Animating the Body of Christ

Jan. 24, 2010 Third Sunday after Epiphany 1 Cor. 12:12-31a Life in the body of Christ-the church-is characterized by unity and energy. At least it should be. Paul looked at the church and knew full well that potential and reality often do not match. In the first 11 chapters of 1 Corinthians, he dealt with a host of problems in the church-divisions into various parties, sexual immorality by leaders, people suing each other in court, idol sacrifice, members getting drunk before worship and others. If anyone ever had the right to be pessimistic about the church, it would have been Paul!

Getting the Right Gift

Jan. 17, 2010 Second Sunday after Epiphany 1 Cor. 12:1-11 Ever have a problem finding just the right gift for someone-a spouse, child, grandchild, fiancé or parent? In the past, I would shop and shop months in advance and make sure I had the right gift for my wife for Christmas, birthday or anniversary.

Wanted: A Righteous Voice

Jan. 10, 2010 Baptism of the Lord Luke 3:15-17 The newspaper is filled with want ads. There are want ads for jobs, used cars, new cars, tractors, boats, airplanes, toys and more. However, I've never seen an ad for "a righteous voice." Maybe there ought to be because righteousness seems to be in short supply today, just like it was in John the Baptist's day.

A New Day to Begin Life

Jan. 3, 2010 Second Sunday after Christmas John 1:1-18 I love sunrises. They are glorious reminders that God has given each of us a new beginning with potential, possibility and a positive future. We never can undo the previous day's blunders, mistakes, or sins. So God has given us the beauty of the sunrise for us to begin with optimism in Him.

A Uniform for God’s People

?December 27, 2009 First Sunday After Christmas Day Colossians 3:12-17 If God's people wore a uniform, what would it look like? In our text is a three-fold description of God's people. First, we are God's chosen people. We are selected from every race and tribe, every rank and culture, highborn and low, from factory and farm, from shop and from ships at sea. We are selected to make up His own people.

The King Has Come!

?December 20, 2009 Fourth Sunday of Advent Micah 5:2-5a Seven hundred years before the Spirit of God came over a certain young maiden named Mary so that she would become the mother of the Christ, that same Spirit of God gave prophetic insight to one of His spokesmen. Micah predicted the town of Bethlehem to be the place in which the coming ruler would be born.

A Faith that Cancels Fear

?December 13, 2009 Third Sunday in Advent Isaiah 12:2-6 A minister in Texas found his new ministry would require him to travel all over the state. Since he would be away from home often overnight, he bought a little companion dog for his wife. They named the puppy "Fear Not."

Road Builders

?December 6, 2009 Second Sunday of Advent Luke 3:1-6 When I served as a pastor in Columbia, S.C., in the 1990s, Interstate 77 was being completed. It would form a beltway around the city as it crossed I-20 at one point and joined I-26. Our family lived about a mile from the roadway under construction.

Ever Ready

?November 29, 2009 First Sunday of Advent Luke 21:25-36 What an exciting time is the Advent season! It's the beginning of another year of walking through Scripture to experience the life of Christ together. And of course, it signals the beginning of the Christmas season.

Drawing Near

?November 15, 2009 Proper 28 Hebrews 10:19-25 When my oldest daughter was 3 years old, we were traveling and staying with friends. Surrounded by other children and staying in an unfamiliar place, she found herself in various stages of disobedience several times in one day!