Category: Sermon
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“Connecting With Grace”: The final sermon in a series called “ConnectAbility,” preached on Sunday, August 16, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando
Do you ever get the feeling you’re constantly being measured, evaluated? For instance… My insurance agent recently sent me a device for my car, claiming it would record my “safe” driving habits, leading to lower insurance rates. Kelly says I drive like an old man, so I thought, “Why not?…
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Sermon: “Connecting with Your True Self” – part of a sermon series called “ConnectAbility,” preached at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, on August 2, 2020
Our summer theme, “ConnectAbility” – based on the Great Commandment, to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind” and to, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” – has had three major emphases… Connecting with God: emotionally, intellectually, and…
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“Connecting Through Acceptance”: a sermon preached on July 19, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, part of a sermon-series called “Connectability.”
Different is just different – not wrong, not immoral. Difference doesn’t have to divide or threaten us. In fact, connecting with people who are different might actual make us better humans, and better Christians. It might make us more like Jesus.
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“Connecting with the Mind” (A sermon preached on June 28, 2020 for the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, Part II of a series called, “ConnectAbility”)
Loving God with our minds is actively seeking the mind of Christ. Loving God with our minds is actively, purposefully seeking God’s wisdom and knowledge. Loving God with our minds is submitting our thoughts and ideas to God, and asking God to reveal God’s thoughts and ideas.
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“Ascension”: A sermon preached on May 24, 2020, Ascension Sunday, for the First United Methodist Church of Orlando
If like the Celtic Christians believe, heaven is close; and, if Jesus is God in human flesh; and, if the incarnate Jesus was raised from the dead, lives, and ascended to God’s right hand; then the ascended Christ is potentially very near – near to you, near to me, near…
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“Potential”: A sermon preached on May 17, 2020, for the First United Methodist Church of Orlando
With the help of God’s grace, whatever and whoever I will be in heaven, in some way I already am and have the potential of becoming. My future heavenly reality, is already possible in my present. Whatever growth, or perfecting, or cleansing, or healing, or forgiveness I expect will happen…
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Easter 2020 Sermon (short, chopped, mini version) – New Birth Into a Living Hope
If God can raise Jesus from the dead, God can handle coronavirus!
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2020 Easter Sermon – “New Birth into a Living Hope” (complete text)
If God can raise Jesus from the grave, God can handle coronavirus!
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A few suggestions for worshipping at home, and online
For many, home worship during this Covid-19 pandemic is a “novel” experience (pun intended!). Though many churches have offered online worship for years, the majority of Christians still primarily worship in person, together, at church… until now. Now, at least for the moment, if you want to worship it’s your…
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“I will lift my eyes” – a Facebook Live sermon, based on Psalm 121, preached for The First United Methodist Church of Orlando, on March 29, 2020
Last Sunday morning, before worship, a First Church friend sent me a beautiful YouTube video of the University of British Columbia Choir, singing a choral arrangement of Psalm 121, called “I will lift my eyes,” that literally moved me to tears.
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