You Can't Lose Philippians 4:10-20His name was Cyprian. He is one of my great heroes in the faith. He was born in Carthage in North Africa... not converted until he was middle aged... lived so faithfully then that ultimately he was elected Bishop of Carthage......
Finding purpose for your life
To Know Christ And To Make Him Known
To Know Christ And To Make Him Known Acts 1:15-26 Maybe I can get away with this joke. I mean, after all, I’ve been here for several years now and you haven’t run me off yet. So maybe I’ll take a chance... It’s the story of a little boy who was pulling a wagon along...
Joseph: A Star On The Christmas Stage
Joseph: A Star On The Christmas Stage December 4, 2005 | PROVIDENCE Presbyterian Church | Matthew 2:19-23A friend I know set out to try to make Christmas an especially significant faith experience for his family one year. So three weeks before Christmas, he bought a...
Do Something That Will Be Here After You’re Gone
Do Something That Will Be Here After You're Gone II Timothy 4:1-8 I want to ask you a very personal question: When your days on this earth are done, how will you be remembered? Of course, most of the time people are kind, gracious, and thoughtful in their remembering...
A Life Captured In Ten Words
A Life Captured In Ten Words II Timothy 4:9-18 If I were to ask you to name the person who wrote more of the New Testament than any other single writer, how would you answer? My guess is that you would answer Paul or perhaps John. You would be wrong. The fact is the...
Citius! Altius! Fortius!
Citius! Altius! Fortius! Philippians 3:12-14 The title of today’s sermon is “Citius! Altius! Fortius!” The three Latin words are actually the motto of the Olympic Games: “citius, altius, fortius—faster, higher, stronger.” Since we are now immersed in all the glory and...
How Shall They Hear?
How Shall They Hear? September 14, 2003 | Providence Presbyterian Church | Romans 10-5-15On the second Sunday in September of 1968, 35 years ago now, I stepped for the first time into the pulpit of my first church, the First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore, Texas. Ever...
A Prayer for Christmas #3: Perserverance Of The Wise Men
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: Perseverance Of The Wise Men Matthew 2:1-12I suppose that we all get sucked into the frantic rush that is...
Miraculous Moments in Mark #6: Eye-Opening Experience: Blind Bartimaeus
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...
ICTC
ICTC Philippians 4:10-13I came across a little piece entitled “Out of the Mouths of Babes,” a collection of humorous insights into the faith from the lips of children. Here is a sampling from that collection: Bouncing out of her first day in the nursery class at Mt....
Songs of Faith – Sermons of Grace #9: Who Do You Say That I Am?
The Leadership Style Of Jesus Jesus Is Coming Soon-Look Busy! You Can Fail And Still Not Be A Failure The Cross: Stumbling Block Or Stepping Stone? Carpe Diem-Not A Fancy Name For A Fish Dish! Stop Stewing And Start Cooking Getting Back On Top When Life Gets You Down...
The Creation Of Mothers Took Overtime
The Creation Of Mothers Took Overtime May 10, 1998 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | I Corinthians 13Richard Lederer is a Ph. D. professor of English who loves to collect what he calls “accidental assaults upon our language.” One of his funniest collections is...
A Journey With God #1: That’s What Friends Are For
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: That’s What Friends Are For Luke 5:17-26This last week, my dad’s incredible journey through this life came to an end....
Songs of Faith – Sermons of Grace #8: What’s Worth Living For And Dying For?
The Leadership Style Of Jesus Jesus Is Coming Soon-Look Busy! You Can Fail And Still Not Be A Failure The Cross: Stumbling Block Or Stepping Stone? Carpe Diem-Not A Fancy Name For A Fish Dish! Stop Stewing And Start Cooking Getting Back On Top When Life Gets You Down...
Tales With a Twist #6: Who Said Life Is Fair?
Eyes Too Busy To See A Forgiving God In An Unforgiving World It's The Little Things That Count The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay Who Said Life Is Fair? Jesus And The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day God Threw A Party But Nobody Came! E Unum Pluribus...
Sandal-Izing The Gospel
Sandal-Izing The Gospel Matthew 10:5-15Usually when I take to this pulpit, I take aim at your head, or your heart, or both. Today, however, I want to take aim at your feet! Let me explain... In Matthew 10, as Jesus was sending out His disciples on their first training...
The Heart of a Champion #3: Stay Loyal
Be Strong! Keep Faith Stay Loyal Have Courage Share Christ Serve Others Go Deep The Heart of a Champion: Stay Loyal Revelation 3:7-13People said it was a record that would never be broken. It was called "the Iron Man" record. It was Lou Gehrig's string of playing in...
The Heart of a Champion #2: Keep Faith
Be Strong! Keep Faith Stay Loyal Have Courage Share Christ Serve Others Go Deep The Heart of a Champion: Keep Faith Mark 1:14-20Have you heard the story about the elderly woman named Mrs. Jones who called the bank one morning to check on her accounts and to ask about...
So Near, Yet So Far
So Near, Yet So Far Mark 10:17-22True story. A few years ago, a young Roman Catholic priest finished his seminary training and was appointed to serve a church in Loveland, Colorado. With a building sense of excitement on his first Sunday there, he looked out of the...
Bored To Tears Or Bold For Years?
Bored To Tears Or Bold For Years? Acts 4:5-12Just recently, a friend who teaches kindergarten told me about how she was teaching her children the "Popcorn Song". It's an action song which required the children to assume a squatting position and then at the appropriate...
Home Improvement #5: Growing Old Without Getting Old
The Commandment You Can't Always Obey What Adam Should Have Learned About Eve What Eve Should Have Learned About Adam Teenagers: The People God Didn’t Create Growing Old Without Getting Old Lessons Learned From Two Adoptive Dads The Gripes Of Wrath: Love's Number One...
Why Not You? Why Not Me? Why Not Now?
Why Not You? Why Not Me? Why Not Now? John 21:15-19Scott Levy was a pastor who was preaching for a friend on Sunday morning in Nebraska. He went early to the church on that Sunday morning to see what it was like and to get a feel for the church's atmosphere. He was...
What To Do When You Don’t Know What to Do #4: Jesus Died Of A Broken Heart
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: Jesus Died Of A...
Carving Out A Great Life For Yourself
Carving Out A Great Life For Yourself I Samuel 21:1-9There is a story about a monastery in Portugal perched high on a 300-foot cliff. The only way the monastery can be reached is by a terrifying ride in a swinging basket pulled on a single rope by several monks. One...
Looking At Life Through Eyes Of Fear Or Eyes Of Faith
Looking At Life Through Eyes Of Fear Or Eyes Of Faith Exodus 14:10-15Mark Twain once described the day he rushed to the top of Pike's Peak to see the sun rise. He said: "I got there on time, but I missed it because I was looking the wrong way!" It's a common problem...
Turning Inkblots Into Angels
Turning Inkblots Into AngelsJune 11, 1995 | First Presbyterian Church Orlando | Romans 8:31-39Joseph Craik.My guess is that that name means absolutely nothing to you. However, if you had grown up in Scotland, that name would be instantly recognizable. He lived in...
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...
Going Away Into Arabia
Going Away Into Arabia Galatians 1:11-24We are engaged in a 50-day spiritual adventure under the theme, "Facing Down Our Fears." The fear we're concentrating on this week is the fear of living an insignificant life. The great Apostle Paul led anything but an...
Homeward Bound #12: The Choice Is Yours
Life Is Forever! Reflections On The Resurrection The Promise Of The Pearl Someday Our Prince Will Come Take Me Home To My Mother You Can't Take The Sheep From The Shepherd! Life Is Uncertain, So Eat Dessert First! Facing Death Unafraid Finishing What We Start Moments...
Christian Excellence: The Alternative to Worldly Success #3: The Peril Of Traveling First Class
You Don't Have To Be Less Than The Best Keeping Your Head In The Clouds And Your Feet On The Ground The Peril Of Traveling First Class God Cannot Pour His Riches Into Hands Already Full Christian Excellence: The Alternative to Worldly Success: The Peril Of Traveling...
Christian Excellence: The Alternative to Worldly Success #1: You Don’t Have To Be Less Than The Best
You Don't Have To Be Less Than The Best Keeping Your Head In The Clouds And Your Feet On The Ground The Peril Of Traveling First Class God Cannot Pour His Riches Into Hands Already Full Christian Excellence: The Alternative to Worldly Success: You Don't Have To Be...
Minor Men With a Major Message #32: Zebedee: Minor Men With A Major Message
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...
Saul #4: A Permanent Solution To A Temporary Problem
Saul: Living Like A King's Kid Saul: You And God Are A Majority Saul: A Tale Of Toil And Trouble Saul: A Permanent Solution To A Temporary Problem Saul: A Permanent Solution To A Temporary Problem I Samuel 31:1-7I know it is hard to believe, but it is true… Every four...
Saul #3: A Tale Of Toil And Trouble
Saul: Living Like A King's Kid Saul: You And God Are A Majority Saul: A Tale Of Toil And Trouble Saul: A Permanent Solution To A Temporary Problem Saul: A Tale Of Toil And Trouble I Samuel 28:3-7I want you to sit back and be very quiet. I want you to be aware of the...
Saul #2: You And God Are A Majority
Saul: Living Like A King's Kid Saul: You And God Are A Majority Saul: A Tale Of Toil And Trouble Saul: A Permanent Solution To A Temporary Problem Saul: You And God Are A Majority I Samuel 13:5-14Until his death in 1977, Dr. Loren Eiseley was one of the most...
Minor Men With a Major Message #14: The Man Who Filled The Emptiness In Life
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...