How Pentecost Sunday Changed Everything
Pentecost weekend marks one of the most important events in human history.
Every generation has its watershed moments, events that divide time and make the “after” somehow different than the “before.”
For millennials, 9/11 stands out as the prime example. For Gen Xers, perhaps it is the fall of the Berlin Wall or the O.J. Simpson trial, and for baby boomers, maybe the assassination of JFK. But did you know that many churches this weekend will recognize a more impactful era-defining watershed moment than all of the aforementioned events combined?
REDISCOVERING PENTECOST
According to the Church’s storied liturgical calendar (or Christian year), this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, a day where Christians for nearly two millennia have celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God’s people. However, when people hear the word “Pentecost” these days, they may be more likely to think about a particular denomination, sprightly choir robes, tambourines and ecstatic glossolalia (i.e., speaking in tongues).
Pentecost - Believe
It seems like we are always trying to ascend to God. We built a tower to God, we want to ascend in our prayer life, and we talk about rising in spirituality. However, throughout the Scriptures we see that God comes down
Slides from Sermon
Sin Spanx
In Luke chapter 18, Jesus tells a story of a spiritual girdle that we Christians wear far more often than we’d like to admit. This spiritual girdle, just like with Spanx, is one that we’d rather no one knew about.
Have you ever heard of Spanx? Although they’ve only been around since 2010, their predecessors have been around for centuries. Basically, Spanx are a 21st century girdle. Like other girdles, Spanx streamlines your love-handles and lumps making you appear much thinner and fitter than you really are.
In Luke chapter 18, Jesus tells a story of a spiritual girdle that we Christians wear far more often than we’d like to admit. This spiritual girdle, just like with Spanx, is one that we’d rather no one knew about.
Here’s Jesus’ story from Luke 18:9-14
"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The King - Believe
It’s popular to say today that Jesus is Lord (King) of your heart. But is that the story in the Bible? Today we are seeing how God became King over all the creation.
Slides from the Sermon
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The Wicked Way We Become More Like Jesus
“I’ve never had a better look at Jesus than when I’m lying flat on my back with the walls of my life burning down all around me.”
I'm always surprised to hear people say, “If I could do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing.” But we’re all sinners and we all sin every day. Some of us screwed up a lifetime ago and others fell short just last night. But everyone has THAT thing they would give anything to change. Pay any price to take back. And if you don’t have that… just wait. You may not have lived long enough yet.
I remember believing my own lies. Tell yourself a grenade is a flower enough times and you may just believe it enough to pull the pin. I have. And I blew myself to pieces.
But it’s never just about you. The shrapnel from your own explosion penetrates the souls of everyone around you. As hard reality starts to set in, you can’t bear it. You’re bleeding out as you spit venom, sin, and excuses. Even more shrapnel from your tongue lodges itself in those closest to you. Sin upon sin. It’s like struggling in quicksand. But sadly you didn’t just fall in. You dove in head first thinking it was a hot spring. You mistook the roaming lion of the Devil outside your door for a house cat. Then he ripped you wide open like a Christmas present.
Are you Listening - Believe
White Clouds, mountains, prophets, and priests: all are signs that God is near and speaking. But are you listening?
![[Christmas Eve] A Song of Christmas Light](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1766459038816-RE9GU9A1NB5IBYM52X0S/Christmas+eve+.jpg)
Adopt a mile meet up
Once a Year Port St Luice has a huge clean up day. We were part of it.
It’s Time to Stop Confusing Blessings With Stuff
Here’s the thing: While Asaph in psalm 73 is busy keeping his hands clean and his heart pure (without much to show for it), the wicked are prospering and scoffing at guys like him. Their cups are full, his is empty. Naturally the guy is angry.
Let’s talk about Asaph and Psalm 73. I feel like if I were to meet Asaph over coffee at Starbucks, we would have so much to rant about together. Here’s the thing: While Asaph is busy keeping his hands clean and his heart pure (without much to show for it), the wicked are prospering and scoffing at guys like him. Their cups are full, his is empty. Naturally the guy is angry.
When I look around, I see a whole lot of Christians (including leaders) who are cheapening and perverting the Gospel and getting away with it. They’re building their names, gaining a faithful following and making a whole lot of money. Why doesn’t God shut them down? He’s certainly powerful enough to do it. Instead, He lets them prosper while His true disciples are in the trenches, often living from paycheck to paycheck, suffering for the Gospel. I scratch my head and sigh.
Consider Creator - Believe
When we say God created the heavens and the earth, does it mean anything specific to us? Do we consider the Creator?
Consider Creator
When we say God created the heavens and the earth, does it mean anything specific to us? Do we consider the Creator?
What Jesus Actually Means When He Says to 'Remove the Log in Your Own Eye'
Could it imply our own self-righteousness?
Words are pretty interesting. They can be used as weapons. They can be used as healing balms. They can also be used wrongly. I always tend to wonder whether this is the case when we throw around the word “self-righteous.” I do not think it means what we think it means, to borrow the words from Inigo Montoya.
Maybe you have heard someone say, “They are just so self-righteous.” Maybe you have said that of someone else. Perhaps it has been said of you. Often, when the term self-righteous is thrown around it is implied to mean someone who acts, thinks or believes they are better than you. Or that they are “holier-than-thou.”
HE IS - Believe
When Moses saw God through the burning bush, Moses ask who should he tell his people had sent him. He went back to his people and said, “HE IS sent me.”
Check out the Sermon Slides bellow.
How One-Celled Bacteria Made Me Question Everything
I have been a lifelong church-goer. And there were times when Christian leaders would say something that I went along with, but didn’t really agree with. The Biblical narrative of creation was one of those things.
As a young man I was gifted in science and math, so naturally I gravitated towards those subjects in college. When I first started my undergraduate education, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to be. I went from teaching, to chemistry, to pharmacy, and I’m sure I’ve missed a couple. But even if I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to be, I was sure it would deal with science. And as I grew in my knowledge of the sciences, I found it conflicting with the creation narrative I’d brought to college with me.
I’ve grown up in the Christian church. With the exception of a few years in my early twenties, I have been a lifelong church-goer. And there were times when Christian leaders would say something that I went along with, but didn’t really agree with. The Biblical narrative of creation was one of those things. I found many ways to justify my thinking: What is a day to God? How long did Adam and Eve live in the garden? But the facts were before me, and those facts were defined by scientific reasons for existence.
Walking with Jesus to Emmaus - Kingdom Life
In the Gospel of Luke we see how Jesus comes alongside us and shows us how it was about Him all along. This is the story of the road to Emmaus.
Much like Scrooge, the shepherds sat in darkness until the heavenly angels came, bringing the light of a well celebrated Christmas.