.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the occasion of Mother's Day and the last Sunday of Easter before Pentecost.
A sermon for the fifth Sunday of Easter at Oxford Baptist Church. "They will know you by your love."
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Maybe sheep aren't so dumb after all and maybe that makes the image even more powerful...
A sermon for the third Sunday of Easter for Oxford Baptist Church. This sermon could also be titled, Being Ananias.
Each year, the Interracial Ministerial Alliance in Oxford hosts a "Seven Last Words of Jesus Service" on Good Friday. This year, I offered a meditation on the Last word for our service, "Into your hands I commit my spirit from Luke 23." The service took place at Cornerstone Christian Community in Oxford.
A sermon for Oxford Baptist Church on the fifth Sunday of Lent. Mary anoints Jesus with perfume. How are we extravagant with a God is is so extravagant with us?
This is my address to those gathered for the breakfast honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This gathering is sponsored by the Granville County Human Relations Commission and was held at Oxford Baptist Church. I was the Keynote speaker.
This is a sermon offered on Graduate Sunday at Oxford Baptist Church. The sermon references the More Cowbell Sketch from Saturday Night Life in in 2005. You can watch the sketch on Hulu, http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145 and read about it on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_cowbell
I hope you enjoy. May you hear God's Cowbell above the noise.
Natalie Aho (my wife) was asked to preach on WMU Sunday at Oxford Baptist Church. This is her offering for that day. Could you be called for such a time as this?
This is my sermon for Pentecost Sunday at Oxford Baptist Church. It is also my first Sunday as Pastor of OBC. I hope you enjoy!