January 29, 2010
Divine Display
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As we continue our study in Ephesians we start to realize that the emphasis of Paul begins to turn toward unity of the body. He leads in by giving them the principle that they are on display.
Divine Display |
January 22, 2010
Finally... The Christmas Sermon
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I preached the sermon posted here on December 19, 2009. My plan was to rip it, edit it, post it and then go to Indiana and enjoy the holidays. However I experienced technical difficulties and was unable to rip it from the dvd. I figured I would fix it when I got back home from Indiana. So the vacation has come and gone and when attempting to fix the error I assumed it was a bad dvd. Later I found out my dvd player was not recognizing the presence of a dvd. Needless to say I have fixed the issue and here is the Christmas sermon from Freeport 2009.
Announcements |
December 13, 2009
Quickened
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Starting in Ephesians 2:1-6 I have to admit I struggled with putting a sermon together that would convey the meaning within 40 minutes or less.
Paul tells us plainly that before Jesus we were running the course of this world. After Jesus, we are quickened together with Him, and essentially, should be, running the course of Heaven.
However there is a difficulty and I believe the difficulty lies in the concept of being quickened. Quickened doesn't mean just made alive. It means we must die in order to be made alive. We must die to ourselves and to the course of this world. We must be born again.
Quickened |
November 27, 2009
Feasting On Crumbs
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I don't often publicly declare my opinion but I have come to a moment in my experience that I feel it is right and necessary to do so.
As this day wore on I was immensely aggravated at the process by which I came to an understanding of God's Words and was able to put it into words that were suitable to preaching. Not that I had waited until the last minute to prepare but that this was such a difficult sermon. The sermon was simply a continuation of the teaching in Ephesians. We have arrived at chapter two verses one through six. By a simple reading of this text one would get that the author was elaborating on the power of God and His desire to save us by or through His power and not of ourselves. But then there is that word, quickened, and quickened changes things.
The Greek word is the word sunezOopoiEsen. In the King James Version this word is translated as quickened. It means to be joined together in order to live. It raises images of the yoke that binds two oxen together in order that a plow can be pulled. It reminds of the vine and how we need to get connected and grafted in. It makes me think of how if Jesus truly means for us to take up our cross and follow, if he means for us to take up His yoke, and if He truly means to disciple us then we would be less like ourselves and more like Him every passing day. Except we should choose to not follow.
Point is the more I study the Word the more I see what Christians should be and the less I see something that defines the modern church. As an example here in Maine there was a great outcry for the reversal of gay marriage laws. According to the extent of the movement and the urgency of the cry gay marriage is of an apparent greater concern for Christians in our area than say homelessness or hunger. I saw placards, door hangers, lawn signs, television ads, and mailers all attempting to unite Christians against the gay marriage law and hoping to gain an appeal. After 2.6 million dollars and a grand campaign Christians have "won" a political battle.
This is where my opinion comes in: 2.6 million dollars would have gone a long way to reduce the burden on our elderly for rising fuel oil and heat costs. 2.6 million dollars would have been an amazingly beneficial relief to many families who have lost their jobs and are in danger of losing their homes. 2.6 million dollars would have gone a long way in feeding the hungry, clothing the destitute, and providing for the homeless this winter in Maine. But passion, organization, and execution of this current Christian agenda has delivered this message, "It is more important to politically satisfy our point of view on lifestyle choices than to be hospitable to our neighbors."
The seriously perverted thing in all this is not the homosexual lifestyle but rather the Christian church perceiving that lesbianism and homosexuality is a far greater sin in the scriptures than not showing hospitality. In fact many Christians readily proclaim that Sodom was destroyed for it's stance to condone homosexuality. The truth is God was sending angels to destroy Sodom and Gemorrah for their lack of hospitality. Because they would not aid their poor or care for their needy.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
If great tragedy falls upon our state and upon our nation it will not be because we have had compassion upon the lesbian or homosexual. It will be because we turned a deaf ear and a haughty gaze away from the needs of the poor and needy in this state of Maine and around this great nation of ours.
May God forgive us of our inhospitable ways and send revival in our midst.
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November 23, 2009
Youth Rally
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This weekend we had a youth rally at the Freeport church. I have posted the worship service in its entirety. The sound isn't that great during the praise service but you can get an idea of what took place and how good it was.
Youth Rally 2009 |
November 13, 2009
Kratos... The Power of God
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Sometimes it is easy for us to think about the power of God in such a way to diminish it. Not that we do not believe God exists but rather our challenges might be beyond His talent to work with. I came to a realization that I, and perhaps you may as well, consider things of the world more powerful than God. Not because we see God as weak but because we do not actively consider God's power and its extent. I use the examples of an atomic bomb, a tidal wave, and the sun to help consider the power of God and how we truly do not and can not wrap our minds around it.
Kratos |
October 25, 2009
His Inheritance... Something for us or Him?
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God is great, He is good, He is loving and He is full of mercy, and forgiveness. At least until He has to respond or deal with a sinner like me. That is usually the way we approach the goodness of God and His blessings. We sometimes feel unqualified, undeserving, or unworthy. However regardless of how we feel there is an inheritance of God. It is a legal concept with legal terms that God has chosen to draft or decree. In light of this what say do you have in this as a recipient? None whatsoever because it is His to give and do with as He desires.
His Inheritance |
October 16, 2009
What Do We Hear When He Calls?
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The amazing thing about the scene in the Garden of Eden is when God came to Adam and Eve after they sinned He had to find them. You see they were hiding. Although God knew where they were He called out to them. The question is what were they hiding from? What did the sound of His voice represent? It astounds me that they ran from love, mercy, hope, and redemption. Are you running as well?
The Hope Of His Calling |
October 2, 2009
Knowing Facts. Is That What It Is All About?
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When I was younger I used to hear all about how it is so important to know facts. We spend a good portion of our time in schools, reading books, and taking in information. This is a great thing, but, is it everything? Only a fool despises knowledge but I think it is equally true that only a fool collects knowledge. A true wise person employs knowledge for the purpose it is given. Which brings me to the point; do you know God?
In this sermon I introduce the tension between info, facts, and knowing and how we need more than these things when it comes to knowing God.
The Knowledge of Him |
September 18, 2009
Divine Down Payment
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In this world we have hopes, we have dreams, and aspirations. Unfortunmately we experience all to often the crushing of our dreams. The extinguishing of hope. The dashing of our aspiration. It can happen so often that we begin to be jaded, We become cynical. We stand a chance to become bitter. In light of all this we have a God that wants to dream with us. A God that wants us to trust and place our hope in Him. How does a God convince a multitude of calloused and scarred humans that their hope and dreams are safe in His hands?
The Divine Down Payment |
September 16, 2009
Richie and Ashley Baptized
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Well it is a done deal; Richie and Ashley have chosen Jesus. I could write to you and tell you their story but I figure it would be more powerful if you could hear it in their own words. In case you are wondering all the baptismal robes the church has was to small for me in the shoulders... So here it is:
Baptism Testimonies |
September 3, 2009
The Blood
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One of the great truths of Christianity is the efficacy of the bllod of the Messiah. Throught Judaism the practice of sacrifice required the use of a perfect sacrifice. One without blemish. As the blameless, faultless, and sinless Son of God and son of man; Jesus is our perfect sacrifice.
This is important especially in light of our own need for perfect blood, a perfect life, and a perfect redemption. We get the concept of Jesus shed His blood for us. But is there any more to it than that. Is there more to what occurred than simply Jesus bled?
I think that we minimize the nature of blood and especially the blood of the incarnate divine Christ.
May you be blessed as you view:
The Blood |
August 30, 2009
New Series Begun
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We have begin a new study. We will be going through the letter to the church at Ephesus. I hope you enjoy and are blessed by the first installment:
Accepted Into The Beloved |
June 12, 2009
Unashamed
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We have finished our study from the letter to the church at Philippi. I decided instead of starting another course of study, through another book or letter, I would do a reaping sermon.
The sermon Unashamed is about how in the Garden the sins of the world were being laid upon the shoulders of Jesus. In addition to carrying our sin, Jesus, carried our shame. He carried our sin and shame to the cross and it was completely handled there so that we would not have to suffer the eternal consequences of them.
The audio goes out once in awhile due to the batteries that were wearing out in my lapel mic. In addition after the appeal seven people have chosen to be either baptized or rebaptized.
May God bless you as you listen to:
Unashamed |
June 6, 2009
God Plus One Man Equals the Majority and Majority Rules
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I have finally reached the conclusion of the letter to the Philippians and it is this, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." I like to think of it as God plus one man equals the majority. Majority rules.
In this sermon I felt compelled to go right to the throat of the matter. So many times when things are getting tough we simply throw in the towel. We wave a white flag and surrender to the enemy. But we have not yet resisted unto blood against sin. We have yet to be wounded by our resisting against sin so why surrender to it without a fight. Then again when God is on your side why surrender anything to this world. Why not live bold, adventurous, and daring lives?
I Can |
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Archives
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November 13, 2009
Ephesians 1:19-23
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| Kratos |
June 6, 2009
Philippians 4:8-13
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| I Can |
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Archives
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