Sermon Reflection August 4th
“He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel.” Ezekiel 18:6 I am an expert at cultural assimilation. For the vast majority of my life I have enjoyed spending time with all sorts of people and learning and absorbing different aspects of their culture. In an effort to maintain […]
I Am the Gate
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 How do you feel about active rebellion? I remember very well when I learned to jump over the fence at our house when I was 4 or 5. We […]
I Am the Light of the World
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 Where have you longed for light in your life? It could be as simple as stubbing your toe in a power outage and longing for […]
I Am the Bread of Life
“Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’ He said this to test him, for he knew what he would do.” John 6:5-6 The way God decides to incorporate fallen and weak human beings in His plan is one of my favorite parts of the Gospel. Jesus […]
The Chief Cornerstone
“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!” Every child knows the key to a good fort is its foundation. Weather this means more couch cushions or an elaborate jump rope roof beam system, any inhabitable fort must have some element of structural integrity. I […]
From Generation to Generation
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” At times, I find it difficult to be thankful for the particular day I find myself in, let alone the historical time period. The time of the week or the particular […]
Jesus the Prophet
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and […]
God the Alchemist
“I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, […]
Bless the Lord, O My Soul!
“Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2 In our consumerist culture, we often treat Sunday morning as a time of inactivity for our souls. Especially growing up as Presbyterian, I frequently downplay […]
Let All Things Now Living
“Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise; Who fashioned and made us, protected ans stayed us, who guides us and leads to the end of our days. His banners are o’er us, his light goes before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night, ’til […]
Count the Cost
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:25-33 Christianity is not for the faint […]
The Humble Will Be Exalted
“When you give a dinner banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot […]
The Father Hen Will Call His Chickens Home
“At that very time some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ And he said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on […]
Give Us a King!
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold you are old and do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to […]
Repentance
“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you […]
Do not be anxious…
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” ~Luke 12:22-31 Anxiety is the fruit of an assumed god-like status by we mere creatures. When we are faced with the reality that all of the things we have tried to control, […]
The Rich Fool
“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared , whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure […]
Forgive, as God forgives…
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” ~Ephesians 4:32 It’s really not that complicated. We are to forgive, because and to the degree that God has forgiven us. Forgiveness flows downhill, as it were. It is a spring-fed river, welling up from the heart of God, and […]
His Chosen People – aka Election
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his […]
The Necessity of Meditation
“Blessed is the man…whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm1 For those of you still tuning in, after a long summer off, we’re back on the sermon reflection train. And providentially we have a great topic to chew on: meditation. After hearing for […]
Guns n’ Roses
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them.” Romans 1:18-19 Our God is a consuming fire, a warrior God who brings justice to the earth. The cup of […]
Creator, Creature, and Madea
In honor of our graduating Seniors, Kyle Sligh preached this past Sunday at GSPC. Kyle brought a message specifically aimed at those soon to be high school graduates yet deeply applicable for those of us who have long forgotten the complexities and challenges that await our Seniors. Everyday we step into an amazing world. […]
Gospel Renewal In Haiti
We were graced by the presence of Pastor Charlie this week. He is one of the Pastors who has an orphanage in Gonaives, Haiti that Good Shepherd has been supporting and sending it’s members to for over 5 years now. During the sermon I was wondering how much of the congregation was understanding. It’s easier […]
The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19 We’re just getting started in our series on the meta-narrative of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Glory. This week we find ourselves in week 2 of 4 meditating on creation. There are certainly numerous facets and implications of creation that […]
Is That All You Got!?
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1 Do you believe this to be true? Is it just another one of those historic, sentimental Christian teachings that we believe? Or did it actually happen? Against the backdrop of many ancient myths about how the world began, Moses makes this audacious claim. […]