Montreat Conference Center Summer Worship Series 2021 John 20:3-8This sermon can be viewed on Vimeo. I wish to read for you from the twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John. I shall begin to read at the third verse. This is the Word of God. "So Peter and the other...
Easter
Faces and Places Around The Cross #7: The Empty Tomb
Gethsemane The Roman Barracks Simon Of Cyrene Mary: The Mother Of Jesus Unknown Soldier Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry The Empty Tomb Faces and Places Around The Cross: The Empty Tomb John 20:3-8I wish to read these words written by John, but they are the Word of...
Faces and Places Around The Cross #5: Unknown Soldier
Gethsemane The Roman Barracks Simon Of Cyrene Mary: The Mother Of Jesus Unknown Soldier Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry The Empty Tomb Faces and Places Around The Cross: Unknown Soldier Mark 15:33-39This is from the Gospel according to Mark. But this is the Word of...
Faces and Places Around The Cross #4: Mary: The Mother Of Jesus
Gethsemane The Roman Barracks Simon Of Cyrene Mary: The Mother Of Jesus Unknown Soldier Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry The Empty Tomb Faces and Places Around The Cross: Mary: The Mother Of Jesus John 19:25-27I wish to read from the 19th chapter of the Gospel...
Faces and Places Around The Cross #3: Simon Of Cyrene
Gethsemane The Roman Barracks Simon Of Cyrene Mary: The Mother Of Jesus Unknown Soldier Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry The Empty Tomb Faces and Places Around The Cross: Simon Of Cyrene Mark 15:21-24Reading from the Gospel according to Mark. This is the Word of God....
Faces and Places Around The Cross #2: The Roman Barracks
Gethsemane The Roman Barracks Simon Of Cyrene Mary: The Mother Of Jesus Unknown Soldier Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry The Empty Tomb Faces and Places Around The Cross: The Roman Barracks Matthew 27:17-31 This from the Gospel according to Matthew, and this is the...
Faces and Places Around The Cross #1: Gethsemane
Gethsemane The Roman Barracks Simon Of Cyrene Mary: The Mother Of Jesus Unknown Soldier Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry The Empty Tomb Faces and Places Around The Cross: Gethsemane Mark 14:32-42Mark chapter 14, beginning at verse 32. This is the Word of God. “They...
The Tomb Is Important Because The Tomb Is Not Important
The Tomb Is Important Because The Tomb Is Not Important Revelation 1:4-8, 22:12-13 If you were to visit the city of Jerusalem today, you would be shown two tombs both of which claim to be the tomb of Jesus. First, you would be shown what is called “The Garden Tomb.”...
Palm Sunday: Celebration Or Confrontation
Palm Sunday: Celebration Or Confrontation John 18:33-38When Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on that first Psalm Sunday, because of the way He entered the city and because of the response He received, He knew that He was signing His own death warrant. Let me...
A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
A Mother's Worst Nightmare John 19:23-27 It had to be a mother’s worst nightmare… The Bible says, “Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother...” Note that please. His mother was there. It was a ghastly, hideous, terrible thing for her to see. She had brought Him into...
The Story I Never … #2: The Story I Never Tire Of Telling
The Story I Never Tire Of Hearing The Story I Never Tire Of Telling The Story I Never Tire Of Telling John 20:1-18Easter is a lot like Christmas. It is not a time for learned discourses or complex theology. Rather it is time to tell a story—a story that is so simple,...
The Story I Never … #1: The Story I Never Tire Of Hearing
The Story I Never Tire Of Hearing The Story I Never Tire Of Telling The Story I Never Tire Of Hearing Luke 19:29-44I wish to read these few verses from Paul's letter to the Philippians. A handful of words, really. But these words are nothing less than the Word of God:...
24: The Longest Day of Jesus’ Life #3: Golgotha: 1 Cross + 3 Nails + 4Gvn
Gethsemane: Where God Broke His Heart And His Son Sanhedrin - Blind Justice In A Kangaroo Court Golgotha: 1 Cross + 3 Nails + 4Gvn 24: The Longest Day of Jesus' Life: Golgotha: 1 Cross + 3 Nails + 4Gvn Mark 15:25-39 Like the wildly popular television series entitled...
24: The Longest Day of Jesus’ Life #2: Sanhedrin – Blind Justice In A Kangaroo Court
Gethsemane: Where God Broke His Heart And His Son Sanhedrin - Blind Justice In A Kangaroo Court Golgotha: 1 Cross + 3 Nails + 4Gvn 24: The Longest Day of Jesus' Life: Sanhedrin - Blind Justice In A Kangaroo Court Mark 14:53-65Like the wildly popular television series...
24: The Longest Day of Jesus’ Life #1: Gethsemane: Where God Broke His Heart And His Son
Gethsemane: Where God Broke His Heart And His Son Sanhedrin - Blind Justice In A Kangaroo Court Golgotha: 1 Cross + 3 Nails + 4Gvn 24: The Longest Day of Jesus' Life: Gethsemane: Where God Broke His Heart And His Son Mark 14:32-42Like the wildly popular television...
Cross Words #6: A Dying Word And A Living Faith
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: A Dying Word And A Living Faith Luke 23:44-49During these weeks leading up to...
Cross Words #5: A Staircase To Heaven
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: A Staircase To Heaven John 19:28-30Nothing—not even Calvary—could conquer...
Cross Words #4: God’s Light In Dark Times
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: God's Light In Dark Times Mark 15:33-39In the Cathedral at Dijon, France at...
Cross Words #3: The Very First Christian
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: The Very First Christian Luke 23:39-43Two thieves were crucified with Jesus....
Cross Words #2: Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart John 19:28-29I ask you to come with me now to...
Cross Words #1: You Can’t Step In The Same River Twice
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Luke 23:26-34“No one can step into the...
Why I Believe #10: Why I Believe In The Resurrection
Why I Believe In The Incarnation Why I Believe In Angels Why I Believe In The Virgin Birth Why I Believe In Jesus Christ Why I Believe In God Why I Believe The Bible Why I Believe In The Church Why I Believe In Heaven Why I Believe In The Atonement Why I Believe In...
Was The Triumphal Entry A Triumph?
Was The Triumphal Entry A Triumph? Mark 11:1-10 I stand before you today rather like the blindfolded discus thrower—he didn’t set any records, but he sure kept the crowd alert! Well, I’m not planning on setting any records today, but I sure would like to keep you...
Human Cruelty And The Gentleness Of God
Agony In A Garden Blind Justice In The Fox’s Den No Exit Human Cruelty And The Gentleness Of God Human Cruelty And The Gentleness Of God Matthew 27:27-31It is a rare thing, I suppose, for a preacher to spend much time describing the pains and the privations which...
Faces About the Cross #5: The Disciple Thomas
Simon Of Cyrene The Dying Thief The Mother Of Jesus The People Of Jerusalem The Disciple Thomas Faces About the Cross: The Disciple Thomas John 20:19-38It’s a terrible name to give to a man. Yet for 2000 years now people have called him “Doubting Thomas”. But is that...
Faces About the Cross #4: The People Of Jerusalem
Simon Of Cyrene The Dying Thief The Mother Of Jesus The People Of Jerusalem The Disciple Thomas Faces About the Cross: The People Of Jerusalem Luke 19:29-44It’s a story I never tire of telling and I never tire of hearing. The Passover holiday crowds were gathering in...
Faces About the Cross #3: The Mother Of Jesus
Simon Of Cyrene The Dying Thief The Mother Of Jesus The People Of Jerusalem The Disciple Thomas Faces About the Cross: The Mother Of Jesus John 19:25-27I wish to read from the 19th chapter of the Gospel according to John. This is the word of God. “Near the cross of...
Faces About the Cross #2: The Dying Thief
Simon Of Cyrene The Dying Thief The Mother Of Jesus The People Of Jerusalem The Disciple Thomas Faces About the Cross: The Dying Thief Luke 23:32-43Two thieves were crucified with Jesus. One thief cursed and ridiculed Christ; the other called and reached out to...
Faces About the Cross #1: Simon Of Cyrene
Simon Of Cyrene The Dying Thief The Mother Of Jesus The People Of Jerusalem The Disciple Thomas Faces About the Cross: Simon Of Cyrene Mark 15:21-24Reading from the Gospel according to Mark. This is the Word of God. “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of...
Matthew’s Messiah #6: His Resurrection
His Designation His Coronation His Confrontation His Isolation His Humiliation His Resurrection Matthew's Messiah: His Resurrection Matthew 28:1-10Few of us who ever sat at the feet of Dr. Kenneth Phifer, my professor of preaching at seminary, will ever forget the...
Matthew’s Messiah #5: His Humiliation
His Designation His Coronation His Confrontation His Isolation His Humiliation His Resurrection Matthew's Messiah: His Humiliation Matthew 27:27-31It is a rare thing for a preacher to spend much time describing the pains and the privations which Jesus was made to...
Our Father Who Art In Hell
Our Father Who Art In Hell Psalm 22Tonight we are just days away from our observance of Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Tonight, as has been our habit during these Wednesday evenings together this year, I want us to focus on a Psalm. Tonight, Psalm 22, and I...
Matthew’s Messiah #4: His Isolation
His Designation His Coronation His Confrontation His Isolation His Humiliation His Resurrection Matthew's Messiah: His Isolation Matthew 28:36-46It is said that when Michelangelo was painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he kept fastened to the visor of his cap...
Matthew’s Messiah #3: His Confrontation
His Designation His Coronation His Confrontation His Isolation His Humiliation His Resurrection Matthew's Messiah: His Confrontation Matthew 19:16-22 You know how it is, don’t you, that sometimes brief, apparently insignificant incidents in life turn out, upon deeper...
Matthew’s Messiah #2: His Coronation
His Designation His Coronation His Confrontation His Isolation His Humiliation His Resurrection Matthew's Messiah: His Coronation Matthew 16:13-20It is, I believe, the single most important question in all of the Bible… I refer to the question Jesus put to His...
Matthew’s Messiah #1: His Designation
His Designation His Coronation His Confrontation His Isolation His Humiliation His Resurrection Matthew's Messiah: His Designation Matthew 3:13-17The words seem so simple, so straight-forward, so matter-of-fact: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to...
Miraculous Moments in Mark #8: Enjoying The Beauty, Missing The Glory: Resurrection
Let Down By Friends: Paralytic On A Pallet Boat-Huggers And Wave-Riders: Storm At Sea Woman In The Crowd: A Bloody Shame A Dog's Life: Canaanite Woman Saved By A Semi-Colon: Epileptic Boy Eye-Opening Experience: Blind Bartimaeus Kangaroo Court: Before The Sanhedrin...
Miraculous Moments in Mark #7: Kangaroo Court: Before The Sanhedrin
Let Down By Friends: Paralytic On A Pallet Boat-Huggers And Wave-Riders: Storm At Sea Woman In The Crowd: A Bloody Shame A Dog's Life: Canaanite Woman Saved By A Semi-Colon: Epileptic Boy Eye-Opening Experience: Blind Bartimaeus Kangaroo Court: Before The Sanhedrin...
A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend #5: His Power
His Person His Purpose His Peace His Position His Power A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend: His Power John 20:1-18Easter is a lot like Christmas. It is not a time for learned discourses or complex theology. Rather, it is a time to tell a story—a story that...
A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend #4: His Position
His Person His Purpose His Peace His Position His Power A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend: His Position John 18:33-38When Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, because of the way He entered the city and because of the response...
A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend #3: His Peace
His Person His Purpose His Peace His Position His Power A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend: His Peace John 14:15-27My great friend, Leonard Sweet, shared a collection of headlines which have actually appeared in newspapers in recent years. The headline...
A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend #2: His Purpose
His Person His Purpose His Peace His Position His Power A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend: His Purpose John 10:14-18It is said that there are two great beginnings in life: the day when we were born and the day when we discover why we were born. Not long...
A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend #1: His Person
His Person His Purpose His Peace His Position His Power A Portrait of Jesus Painted By His Best Friend: His Person John 1:1-5To be perfectly frank, I could hardly believe what I was reading. A prominent minister stood before his congregation of several thousand people...
A Journey With God #5: The Gift You Won’t Want To Return
That’s What Friends Are For A Tale Of Two Sisters Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Cross Prayers The Gift You Won't Want To Return A Journey With God: The Gift You Won't Want To Return Luke 24:1-11A personal word, please, before I preach ... Easter possesses an...
A Journey With God #4: Cross Prayers
That’s What Friends Are For A Tale Of Two Sisters Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Cross Prayers The Gift You Won't Want To Return A Journey With God: Cross Prayers Luke 23:32-49I want to tell you about two men, each of whom rode into a city to die and each of whom...
What To Do When You Don’t Know What to Do #7: An Easter Symphony In Four Movements
Believe It Or Not Eyes Cleansed By Tears See More Clearly Sticking Your Toe Into A Sea Of Joy Jesus Died Of A Broken Heart The Man Who Came Last The Day The King Cried An Easter Symphony In Four Movements What To Do When You Don't Know What to Do: An Easter Symphony...
Looking At Life Through Easter Eyes
Looking At Life Through Easter Eyes John 20:11-18It's all a matter of perspective. It's all a matter of how you look at things. You know the old saying that one person looks at a glass of water and sees it as being half empty. Another person looks at the same glass of...
Rising To The Occasion-Once And For All
Rising To The Occasion-Once And For All Luke 24:1-12Her name was Carol Johnson. She was the organist at her church. She was an outstanding musician, but she did something no organist or preacher should ever do. She overslept on Easter Sunday morning, and missed the...
Pilate Error: The Truth About The Lies We Believe
Pilate Error: The Truth About The Lies We Believe John 18:33-34You don't have to love country music in order to appreciate the colossal humor contained in the titles to country songs. Let me share some of my favorites with you. There's the old classic: "I've Got Tears...
Pilate: When Winning Is Losing!
Pilate: When Winning Is Losing! Matthew 27:15-26You're a businessman. It's your first day on the job. It's hard to get a job with the economy like it is, so you're doing your best to please. You listen closely to your manager; you pay attention at sales meetings; you...
Caiaphas: When Selling Out Costs Too Much
Caiaphas: When Selling Out Costs Too Much Matthew 26:57-68 Sometimes "selling out" can cost too much! True story. Funny. Speedy Morris is the basketball coach at LaSalle University. A few years ago, he was falling into the trap of enjoying his rise to a position of...
Minor Men With a Major Message #30: The Man Who Saw It All And Said It All
The Man Who Snatched Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory The Man Who Wanted Somebody With Skin On The Man God Marked The Man Who Died With No One's Regrets The Man Who Chose The Wrong Friend The Couple Who Paid The High Cost Of Low Living The Man Who Put Profits Before...
Two Cups – One Rejected, One Accepted
Two Cups - One Rejected, One Accepted Matthew 27:33-34, John 19:28-30Twice during His time on Calvary, Jesus was offered a cup of wine. Both cups were offered to Him as acts of mercy and kindness. The first cup He rejected, the second He accepted, and therein, I...
Cross Road #2: Blind Justice
Agony In A Garden Blind Justice In The Fox’s Den No Exit Human Cruelty And The Gentleness Of God Cross Road: Blind Justice Mark 14:53-65Like the wildly popular television series entitled "24,” the last 24 hours of Jesus' life were filled with intrigue, conspiracy,...
The Right Side Of Easter
The Right Side Of Easter Colossians 3:1-11James Stewart of Scotland says: "The supreme need of the world in our time is to start living on the right side of Easter." I heartily agree and I want to try to tell you why… Once in a very great while, an event takes place...
Cross Words: A Living Christ For A Dying World
Cross Words: A Living Christ For A Dying WorldApril 19, 1987 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | I Corinthians 15:3-8, 20-26Suppose you were to pick up the newspaper tomorrow morning and read the headlines: "Pope John Paul becomes a Protestant!" Or "Ronald Reagan...
Cross Words: The Sign Of The Divine In A Life
Cross Words: The Sign Of The Divine In A Life John 19:25-27The furnishings in the hospital room were arranged in a manner which served the convenience of the nurses rather than the patients. There were two beds and one window. The beds were placed in such a way that...