I wanted to give an aid for congregations and pastors, particularly those in free church backgrounds, who want to move away from the commercialization of the season to focus on the Incarnation. That is a hard sell to be sure. But the way to do it is Continue Reading
Advent Readings and Lightings: Pastoral Preparations for the Coming Season
Little Girl Arise! How Jesus Ministers to Women Today
I offer this sermon, preached on a Mother's Day Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, as "sermon fodder" for preachers as well as for devotional reading for all. Mark 5.22-43 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, Continue Reading
How I Want our Beginning to be Remembered
On December 9, 2007, I gave my farewell sermon to First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, in order to go on a sabbatical and then prepare to assume duties as the President of Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. I entitled the Continue Reading
Longing to Believe: An Advent Sermon (Genesis 15.1-6; Luke 1.46-55)
Existentialist Jean-Paul Satre may have been speaking for many in today’s world, when he wrote about the human being possessing a desire to be satisfied and fulfilled, but nothing in this world being able to fill the bill. So we settle for a “Happy Continue Reading
“Why Do You Give the Baby Gold?” A Christmas Poem
The following poem is a beautiful expression of the heart concerning the Incarnation. Perhaps it could be used for your Christmas Eve bulletins. The poem was found on the bulletin of King's College, Cambridge, for their Lessons and Carols service, Continue Reading
An Unexpected Christmas: An Unexpected Family (Matthew 1.1-16)
This message was part of a series I called "An Unexpected Christmas." I offer it here as fodder for faithful pastors who are preparing to feed the flock of Jesus as we move into the Second Sunday in Advent. I pray you all had a wonderful time of worship Continue Reading
