On the Road

Sermon based on Luke 24:13-21, in which two disciples of Jesus walk away from Jerusalem, knocking the dust of the town off their heels following Jesus' crucifixion, and heading out for the town of Emmaus. The meet a stranger on the road and life changes forever. Come and see. It's a powerful story. It also has much to say on how we ought to share our stories. Intrigued yet?

Late to the Party

Sermon for April 8, 2018, the week after Easter, based on John 20:19-29, the story of Thomas, who arrives late to the party, so to speak, after Jesus has visited the disciples after his resurrection. Thomas has a lot of trouble believing what his friends are trying to tell him and expresses his feelings strongly. Watch and see what this means for all of us today.

I Have Seen the Lord

This Easter morning sermon for April 1, 2018, is based on John 20:1-18. This sermon focuses on the powerful experience Mary Magdalene has first thing in the morning, heading out to the tomb to honor Jesus at his grave. The stone sealing the tomb has been removed and human history will never be the same.

Come Celebrate the Joy of Easter with Us at LBC

Lansdowne Baptist Church celebrates our Easter service at 11 a.m. in the main sanctuary. Come join in our joy as we worship the risen Savior, Jesus, the Messiah. All are welcome. Wonderful hymns will be sung and the sermon will be based on Mary's discover of the empty tomb and her belief that Jesus is the gardener when she first sees him. Beautiful moment for a beautiful day.

Lifted Up and Drawing

Sermon based on John 12:20-33, in which Greeks and "the world" come to visit Jesus. His success, the attention his mission is drawing, is see as dangerous to some in power, a threat that will bring down death and destruction for many from Rome. They propose a solution, "lifting Jesus up." Little do they know what this will accomplish. Listen, watch, and see for yourself. Have a blessed day.

Rich in Mercy

Sermon based on Ephesians 2:1-10, delivered during the season of Lent, 2018. If you want to know what a Buick Skylark and a Ford Pinto have to do with Paul's letter to the Ephesians, you'll have to watch. Good news provided about love, grace, and mercy. Room for reflection on how to react to that as well.

Setting Our Minds

The sermon for February 25, 2018, based on Mark 8:31-38, sets our minds on divine things rather than human. Jesus redefines Messiah for his disciples and discipleship as well, for his original disciples and all disciples who have followed since. These definitions are based on divine understanding rather than human. Jesus gives us a significant challenge to reset our minds this Lenten season and always.

Through the Roof

Sermon for the first Sunday of Lent 2018, based on Mark 2:1-12. How to have the hospitality of Jesus and the determination of the paralytics four friends who were willing to go through the roof to get their suffering friend to Jesus, especially in these challenging times. Listen in and decide if you are up to the challenge, during Lent and all year long.

God Provides

Sermon for January 28, 2018, based on Deuteronomy 18:15-20. The sermon explores God's provision of prophets for his people. It takes a hard, honest look at how one tells the difference between a true and false prophet. You might be surprised how useful this information is today.

Plain Talk

This sermon from January 21, 2018, covers Jonah 3:1-5, 10, technically. In actuality, the sermon covers the entire book of Jonah, one of the most readable books of the Bible. Yes, it is done in roughly 20 minutes. You may be surprised who the plain talker actually is in this book full of surprises. This is an uplifting message for anyone.

Nothing Impossible: Christmas Eve 2017 Sermon

Sermon delivered on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2017, based on Luke 1:26-38. The angel Gabriel assures Mary, when delivering the message that she will be Jesus' mother, that "For nothing will be impossible with God." Discover what that means for us today.

The Coming Light

During this busy Advent season, with Christmas fast approaching, a voice cries out, making a way straight, and pointing us all to the true source of enduring joy, to a light that the darkness cannot overcome, or understand, for that matter. I pray we may all heed the call and turn toward the light and joy this Christmas and always. The sermon is based on John 1:6-8, 19-28 and was delivered on December 17, 2017. Merry Christmas and may God's blessings be upon us all in the New Year.

One Day Like 1000 Years

Sermon based on 2 Peter 3:8-15 given during the Advent season in 2017. The focus of the sermon is dealing with anxiety that comes upon us all as we wait.

Love As God Loves

Sermon for Sunday, November 12, 2017, based on 1 John 4:7-21. The sermon addresses how Christian churches and individuals respond in an age of fear and the senseless violence of terrorism. Please listen and consider.

Who? Me?

A sermon in story form: delivered on November 5, 2017, based on Matthew 23:1-12. This Scripture reading, combined with Dr. Seuss's tale Bartholomew and the Oobleck challenges us to consider how we will choose to live our lives and deal with everyone we meet. Will we be more inclined to act like King Derwin or the king's page, Bartholomew Cubbins? Our answers matter.

Fair Balance: Stewardship

Sermon from October 29, 2017, based on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. Paul guides the Corinthian church and us in how to live generous, joyful lives, creating fair balance and having a positive impact. Following Paul's advice for living is character changing. To succeed, however, requires a lot of trust.

Make My Joy Complete

Sermon based on Philippians 2:1-13, given on October 1, 2017, and relating how Paul guided the struggling Christian church in Philippi to survive in the face of rising opposition. Paul's guidance works today as we face opposition as well, especially in an age when many online sources are now dedicated to the dissemination of false information designed to pull people, institutions, and societies apart. Paul's recommendations to his brothers and sisters in the Christian church in Philippi are just as useful to us today in our distress, as you will soon hear. God bless you all.

I Choose

Sermon for September 24, 2017, based on Matthew 20:1-16, the challenging parable from Jesus of the landowner and the day laborers working in his vineyard. Discover some of the complexities behind this often vexing passage (intentionally vexing) and the good news to be found there. Also know that it was 90 degrees outside that day, the church has no air conditioning in the sanctuary and one of my congregation who wears Hawaiian shirts challenged me to do the same. I was glad I did, all things considered.

When the Lord Drove

Sermon based on Exodus 14:19-31, where God and Moses bring the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery and into freedom, crossing the Red Sea. There are several powerful points for us all in this scripture. Watch and see for yourselves.

Don't Remain Silent

Sermon delivered on September 3, 2017, exploring  the scripture Luke 18:1-8. This sermon reminds us we must be as persistent as the widow seeking justice from a corrupt judge. See how prayer plays into that persistence and what it has to do with us in this day and age.

As time was limited, we didn't get into some of the other ways Christians are working for justice. We prayed for and provided guidance to all interested in helping the survivors of Hurricane Harvey during our announcements and pastoral prayer time.

For another perspective on persistence, see: https://lansdownebaptistchurch.blogspot.com/2017/08/persistence-is-key.html