Sermons

According To Luke: Harassed At Home Opening Illustration: Helping Her Cry A little girl who was late coming home for supper. Her mother made the expected irate parent’s demand to know where she had been. The little girl replied that she had stopped to help Janie, whose bicycle was broken in a fall. "But you don’t know anything about fixing bicycles," her mother responded. "I know that," the girl said. "I just stopped to help her cry." Point: Coming home can sometimes be hard can’t it.  For me, the word “home” is my favorite word.  There is something special about “home”. Think about it.  We all left home.  We are looking forward to going back home. Our home represents family and love. We may travel far from home but home is always home. We are on the edge of doing a lot of home stuff aren’t we? In just a few days, a lot of our children will go from home to home Trick or Treating. Then the next month, we will invite people to our ho

Orphan Sunday Opening Remarks: Friends, today you have heard from three different speakers. You have heard from families that are engaged in the foster care program of Alabama and two other families who have adopted children from far of places.  We also have families who have adopted domestically right here worshipping with us.  Sadly, it is hard to provide time for each family to share their story. We have done our best this morning to educate you and to encourage you.   Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I believe that Jesus loves children.  I know this because Scripture tells me so.  In every Gospel, Matthew through John, we see that Jesus pay special and close attention to little children. In Matthew, Jesus promises the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to children. In Luke, Jesus lays his hands on infants and blesses them. In Mark, he rebukes the disciples for hindering children from being in His presence. in John, Jesus tells His followers that if you receive Him (Jesus) as Lor

The Generous Giver: The Choice To Give Opening Illustration: Scrooge Many of you remember Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol”.  There have been several adaptations over the years.  It is one of my favorite Christmas stories.  Remember, it is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge.  Scrooge is the penny pinching miser who refuses to part with any of his money.  He is wealthy.  However, he is all alone with his money.  He reluctantly gives time off to his only employee Bob Crotchet on Christmas Day.  Why?  Scrooge hates Christmas.  As Scrooge goes home for the evening he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley.  Marley informs Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits.  The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.   Of course you know the rest of the story.  Following Scrooge’s visitations, he is transformed.  No longer does he refuse to give, he gives generously and cheerfully.  He finally understands that there is joy in giving