Pentecost Sunday is the last big Sunday in the liturgical year, but often churches that celebrate Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter fail to give equal emphasis to Pentecost. Pentecost is the culmination of the Christian Calendar, and has been called the “birthday of the church.” Without Pentecost, the Christian Year is incomplete because it [...]
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Pentecost art
May 26, 2012
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On Pentecost the fire of the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles. Debbie installed this multi-layered representation of the Pentecostal fire for our celebration of “the birthday of the church!”
Read moreCommencement Prayer at Hargrave Military Academy
May 19, 2012
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I was asked to offer the “Senior Prayer” at Hargrave Military Academy’s 103rd commencement ceremony today. In the past few years I found that writing my prayer for a public event helps me focus my thoughts more clearly. Here’s the prayer I prayed today for the Hargrave Military Academy Class of 2012. Hargrave Military Academy [...]
Read moreBaccalaureate Sermon: Standing Out From the Crowd
May 19, 2012
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Last Thursday night I was asked to deliver the baccalaureate sermon at Hargrave Military Academy. About 340 seventh through twelfth graders are enrolled at Hargrave, and all were present for this last convocation of the school year. Here’s the message I shared with them. Standing Out From The Crowd Numbers 13:1-3, 26-33 NIV The Lord [...]
Read more15 Traits of Innovative Leaders
May 17, 2012
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A few days ago I had the opportunity to participate in a leadership conference with Dr. Greg Jones, former dean of Duke Divinity School, and Dr. John Upton, president of the Baptist World Alliance and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Next week, I’ll share Greg Jones’ thoughts on leadership, but today I thought you might [...]
Read morePodcast: A Mother’s Sacrifice
May 15, 2012
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The Bible features several accounts of mothers, but my favorite Old Testament story about mothers is the story of Hannah and Samuel. Found in 1 Samuel 1, Hannah’s story recounts her willingness to give her son, Samuel, back to the Lord. Samuel, in turn, heard the voice of God calling him. As a result Samuel [...]
Read moreSermon: Sacrifice Demands Responsibility
May 14, 2012
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On Mothers’ Day, I delivered the chapel message at Hargrave Military Academy. The 800-seat chapel was filled with cadets and their families on a beautiful Sunday morning. Sacrifice Demands Responsibility 1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his [...]
Read morePodcast: Worshipping and Doubting
April 29, 2012
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In Matthew 28:16-20, we usually miss verse 17: “When they saw him, they worshiped 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 [...]
Read morePodcast: If You Love Jesus
April 23, 2012
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In John 21:15-19, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Most Bible scholars agree that Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to atone for his betrayal of Jesus during Jesus’ arrest. But what does this mean for us today? How do we know if we love Jesus? In this passage we find the [...]
Read morePodcast: Living in Light of Easter
April 16, 2012
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Now that Easter Sunday is behind us, what do we do next? How do we as followers of Jesus live in light of Easter’s message of hope and joy? In John 20:19-31 we read the story of Jesus’ first encounter with his disciples after his resurrection. This account is unique to John’s gospel and gives [...]
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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
