This is the sermon I’m preaching tomorrow, Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2009. I hope your day is filled with God’s presence. May the fire fall on us. The Work of the Spirit John 15:26-27, 16:4-15 John 15:26-27: 26“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who [...]
Read more
Archive | May, 2009
Helping our neighbor
May 28, 2009
3 Comments
Today our local TV station interviewed me about our latest project — helping a man on disability fix his burned-out home so he can quit living in his tool shed. Here’s the video that aired tonight on WSET, Lynchburg. http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0509/627105_video.html
Read moreFrom Here To Eternity in Real Life
May 28, 2009
8 Comments
I can’t figure out what I don’t like about the story of former Catholic priest Alberto Cutie (pronounced ku-tee-ay, not cutie-pie), who has now become an Episcopal priest. But, maybe it’s the fact that… Father Al was caught in a Burt-Lancaster-From-Here-to-Eternity scene, rolling in the tide with a bikini clad woman; or that, Father Alberto [...]
Read moreThe differences in old small churches and new small churches
May 27, 2009
6 Comments
Les Puryear posted an interesting list of small church distinctives this week. His list got me to thinking about the possible differences in “old” small churches and “new” small churches. By “old” I mean what we typically think of as a small church whether it’s in a rural, small town, suburban, or even urban setting. [...]
Read moreWhy we Baptists need a creed
May 26, 2009
29 Comments
I am about to break an unwritten rule in Baptist life. Granted, it won’t be my first transgression, and probably not my last, but this one is becoming more important to me the longer I’m in ministry. We need a creed. There, I said it! We Baptists need a creed. Now, for those who don’t [...]
Read moreWhat If Clergy Were Supported, Not Paid?
May 25, 2009
15 Comments
In all the conversation about churches and change, one particular topic seems to be the unmentioned gorilla in the room — clergy pay. By clergy pay, I mean what most of us had in mind when we went to seminary — “I’ll get this great theological education so I can work full-time at — and [...]
Read moreSermon: Telling The Good News
May 23, 2009
0 Comments
Here’s the sermon I’m preaching tomorrow titled, Telling The Good News. I’ve got a terrible cold or allergies or something, so I hope your day is better than mine appears, if I don’t improve! Telling the Good News Luke 24:44-53 44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with [...]
Read moreMemorial Day sermon: When God Writes Your Name
May 21, 2009
1 Comment
This year because Ascension Sunday and Memorial Day weekend are the same, we’re emphasizing Ascension Sunday. But, last year we focused on Memorial Day. Here’s the sermon I preached last year, if you’re looking for sermon ideas. I liked the text from Isaiah and wove the Memorial Day theme around that. The title is When [...]
Read moreCommunity VBS Overview
May 19, 2009
3 Comments
I’m trying to do more with video, so here’s a quick under-4-minute clip about what and how we’re doing our community VBS this year. This will not win an Emmy, but maybe you’ll get some useful ideas.
Read more13 Triggers for Anxiety in Churches
May 18, 2009
0 Comments
Peter Steinke has written a helpful book, Congregational Leadership In Anxious Times. Steinke subtitled his book, Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What. Good advice for these anxious times. In my presentation to small church pastors at The Cove last week, I borrowed Steinke’s “13 Triggers for Anxiety” in churches. Here’s his take on what [...]
Read more
Podcasts
- Living in the Power of Pentecost
- A Mother's Sacrifice
- Worshipping and DoubtingIn Matthew 28:16-20, we usually miss verse 17: "They worshipped him, but some doubted." What did the 11 disciples doubt during this post-resurrection appearance of Jesus? Did they doubt that he had been resurrected? Or that he was the Messiah, the Son of God? Or did they doubt themselves and their ability to carry on after Jesus left them? The inte […]
- If You Love Jesus
- Living in Light of Easter
