When Were You Converted? Matthew 19:16-22 You know how it is, don’t you, that sometimes brief, apparently insignificant incidents in life actually turn out, upon deep reflection, to have much greater meaning ... That’s exactly what happened to me one day when a fellow...
How to grow as a Christian
What True Presbyterians Believe #6: Sola Ecclesia
Sola Christus Sola Scriptura Sola Fide Soli Deo Gloria Sola Gratia Sola Ecclesia What True Presbyterians Believe: Sola Ecclesia Matthew 16:13-20In recent years, many within the Presbyterian Church have begun to devalue and diminish the great beliefs upon which the...
What True Presbyterians Believe #5: Sola Gratia
Sola Christus Sola Scriptura Sola Fide Soli Deo Gloria Sola Gratia Sola Ecclesia What True Presbyterians Believe: Sola Gratia Acts 16:25-34For four generations now, members of my family have served in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. For nearly forty years...
What True Presbyterians Believe #4: Soli Deo Gloria
Sola Christus Sola Scriptura Sola Fide Soli Deo Gloria Sola Gratia Sola Ecclesia What True Presbyterians Believe: Soli Deo Gloria November 19, 2006 | PROVIDENCE Presbyterian Church | Ephesians 1:3-10For four generations now, members of my family have served in the...
What True Presbyterians Believe #3: Sola Fide
Sola Christus Sola Scriptura Sola Fide Soli Deo Gloria Sola Gratia Sola Ecclesia What True Presbyterians Believe: Sola Fide Mark 11:11-26For four generations now, members of my family have served in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. For nearly forty years now,...
What True Presbyterians Believe #2: Sola Scriptura
Sola Christus Sola Scriptura Sola Fide Soli Deo Gloria Sola Gratia Sola Ecclesia What True Presbyterians Believe: Sola Scriptura II Timothy 3:14-17For four generations now, members of my family have served in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. For nearly forty...
The Transforming Touch #5: What Jesus Wrote In Sand, He Also Wrote In Blood
Taking People Where They Are And Loving Them Into Life O.J. Simpson, Jesus Christ, And Us Nobody's Born A Bigot! Chained By A String What Jesus Wrote In The Sand, He Also Wrote In Blood The Heart Inflamed What Jesus Wrote In Sand, He Also Wrote In Blood John...
The … of Jesus #1: What Matters To You Matters To God
The Tenderness Of Jesus: What Matters To You Matters To God The Target Of Jesus: What You Fear Most, Christ Handles Best The Tactic Of Jesus: What You Count Lowly, Christ Counts Holy The Tears Of Jesus: What You Cry About Is What You Care About What Matters To You...
A Short Word For The Long Haul
A Short Word For The Long Haul Numbers 22:31-35 Sometimes the funniest things appear on the signboards in front of churches. They aren’t intended to be funny, but they are. For example, I read about the signboard in front of a large ? downtown church which posted the...
Songs of Faith – Sermons of Grace #1: The Leadership Style Of Jesus
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...
Ten For Our Time #10: When Desire Turns Deadly
When God Is God When Tolerance Creates Trouble When Profanity Takes Precedence When The Sabbath Is Kept Wholly When Family Comes First When Pro-Life Becomes Principle When Marriage Is A Many-Splintered Thing When Robbery Seems Respectable When Honesty Takes A Holiday...
Turning The Other Cheek: Wise Or Otherwise?
Turning The Other Cheek: Wise Or Otherwise? Matthew 5:38-48 April 15, 1947. That day ought to be celebrated as a special day of remembrance in the history of this nation for on that day a black man and a white man together changed a game and a nation forever. April...
Ten For Our Time #1: When God Is God
When God Is God When Tolerance Creates Trouble When Profanity Takes Precedence When The Sabbath Is Kept Wholly When Family Comes First When Pro-Life Becomes Principle When Marriage Is A Many-Splintered Thing When Robbery Seems Respectable When Honesty Takes A Holiday...
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Sunday School
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Sunday School Matthew 25:1-13 Some years ago Robert Fulghum had a best selling book entitled, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” Well, indeed he may have learned all he needed to know in Kindergarten, but I...
Why I Believe #6: Why I Believe The Bible
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...
Why I Believe #2: Why I Believe In Angels
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...
A Provocative Church #3: Teaching With Boldness
Embracing In Spirit Focused On The Truth Teaching With Boldness Holding Fast To Hope Centered On The Savior Undaunted By Difficulty Saved By Grace Courageous At All Costs A Provocative Church: Teaching With Boldness Acts 28:23-31(I believe that we are called to become...
A Provocative Church #2: Focused On The Truth
Embracing In Spirit Focused On The Truth Teaching With Boldness Holding Fast To Hope Centered On The Savior Undaunted By Difficulty Saved By Grace Courageous At All Costs A Provocative Church: Focused On The Truth Revelation 2:12-17(Graham Tomlin, in his book, 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...
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...
Miraculous Moments in Mark #4: A Dog’s Life: Canaanite Woman
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...
If You Have No Time For God, Time Is Your God!
If You Have No Time For God, Time Is Your God! Isaiah 30:12-18It goes without saying, I suppose, that we are living in tense, trying, highly pressurized times. If I were to choose a word or two to try to describe the state of so many people’s minds and hearts these...
Vision For The New Millennium #6: Concentrating On The Content
Our Vision For The New Millennium Civilizing The City Confronting The Culture Celebrating The Church Capturing The Children Concentrating On The Content Vision For The New Millenium: Concentrating On The Content Psalm 119:105-112A new pastor moved into town and went...
The Greed-House Effect
The Greed-House Effect Zechariah 7:1-10 No sense beating around the bush. Today I am going to preach about money. I don’t do that too often, but I am going to do it today. You see, we do have to have money to keep the marvelous ministry of this great church going and...
The Church Of My Dreams
The Church Of My Dreams Acts 2:38-44 I can tell you today that First Presbyterian Church of Orlando is the church of my dreams, and I can tell you that I spend practically every waking moment trying, with your help, to make this, the church of my dreams, into the...
Holding Jesus At Arm’s Length
Holding Jesus At Arm's Length Mark 1:21-28A personal word before I preach. The world-shaking tragedy of the crash of Swissair Flight 111 has become terribly personal for this congregation. Two of our most faithful members, Polly and Larry Hopcraft, perished in the...
Songs of Faith – Sermons of Grace #10: The Day The Mighty Tide Of God Rolled In
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...
Songs of Faith – Sermons of Grace #7: Getting Back On Top When Life Gets You Down
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...
Songs of Faith – Sermons of Grace #5: Carpe Diem-Not A Fancy Name For A Fish Dish!
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...
You’re Running So Hard To Get…Where?
You're Running So Hard To Get…Where? Hebrews 12:1-2Norman Cousins, in his book, The Healing Heart, tells of an experience he had one day in the Los Angeles airport. He was between planes and needed to make a quick call to his office. He dropped a quarter into the...
The Shepherds, Charter Members Of The G.N.T. Club
The Shepherds, Charter Members Of The G.N.T. Club December 24, 1996 | First Presbyterian Church OrlandoDo you know the name Tom Bodette? If you don't recognize the name, you would certainly recognize the voice. He's the fellow who does those home-spun "Motel 6"...
Starburst In A Time Of Storm
Starburst In A Time Of Storm Luke 2:8-14A friend I know set out to try to make Christmas an especially significant faith experience for his family one year. And so three weeks before Christmas, he bought a manger scene to use in teaching his children the real meaning...
The Heart of a Champion #7: Go Deep
Be Strong! Keep Faith Stay Loyal Have Courage Share Christ Serve Others Go Deep The Heart of a Champion: Go Deep Luke 5:1-11It takes a lot to get me down in life—a whole lot! It happens only on the rarest of occasions. But on those rarest of occasions when it does...
The King Is In The Audience
The King Is In The Audience John 20:19-29Back in 1970, God in His gracious goodness, allowed me the privilege of meeting Catherine Marshall. My mother and Catherine Marshall had been in college together at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and therefore, during...
The Heart of a Champion #1: Be Strong!
Be Strong! Keep Faith Stay Loyal Have Courage Share Christ Serve Others Go Deep The Heart of a Champion: Be Strong! II Timothy 2:1-7So many times during the recent Olympics, I heard the commentators use the phrase "the heart of a champion". I noticed that the phrase...
Home Improvement #7: The Gripes Of Wrath: Love’s Number One Enemy
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...
What To Do When You Don’t Know What to Do #6: The Day The King Cried
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: The Day The King...
Hold Fast To What Is Good
Hold Fast To What Is Good I Thessalonians 5:12-22She certainly made a name for herself. In fact, they called her "Calamity Jane". But interestingly enough, she wasn't a person—she was a putter. Let me explain... Some years ago, a talented young golfer joined the...
The Power Of… #3: The Power Of Your Influence And The Influence Of Your Power
The Power of Spiritual Adrenaline The Power of the Master's Name The Power Of Your Influence And The Influence Of Your Power The Power Of Your Influence And The Influence Of Your Power Matthew 5:14-16He was, by any standard of measurement, one of the most dominant and...
Be Careful What You Swallow
Be Careful What You Swallow II Timothy 3:10-16In September of 1992, death claimed one of the best known and most beloved writers of our time. His name was Theodore Geisel. That name doesn't ring a bell? Perhaps because you would know him by his pen name, "Dr. Seuss"....
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...
The Transforming Touch #4: Chained By A String
Taking People Where They Are And Loving Them Into Life O.J. Simpson, Jesus Christ, And Us Nobody's Born A Bigot! Chained By A String What Jesus Wrote In The Sand, He Also Wrote In Blood The Heart Inflamed The Transforming Touch: Chained By A String Mark 10:17-22Years...
Homeward Bound #9: Finishing What We Start
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...
Christmas in the Carols #8: There’s A Song In The Air
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
The Power Of… #2: The Power Of The Master’s Name
The Power of Spiritual Adrenaline The Power of the Master's Name The Power Of Your Influence And The Influence Of Your Power The Power Of The Master's Name Philippians 2:5-11"What's in a name?" Shakespeare asked that question and then answered it—and his answer...
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...