“Remember Your Congregation”

December 6, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAnointed One, Babylonian exile, Exodus, Messiah, Psalm 74, psalm of lament

Psalm 74:1-23; Luke 1:67-80December 3, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) Beloved Congregation of Christ: Do you remember seeing images of Muslims in the Middle East celebrating the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11? In addition to that, there were reports, not televised, in New Jersey of a few Muslims who also celebrated the terrorist attacks. Our text today is a psalm of lament by Israel after the Babylonians invaded their land and destroyed their cities and their fields. They also destroyed their capital city…

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

December 3, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsantiphons, Christmas carols, God with us, Immanuel, Immanuel God with us, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, O Come Emmanuel, O Come O Come Emmanuel

December 3, 2017 • KSYC • Download this broadcast (PDF) Today is the first Sunday of the Advent and Christmas season. This season, the month of December, I will preach on the great songs of Christmas, and how they refer to the Bible. I will begin with “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” a 13th century Latin hymn. “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is too Scripturally-rich to not be one of the favorite Advent hymns of Christian churches. It addresses the majestic titles of Christ used throughout Scriptures. And although…

Malachi Mark Sermons

Dreaming of a White Christmas?

November 29, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsChristmas, John the Baptizer, Malachi 3, Mark 1, messenger of the covenant, white as snow

Malachi 3:1-5; Mark 1:1-8 November 26, 2017 12:30pm • Download this sermon (PDF) Beloved Congregation of Christ: Imagine listening to Christmas music from September to January. Imagine singing “Winter Wonderland” in 80-degree heat. It will be fitting then to sing, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” But if you were in the Philippines, these would not be imagining, but real. As early as November, children go caroling for money singing, “O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.” In many parts of California, just dreaming of…

Psalms Romans Sermons

“His Steadfast Love Endures Forever”

November 27, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsGreat Hallel, Psalm 136, Romans 12, Thanksgiving Day

Psalm 116:1-19; Romans 12:1-2 November 26, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) Beloved Congregation of Christ: We often hear people exclaiming, “Hallelujah!” when they are so happy that something that they had been waiting for has come. For most people today, this word is nothing more than “Hooray!” or “Yippee!” For the Beatles, hallelujah is merely a praise word for their Hindu God Krishna in their song “My Sweet Lord.” In the movie Shrek, “Hallelujah” became the most popular song. But in this song, the Jewish writer, Leonard Cohen,…

Psalms Romans Sermons

A Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving

November 20, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsprayer of thanksgiving, Psalm 116, Romans 12, Thanksgiving Day

Psalm 116:1-19; Romans 12:1-2 November 19, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) Beloved Congregation of Christ: This Thanksgiving Day, what are you most thankful for? But on Thursday, most Americans will be focused on turkey, football and alcohol. Last year’s celebrity tweets were good examples of this focus. Singer Bruno Mars posted on Twitter a picture of himself soaking in a bathtub with champagne in his hand and wrote, “If this don’t look thankful I don’t know what does.” Ellen Degeneres sent a picture of her and her two…

Christmas Sermons

Christmas in the Psalms

November 16, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAdvent, Christmas, Psalms

Join us this Advent and Christmas season as we praise Jesus who was born to save us from our sins! December 3 Psalm 74:1-23; Luke 1:67-80 “Remember Your Congregation” December 10 Psalm 146; Luke 1:46-55 “Blessed is He Whose Hope is in the Lord” December 17 Psalm 85; Matthew 1:18-23 “Restore Us Again, O God of Our Salvation” December 24 Psalm 98; Luke 2:8-14 “Break Forth into Joyous Song!” December 31 Psalm 10; Matthew 2:16-18 “Break the Arm of the Wicked!”

Recent News Reformation Sermons Sunday School

Reformation 500 Series with Calvin Malcor

October 24, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsJohn Calvin, Martin Luther, Protestant Reformation, Reformation 500

Reflections on the Reformation October 31, 2017, will mark the 500th anniversary of the day that Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in Germany. Historians recognize this as the “spark” that ignited the Protestant Reformation. Tragically, many people today—including evangelical and Reformed Christians—know little about this great event. On October 15, 22 and 29, here at Big Springs, I will be presenting the following: October 15 Adult Sunday School Class: “The Roots of the Reformation” Conditions on the Eve of the Reformation…

Galatians Joshua Sermons

“All the Lord’s Good Promises Came to Pass”

October 11, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsAbraham, Canaan, Galatians 3, Joshua 21, Promised Land, SABBATH REST

Joshua 21:1-3, 41-45; Galatians 3:23-29 August 20, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: “I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death do we part or you turn into a zombie. Because then we’re going to have to start seeing other people.” “I promise that even though we have cell phones, I will never forget your number. You will be my phone call when the whole system crashes.” “With our wonderful chemistry, I know we would truly win the…

Covenant Renewal Before Joshua’s Death

October 11, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringschoose this day, covenant renewal, John 12, Joshua 24, Shechem

Joshua 24:1-33; John 12:25-26 October 8, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: It has been a great journey through the Book of Joshua over the last four and a half months. We learned that God promised Joshua and all Israel that he will be with them to give the land into their hand; how God led Israel into the Promised Land when he dried up the Jordan River so they could cross on dry ground; how he fought for them in their battles against the inhabitants…

Joshua Sermons

An Altar Called “Witness”

October 4, 2017September 25, 2019 BigSpringsaltar of witness, Christian unity, John 17, Joshua 22

Joshua 22:1-34; John 17:20-23 October 1, 2017 ● Download this sermon (PDF) Congregation of Christ: The other day, I had a conversation with a package delivery man who asked me about our church. I said that we’re a Reformed church and we are part of a federation or denomination of churches. He then said that he doesn’t believe in denominations because the church of Christ must be united. So, are denominations wrong and not useful? Is it useful for Big Springs Community to belong to our federation called the…