Sermons & Music

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Sermon Topics 2011~2012 2010~2011 2009~2010 2008~2009 2007~2008 2006~2007 2005~2006 l Sermon Archives

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Sermon Topics: Sept 7, 2008 - September 6, 2009

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Sermon Topics: Sept 7, 2008 - December 28, 2008

Bible in Our Hands: A Practical Bible
Dr. Jeff H. McCrory Jr.

Goal and Objectives:
The goal of this sermon series is to help the congregation look at current issues from a biblical perspective. To this end, the objectives for the series are:

1. Begin the process from a current issue
2. Teach the congregation how to use the Bible to view current issues
3. Teach the congregation a clear method for hearing the Holy Spirit speak to current issues through biblical texts
4. Grow the congregation as a Scripture-shaped community for mission

The issues I will address for Fall 2008 are:

1. How to make decisions in an election year
2. How to use our money wisely (annual fund campaign)
3. How to serve with joy (feet out the door)
4. How to celebrate Christmas with joy
   

Donkeys and Elephants: How to make decisions in an election yea
September 7 – October 5
We are in an election season and need help determining what are God’s priorities for choosing leaders. By looking at Israel’s choice of their first king, we will reflect on our choice of leaders.

Sep 7 | Sep 14 | Sep 21 | Sep 28 | Oct 5

Sept 7
Text: Acts 1 Sam 8:1-9
Sermon: We Want a Donkey! We want an Elephant!
Synopsis:
During an election year, we are asking how to make good decisions regarding rule. The story of Israel during the time of Samuel provides a basis for thinking about leadership. All leadership should serve according to the rule and purpose of God.
Sept 7 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
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Sept 14
Text: 1 Sam 9:15-21
Sermon: Where's the Donkey?
Synopsis:
Although all rule comes from God, God provides rulers who respond first to the call of God and then to the call of the people under them. The compromise between God’s rule and human rule is necessary but precarious.
Sept 14 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
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Sept 21
Text: 1 Sam 10:17-27
Sermon: The Duties of a Donkey/Elephant
Synopsis:
What are rulers supposed to do? The Bible provides some clear boundaries and duties for those whom we choose as rulers.
Sept 21 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Donkeys and Elephants]

Sept 28
Text: Phil 1:21
Sermon: Life in Prison
Synopsis: "For me to live is Christ"
Sept 28 Sermon outline not available
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Donkeys and Elephants']

Oct 5
Text: 1 Sam 12:20
Sermon: Donkeys and Elephants
Synopsis:
The Bible teaches that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. This is true for rulers and for people. Our fear and service is first to the LORD and then to all else."Serve the LORD with all your heart"
Oct 5 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Donkeys and Elephants']

It’s My Money: How to use money wisely
October 12 –November 2
This portion of the fall series follows our annual fund campaign and focuses upon the way we think about and use our money. During the period of the prophet Haggai, people lost the Lord’s wisdom on how to use their resources. We will use this prophecy as a resource to find wisdom in order to make good choices with money.

Oct 12 | Oct 19 | Oct 26 | Nov 2

Oct 12
Text: Haggai 1:1-15
Sermon: What Time is It?
Synopsis:
When we look to our own needs we never have enough. When we look to the priorities of the LORD, we find we have enough and joy in addition.
Oct 12 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
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Oct 19
Text: Haggai 2:1-9
Sermon: The Good Old Days
Synopsis:
We are always comparing our wealth to that of others and to former times. God calls us to turn to him, who holds all wealth in his hands. Only when our focus is correct can we hold wealth in a wise manner.
Oct 19 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
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Oct 26
Text: Haggai 2:10-19
Sermon: Making Everyone Miserable with Money
Synopsis:
When we use our money in the LORD’s way, it participates in God’s holy goodness. The LORD blesses us with wealth in order that we might be a blessing to others.
No Sermon Outline available
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'It's My Money: How to use money wisely']

Nov 2 Commitment Sunday
Text: Haggai 2:20-23
Sermon: Money is for Kingdom Building
Synopsis:
The only good use for our money is to build for the coming Kingdom of God here on earth. Every other use of our resources is futile. Participating in Kingdom building is far more than giving to the general budget of the church.
Nov 2 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'It's My Money: How to use money wisely']

Serving with Joy: How to serve in the community with joy
November 9-November 30
At times the call for us to get our “feet out the door” sounds more like duty than opportunity. Paul, sitting in a jail, writes a letter to his favorite church encouraging them to serve the Lord with joy in all circumstances. We will use Paul’s letter to the Philippians to help us gain the joy of the Lord in serving.

Nov 9 | Nov 16 | Nov 23 | Nov 30

Nov 9 Sunday before Veterans Day
Text: Phil 1:1-11
Sermon: Filled with Joy
Synopsis:
Service begins when the love of God flows to us and through us. We don’t serve out of obligation, we serve out of gratitude for what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.
Nov 9 Sermon outline text not available.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
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Nov 16
Text: Phil 1:12-26
Sermon: Christ Will Be Exalted
Synopsis:
The serving life is meant to be lived and done together. We are the Body of Christ, with brothers and sisters who support and encourage us in good and bad times. This is a source of both support and joy.
Nov 16 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Serving with Joy: How to serve in the community with joy']

Nov 23
Text: Phil 2:1-11
Sermon: A Living Model of Joy
Synopsis:
Serving with joy begins with knowing where we live. We don’t live in the USA or in Kenya. We live in Jesus Christ, who is Lord and Savior. Thinking this through is the key to serving with joy.
Nov 23 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Serving with Joy: How to serve in the community with joy']

Nov 30 First Sunday of Advent/Thanksgiving Weekend
Text: Phil 4:10-20
Sermon: Serving with Joy
Synopsis:
Joy in serving comes when we realize that we live in Christ Jesus, and Christ Jesus lives among us. There is nothing we cannot do and no obstacle we cannot endure if we find our lives in our living Savior Jesus Christ.
Nov 30 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Serving with Joy: How to serve in the community with joy']

Celebrating Christmas in Joy: Enjoying the carols as gospel stories
December 7-December 28
We so often associate Christmas with singing carols. These beloved carols present the gospel story using both texts from Scripture as well as music from a certain setting. In this Christmas season we will look at three of our favorite Christmas carols and the texts that gave rise to them.

Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Dec 24 | Dec 28

Dec 7 Second Sunday of Advent
Text: Psalm 100
Sermon: O Come All Ye Faithful
Synopsis:
The next three weeks in preparation for Christmas we will look at the stories of three beloved Christmas Carols and the texts that gave rise to them:
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joy to the World
Silent Night
My hope is that you will enter into the biblical story of Christmas; for it is an alternative story that strikes at ancient/modern culture.
Dec 7 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Celebrating Christmas in Joy']

Dec 14 Third Sunday of Advent
Text: Psalm 98
Sermon: Joy to the World
Synopsis:
Isaac Watts, who some call the father of English hymnody, wrote Joy to the World as a paraphrase of Psalm 98. Although not directly a Christmas carol, the words follow Psalm 98, announcing that God is coming to judge the world.
Dec 14 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Celebrating Christmas in Joy']

Dec 21 Fourth Sunday of Advent
Text: Luke 2:1-20
Sermon: Silent Night
Synopsis:
Silent Night was born in the frantic search to find a tune for a Christmas poem. So too with Luke’s report of the birth of Jesus—It was a story in search of a tune. Joseph Mohr found the tune in his friend Franz Gruber. Luke found the tune in the Emperor cult of his day.
Dec 21 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Celebrating Christmas in Joy']

Dec 24 Christmas Eve
Text: Matt 1:23
Sermon: Dreaming a Possible Dream
Synopsis:
The Christmas story tells us that God’s sovereign decision to save us rides upon the fragile choice of a man named Joseph. The Almighty, Creator God risks to give us the dignity to make significant choices.
Dec 24 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Celebrating Christmas in Joy']

Dec 28 Epiphany Emphasis
Text: Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon: Magi and Star
Synopsis:
The hymn We Three Kings tells Matthew’s story of the world showing up to praise Jesus. Wise men and women continue to praise Jesus.
Dec 28 Sermon outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Celebrating Christmas in Joy']

Sermon Topics: January 4, 2009 - March 29, 2009

Jesus in Our Hearts:
A Practical Jesus
Winter 2009
Dr. Jeff H. McCrory Jr.

Goal and Objectives:
The goal of this sermon series is to help the congregation look at the Christian faith from within a culture of skepticism. To this end, the objectives for the series are:

1. Begin the process with an objection to the faith
2. Teach the congregation how to use the Bible to think through this objection biblically
3. Teach the congregation a clear method for hearing the Holy Spirit speak to a skeptical culture through biblical texts
4. Grow the congregation as a Scripture-shaped community for mission

The topic I will address for the Winter is Faith in a Flat World: Doubts About the Christian Faith, Reasons for the Christian Faith. This I will do using texts from John’s Gospel. The sermon titles I have adapted from Tim Keller’s recent book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (New York: Dutton, 2008).

Doubts About the Christian Faith

Jan 4 | Jan 11 | Jan 18 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Feb 8 |
Feb 15 | Feb 22 | Feb 25(Ash Wednesday) | Mar 1 |

Jan 4
Text: Luke 24:36-49
Sermon: Jesus in Our Heart, Bible in Our Hands & Feet Out the Door
Preacher: Dr. Jeff McCrory, Jr.
Synopsis:
Two years ago through our Refocusing Process we adopted the vision statement,
Jesus in Our Heart
Bible in Our Hands
Feet Out the Door
How are we doing in 2009? Let’s take a look at our church and our lives as we move into the new year.
January 4 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Jan 11
Text: Philippians 3:7-16, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13
Sermon: Preparing for the Journey
Preacher: Dr. Michael Wenning
Synopsis:
Forgetting what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Chrixst Jesus.
January 11 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Jan 18
Text: John 11:17-27, 38-44
Sermon: Remove the Stone
Preacher: Rev. John Mbae, Guest Preacher from Narok, Kenya
January 18 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Jan 25
Text: John 1:1-18
Sermon: There can't be one true religion
Preacher: Dr. Jeff McCrory, Jr.
Synopsis:
As a sign of the presence of God in the world, Jesus heals people. He does not heal all people, but only a few. If God is good, why doesn’t he heal all people? Why does God allow suffering if he is good? Jesus’ healing of a lame man serves to focus this discussion.
January 25 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Feb 1
Text: John 3:16-21
Sermon: Why would God Send People To Hell?
Preacher: Dr. Jeff McCrory, Jr.
Synopsis:
How could such a loving God send some to hell?
We will learn from John’s Gospel that God so loves the world that he sends God the Son to save and not to judge. We have a choice to live in salvation or judgment. The truth is God doesn’t send anyone to hell. We choose to go.
February 1 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Feb 8
Text: John 5:1-15
Sermon: Why Would God Allow Suffering?
Preacher: Dr. Jeff McCrory, Jr.
Synopsis:
We ask, “Why would a good God allow suffering?” This may be the wrong question, but let’s listen and begin to answer.
John’s Gospel teaches that what Jesus says and does is what God says and does. Today we take a look at what God says and does about suffering.
February 8 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Feb 15
Text: John 6:16-21
Sermon: Science Has Disproved The ChristianFaith
Preacher: The Rev. Tom Cramer
Synopsis:
Aren’t all these miracles just stories made up to express the disciples’ faith in Jesus? How are we to read stories that seem to us incredible? The Bible is meant to be read according to reading rules that we no longer possess, but which are similar to the rules we use to read current literature. The Bible reports literal events and also uses figurative language. We must discern between these in order to read the Word of God faithfully.
February 15 Sermon in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Feb 22
Text: John 14:1-7
Sermon: The Claim of Truth is a Power Play
Synopsis:
We live in a culture where claims to truth are deemed power plays. Jesus’ statement sounds exclusive and narrow. Is there such a thing as truth? Shouldn’t we settle down and be happy with multiple truths? Explaining away all claims for truth leaves us in an untenable position.
February 22 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

March 1
Text: John 15:18-25
Sermon: Doubt and Faith
Synopsis:
All doubts about the Christian faith stem from some underlying belief. One cannot doubt apart from an alternative belief. There is no such thing as an objective secular stance. The real question is which belief is the better empirical fit for the way things are. Many claim that the Christian faith fits best the way things are.
March 1 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 25MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Reasons for the Christian Faith

Mar 8 | Mar 15 |Mar 22 | Mar 29 Apr 5(Palm Sunday) |
Apr 9(Maundy Thursday) | Apr 12(Easter) | Apr 19 |

March 8
Text: John 10:1-11
Sermon: Clues for God
Synopsis:
Unfulfilled longing for goodness, beauty, and justice are clues that there might be more than just human longing. If we long for something that is unfulfilled, might there be a God who fulfills all longing? There are clues in the universe that send God-like signals.
March 8 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 25MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

March 15
Text: John 16:4-15
Sermon: Knowledge of God
Synopsis:
All peoples since the beginning of human history have believed in some God. This belief in God is strange. If there were no God, why would every human group believe in such nonsense? Jesus speaks of the presence of the Spirit who points to God. This is a clue that there is a living God.
March 15 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 25MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

March 22
Text: John 8:2-11
Sermon: The Problem of Sin
Synopsis:
Mark Twain once said that sin is the most provable of all biblical doctrines. Everyone realizes that things aren’t as they should be. Isn’t this odd? What’s wrong with the world and how can it be fixed? The doctrine of sin points to the truth of the biblical analysis of humanity’s problem.
March 22 Sermon in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 23MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

March 29
Text: John 13:1-20
Sermon: Grace and Religion
Synopsis:
I am going to draw a distinction today between grace and religion. Religion is what we do for God. The poster-boy for religion is Peter: “You will never wash my feet!” The poster-boy for grace is Jesus: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”
The sad truth is that many of us live with Christian religion rather than Christian grace. Today, let’s try to change that.
March 29 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 25MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

April 5 (Palm/Passion Sunday)
Text: John 12:12-19
Sermon: Here Comes the King
Preacher: Dr. Jeff H. McCrory Jr.
Synopsis:
Palm Sunday is about expectations of Jesus. Yes, there is the pancake breakfast, the Easter Egg Hunt, and the festivities. Similarly, it was during a festival that Jesus came into town.
But he came to town amid certain expectations.
People had expectations about Jesus.
Crowd; Pharisees; Disciples
What are your expectations of Jesus this Palm Sunday?
April 5 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 25MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

April 9 (Maundy Thursday)
Text:
Sermon:
Synopsis:
April 9 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, mp3 format, 30MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

April 12 (Easter Sunday)
Text: John 20:1-10. 24-31
Sermon: Surprised By Hope
Preacher: Dr. Jeff H. McCrory Jr.
Synopsis:
Today we proclaim surprising hope for the world:
Jesus has been raised bodily from the grave.
Let me be clear about this surprising hope:
On the third day after his execution by the Romans, Jesus was found to be alive, and appeared to his followers and to others who had not believed, convincing them that he was not a ghost or a hallucination, but was truly and bodily raised from the dead.
April 12 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, flv format 19.3MB, Offertory Music, flv format, 4.6 MB
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

April 19
Text: Philippians 3:10-16
Sermon: Living Large
Preacher: The Rev. Tom Cramer
Synopsis:
April 19 Sermon Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format.
Audio file of sermon, flv format 15MB, Offertory Music, Organ Postlude
(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Winter Series: Jesus in our heart']

Sermon Topics: April 26, 2009 - July 26, 2009

Hope Beyond Death

Synopsis:
In the Apostles Creed we say we believe in “the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” Many have misunderstood this phrase to mean that we believe in the immortality of the human soul, living on into eternity. Scripture teaches that the creator God loves this world and will restore it and us to a future embodied life, the first fruits of which we see in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. God sent his son to set us and the world free from sin and death. Our hope thus lies not in a future disembodied heaven, but in the renewal of this world, when heaven and earth come together.

Apr 26 | May 3 | May 10 | May 17 | May 24 |
May 31 | Jun 7 | Jun 14 | Jun 21 | Jun 28 |
Jul 5 | Jul 12 | Jul 19 | Jul 26 |

April 26
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Sermon: Hope Beyond Death
Preacher: Dr. Jeff McCrory Jr.
Synopsis:
What we believe about the resurrection of the body determines both our hope now and after we die. In the Apostles Creed we proclaim, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” Many have misunderstood this phrase. For the next few months we are going to look at the Bible’s view of the resurrection. You will be surprised by the hope God is offering us.

Sermon	Audio		Text Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Anthem	Offertory		Pipe organ Postlude
Contemporary

(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Spring-Summer Series: Hope Beyond Death']

May 3
Text: Genesis 1:1-5; Genesis 2:4-9
Sermon: Stuff is Good
Preacher: The Rev. Carolyn McOwen
Synopsis:
Scripture teaches that the creator God made a good creation with the intention that we should steward it to his good purposes. God will not abandon his creation, even though we have tarnished it through willful disobedience. God will recreate this material world, beginning with Jesus Christ, the first fruits of the new creation.

Sermon	Audio		Text Outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Anthem	Offertory	Bell Choir	Pipe organ Postlude
Contemporary		Everlasting God	Hosanna

(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Spring-Summer Series: Hope Beyond Death']

May 10, Mother's Day
Text: Psalm 8:1-9
Sermon: The Future Life
Preacher: Dr. Jeff H. McCrory Jr.
Today is Mother’s Day. Not everyone had or has a good mother, but they should have. God designed this world for humans to exercise his good rule over creation. Even though we now live in a broken creation, we can see glimpses of God’s plan for creation in the way our Mothers exercise good rule.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Anthem	Offertory	Itty Bitty & Sonshine	Pipe organ Postlude

(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Spring-Summer Series: Hope Beyond Death']

May 17
Text: Psalm 30
Sermon: Hope in the Living God
Preacher: Dr. Jeff H. McCrory Jr.
Synopsis:
In a thanksgiving psalm for deliverance from disease, the psalmist proclaims that God brings our lives up from Sheol, or from the Pit, both expressions for God’s life-giving presence in the midst of death.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Anthem	Offertory		Pipe organ Postlude

(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Spring-Summer Series: Hope Beyond Death']

May 24
Text: Isaiah 40:1-11
Sermon: Return from Exile
Preacher: Dr. Jeff H. McCrory Jr.
Synopsis:
Isaiah’s vision of the return of Israel from exile underlies the hope for resurrection on this earth. God will restore his people through forgiving their sins and establishing justice here on earth

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Anthem	Offertory		Pipe organ Postlude

(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Spring-Summer Series: Hope Beyond Death']

May 31
Text: Acts 2:1-13
Sermon: The Spirit and New Creation
Preacher: The Rev. Tom Cramer
Synopsis:
The pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at Pentecost is the beginning of the new creation. As the Spirit was the agent of creation, so the Spirit is the agent of new creation.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Anthem	Offertory		Pipe organ Postlude

(Click link to play. RIGHT-click link to save file, choose "Save target as")
[Back to Top] [Back to 'Spring-Summer Series: Hope Beyond Death']

June 7
Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Sermon: Resurrection from Exile
Preacher: Dr. Jeff McCrory Jr.
Synopsis:
Ezekiel uses the metaphor of bones rising up into human beings to signal that God will return Israel from exile. This metaphor sets the pattern for the biblical doctrine of resurrection from the dead as restoration of the creation.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Bell Choir Prelude	Anthem	Offertory	Bell Choir Postlude

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June 14
Text: Daniel 12:1-4
Sermon: Wake Up and Live
Synopsis:
Daniel foretells a time when the dead shall rise to judgment for life or for shame. This is the clearest Old Testament prophecy regarding resurrection from the dead. The New Testament uses this prophecy to understand the resurrection of Jesus as the inauguration of final judgment.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Praise Singers Choral Respons	Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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June 21
Text: I Thess 4:13-5:11
Sermon: Hope After Death
Synopsis:
In the oldest letter of the New Testament Paul addresses the issue of what happens to those who have died before the reappearance of Jesus. We grieve for our dead loved ones, but we grieve with hope, knowing that Jesus has been bodily raised from the dead.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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June 28
Text: Colossians 1:15-23
Sermon:The First to Wake Up
Synopsis:
Jesus Christ is not only the model for creation, he is the model for the new creation. In the new creation God will restore all things through the reconciliation accomplished in the cross of Jesus

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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July 5 Independence Day Celebration
Text: Romans 8:1-8
Sermon: Free for Resurrection Life
Synopsis:
The root of our freedom lies in being set free from sin and death for new life. We see this clearly in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has set us free to walk according to the Spirit present in Jesus, not to continue in the bondage of our former lives but to live in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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July 12
Text: Romans 8:18-39
Sermon: Hope of No Separation
Synopsis:
Paul reveals God’s grand plan for the world, which is the renewal of the entire cosmos. Just as the Holy Spirit was present in the first creation, so to the Spirit is the spark that sets in motion this grand new creation.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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July 19
Text: 2 Cor 5:1-17
Sermon: Hope in New Creation
Synopsis:
Christian hope lies the in new creation begun in Jesus Christ. We have hope in this world because the new world has begun in Jesus; the good news is that we can begin to live in that new world now.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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July 26
Text: 1 Cor 15:20-28, 58
Sermon: Hope Beyond Death
Synopsis:
In the most developed explanation for the resurrection of the dead, Paul points to the hope we have in this world based upon the fact that God raised Jesus bodily from the grave. Because Jesus is alive, we have hope for now and later.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude	Faith song Congr. respons	Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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Summer Series -
Aug 2 - Aug 16 : Lessons from Matthew by Rev. Tom Cramer
Aug 23 : Appreciation Sunday by Rev. Carolyn McOwen

Aug 2 | Aug9 | Aug16 | Aug 23

Aug 2
Text: Matthew 13:44-46
Sermon: The Pearl of Great Price
Synopsis: Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Violin Prelude	VBS Praise songs	Anthem	Offertory Communion Violin	Pipe organ Postlude

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Aug 9
Text: Matthew 13:24-30
Sermon: A Messy Garden
Synopsis: Let them both grow together until harvest. Matt 13;30

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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Aug 16
Text: John 8:2-11
Sermon: Give Grace a Chance
Synopsis: Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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Aug 23 Appreciation Sunday
Text: Philippians 1:2-6
Sermon: I Thank God for You
Synopsis: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

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Aug30 | Sep 6 |

Aug 30
Text: Philemon 1-16
Sermon: A New Family-1
Synopsis: We begin our fall series in two weeks, A Walk Through the Bible. Until then we are going to read Paul’s letter to Philemon; so short that it doesn’t even have chapters! The letter is about the gospel transforming social relationships. Paul sends a runaway slave, Onesimus, back to his former owner, Philemon, to become no longer a slave but a beloved brother in the Messiah family. This is stunning, given the social conventions of the day. Because God the Father has reconciled the world to himself in Jesus the Son, we now belong to the reconciled Messiah family. This new family affects our thinking and behavior. This week we’ll look at our thinking; next week behavior.

Sermon	Audio		Text outline in Adobe Acrobat .pdf
Traditional	Pipe organ Prelude		Anthem	Offertory	Pipe organ Postlude

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Sep 6
Text: Philemon 17-25
Sermon: A New Family-2
Synopsis: Paul’s letter to Philemon is about the gospel transforming social relationships. Paul sends a runaway slave, Onesimus, back to his former owner, Philemon, to become no longer a slave but a beloved brother (v16) in the Christ family.

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