Sermons

Legend has it that when he emerged from Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a woman, “What kind of government are you giving us?” “A republic, Madam, if you can keep it.”

Trinity Sunday, 2018

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Easter V, 2018

Third Sunday of Easter 2018

A recent cartoon spoke to the truth of 21st century life: A business man, suit on, briefcase in hand, stands outside a hut with the word “Guru” above the door. He looks at the bearded wise man and says, “What’s the meaning of life? But make it quick, I’ve got an important meeting in half an hour.”

Palm Sunday 2018

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him…”

John tells us the most stripped down version of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Here there is none of the elaborate preparation found in the other gospels. There is really only one detail not found in the other three, John is the only gospel to name the tree branches used to celebrate Jesus.

As we examine words of scripture that bear on our faith, it is fitting on Palm Sunday that our word is Palms.

Lent III, 2018

The wireless communication read “To Titanic: Ice report in Lat 42.n to 41.25n Long 49w to Long 50.30w saw much heavy pack ice and great number of large icebergs also field ice. Weather good and clear.

9:40 pm, April 14.”

Lent I, 2018

As we begin our Lenten journey this first Sunday, it is appropriate that our word for the day is Wilderness. In the starkest gospel version, Mark tells us the Holy Spirit “drove” Jesus into the wilderness. He was there forty days, tempted by Satan and “staffed” by angels. Mark does not tells us what temptations Satan used or how the angels “waited” on Jesus.

Well, with the Super Bowl tonight and the Winter Olympics starting on Friday, it seems appropriate that our word for the week is Champion. Tonight, either the New England Patriots or the Philadelphia Eagles will emerge as football champions. Next week hundreds of elite athletes will begin competing to become champions in their chosen sport.

Third Sunday after Epiphany, 2018

Our word journey through scripture continues today. In these brief few lines, the word follow jumps out at us.

The dictionary defines follow as “To go or come after a thing or person; to move or travel behind.” What does this mean for a Christian?

Christmas II, 2017

By Christmas 1982, it seemed everyone in Pt. Loma knew the Simpson family.  Mr. Simpson was the gruff Health & Driver’s Ed teacher at the high school. If you wanted a driver’s license, you had to take his class. He scared everyone showing a movie called “Signal 30” which was the Ohio State Trooper’s radio call for a crash with fatalities.

Advent IV, 2017

Advent II, 2017

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” So proclaimed Isaiah. John the Baptist was Isaiah’s predicted messenger of the Messiah calling us to prepare for the Lord.

As we continue the journey of significant words in scripture, that’s our word this morning, prepare. The dictionary definition is straightforward, “Make (something) ready for use or consideration…”

Reign of Christ 2017

This year I have been preaching on significant words in scripture for our faith. Today, the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar year has long been known as “Christ the King” or “Reign of Christ” Sunday. These are fitting titles for the Sunday before a new liturgical year starts with the beginning of Advent. However, it can be awkward for a sermon series based on single words. “King” is not the best fit when trying to grasp gender neutrality and, well “Reign of Christ” is just plain awkward as a word

Commitment Sunday 2017

As we continue our year-long journey through important words in scripture, our word this Commitment Sunday is “Gratitude.” Let me offer some background on our text.

Do you believe in God?...

OK, you’re here, so perhaps you do.

Maybe the real question is, do you trust God?

I ask these impertinent questions because as we continue our look at significant words in scripture, our word today is abundance. The essence of the word is “a large quantity of something.” The thing of it is, I am not sure we really like this word much. More to the point, we like having abundance, we are just loathe to admit it!

The Rev. Gordon Lindsey

In that beloved children's story Alice in Wonderland, Alice comes upon a large mushroom on top of which a caterpillar is sitting. He is smoking a hookah pipe.

Alice tries to start up a conversation with him. He looks down at her contemptuously and asks, "Who are you?"

" I — I hardly know, sir, just at the present," says Alice, "At least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."

We continue with our journey through words in scripture and our faith that matter. Today the word is believe.

To get at this word I want to share a story about my first church in Massies Mill. Not far from the church was a notch of land along a tributary to the Tye River. There was a good strip of bottom land, a short dirt road separated it from three or four homesites on the hillside. The area was known as “Hippie Hollow” by the locals since the land had been bought and the homes built by young couples from the seventies who had moved to the county.