Have you ever heard of Brian Regan (not the comedian, but the would-be spy)? Back in 2003, Regan was a former analyst for the United States Air Force. Regan made headlines when he sent an email (of all things) to the Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi with the subject line, “I am willing to commit espionage …
The Weeklong Sermon – What Story Are You Living? Read More »
This past weekend we wrapped a two-part vision calling Grace Community Church to be Side By Side this year. The basis of this call was the fact that we are needy and we are needed. Everyone in our church has needs, and therefore everyone is needed. It’s actually one of those counterintuitive truths about life. (Kind of …
Installation is such a funny word to describe what happened to me this past weekend. Maybe that’s why people used every word imaginable: coronation, inauguration, commemoration, ordination, indignation… (just kidding about the last one). Though I have been functioning in the lead pastor role for a few months now, there was something so powerful and …
In recognition of Father’s Day, I spoke about an imperfect father with an imperfect faith. The father’s son had been afflicted by an unclean spirit since birth, and he was at his wit’s end. He comes to Jesus asking for help, and Jesus responds by telling him to have faith. The father’s response is a …
The Weeklong Sermon -Living Faithfully with Doubt Read More »
Mephibosheth. No, that’s not a Hebrew curse word though the meaning of the name could be just as offensive. The young man whose name means “from the mouth of shame” was the son of Jonathan, grandson of King Saul, Israel’s first king. Mephibosheth doesn’t make many headlines in the saga of King David’s reign and …
This past weekend, I taught from Luke 19:1-10 describing Jesus’ encounter with the chief tax collector, Zaccheus. My main point was that Jesus pursued “Zach” who was isolated in his shame. Shame is the pain of feeling “not enough”, disconnected, and unworthy of love and belonging. It goes against the fundamental desire we have to …
Last weekend, we continued our series on Ordinary people whom God used in extraordinary ways. In keeping with the genre of Hebrew narrative, I spent some time studying Joseph’s life. He’s the second youngest son of the Ordinary Conman we looked at last week. Joseph’s life was a series of “pit moments”. In fact, when …
This past weekend I had the joy of preaching from a genre of text that I don’t usually – Hebrew narrative. I think it was the famous preacher, Fred Craddock, who said that it’s a tragedy to take a good Bible story and preach it like a Pauline letter. The sermon should fit the genre. That’s …
This past weekend, I had the joy of closing out our months-long study in the book of Ephesians. Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians by reminding them of the cosmic struggle they are engaged in. This is more than just a struggle against the world or culture (think the current cultural climate with regards …
Easter weekend came and went like warm weather around here in Maryland. In our church rhythm, we like to talk about the impact of the resurrection over two weeks. Our reasoning is that visitors/guests from Easter weekend who come back could be seeking God far beyond the religious obligation that Easter can be. So on the weekend …
