Messages
Being Present in Hope
In this sermon, Pastor Wayne reflects on the true meaning of Advent/Christmas amidst the bustling holiday activities. While society celebrates with lights, decorations, and gift shopping, the church is reminded that Advent/Christmas is also a season of shadows, where darkness and struggles intensify. Drawing from Mark 13, Pastor Wayne emphasizes Jesus’ preparation of his disciples for difficult times, cautioning them about various challenges. However, the central message is one of hope – the assurance that Jesus has come, is continually…
Sheep vs Goats
Today, on Christ the King Sunday, Pastor Wayne takes us through a profound reflection on the final judgment from Matthew’s Gospel. As we wrap up the church year, we’re reminded of the last moments Jesus spent teaching before his crucifixion. In the past weeks, the scriptures used in worship emphasized the need for preparation, echoing the parable of the bridesmaids and the parable of the talents. Today’s discourse from Matthew 25:31-46 delves into the final judgment when all nations stand…
Give THanks with a Grateful Heart
The sermon revolves around the movie “Shenandoah,” where Pastor Wayne describes the protagonist, Charlie Anderson, as initially indifferent to church and religion. Despite his reluctance, he fulfills his late wife’s wish by taking the family to church, mostly out of duty. The central theme emerges when tragedy strikes, and Charlie questions the purpose of giving thanks to a seemingly distant God. Pastor Wayne relates this to personal experiences of worry, emphasizing that excessive worrying is often fueled by a desire…
Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving
With apologies that there is no recording of the sermon this week, I forgot to plug the recorder into the sound system. Here is a synopsis of this week’s sermon on Psalm 100. The sermon on Psalm 100 emphasizes the interconnectedness of gratitude and joy. The speaker argues that gratitude and joy are intertwined and often indistinguishable, presenting a chicken-and-egg scenario. The sermon uses Psalm 100 as a backdrop, noting its unique characteristics and how it defies simple categorization. The…
All Saints Sunday – 2023
We apologize that there is no recording of this morning’s sermon. Here is a synopsis: In liturgical Protestant churches worldwide, All Saint’s Sunday is a special day of remembrance and reflection. In today’s sermon, Pastor Wayne discussed the significance of this day, emphasizing the importance of honoring not just traditional saints but also everyday individuals who have profoundly impacted the congregation’s faith journeys. This blog post provides a summary of Pastor Wayne’s sermon’s key points. Remembering the Saints:All Saint’s Sunday…
Face to Face
What if we stopped considering the “greatest commandment” as prescriptive? What if we considered it as prescriptive of a lifestyle that draws us closer to each other and to our God who longs to engage with us face to face? Join us as we consider Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; and Matthew 22:34-46.
The Things that Are God’s
The game is afoot. The Pharisees and Herodians are tag teaming to try and get Jesus to trip up and be discredited. They ask a question about taxes. Jesus responds by asking for a coin. He then he asks who is depicted on the coin. The reply, “the emperor.” Jesus responds, “then give to the emperor the things that are the emporer’s, and give to God what is God’s.” That begs the question, what is God’s? Join us as Pastor…
Stiff Necked People
God has had it with “stiff necked” people. When God sees the people convincing Aaron to created a golden calf so that they can worship it, God goes into a rage. But Moses stops God and reminds God of his desire for a relationship with God’s people. He asks, why would you want to destroy your people after you have brought them out of Egypt with “great power and a mighty hand?” And God changed God’s mind. We live in…
Fruits of the Spirit
Today’s text combines a look at the 10 Commandments with the parable of the wicked tenants. It examines the question of what is God wanting from us and how do we respond? Our lessons today are:Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20Psalm 19Philippians 3:4b-14Matthew 21:33-46
Sour Grapes
Today, we welcome the Reverend Keith Moore to bring the message in worship. Keith is the director of the Wesley Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Keith is addressing the tendency of the older generations throughout time to pass along the “sour grapes” that place the younger generations teeth on edge. His message is a challenge for all of us to commit to God’s call on our lives. The texts for today are Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Psalm 25:1-9;…
