Latest Sermons

Is the Resurrection an April Fools joke? Is it merely a myth or a metaphor, or is it more? Christianity claims Jesus resurrection is real and the central and world changing truth of the story of Jesus. Christian history suggests The Resurrection is Credible, Terrifying and More than “Meh”.

We all seek power, but the kingdom that Jesus came to bring turns power on its head. Jesus is the Messiah, God’s son, but he doesn’t use his power for his own good, he surrenders it for ours. He allows the powers that be–religious leaders, Pilate, Herod–to unjustly to judge him (the Judge) and sentence […]

If you have ever experienced the silence of God, the dark night when you need him and don’t hear from him, you can understand some of what Jesus experienced for us. The night he was to be betrayed and the day before his crucifixion, Jesus asked if the Cup of Wrath he was to “drink” […]

On the night before his death, Jesus celebrates a Passover meal with his disciples. But he changes everything–reinterpreting the climactic redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt in light of his own impending death on the cross. As the Lord delivered Israel through Judgment and an offer of Mercy under the blood of a lamb, […]

This sermon was preached at a 1:00pm service Vienna Baptist because wind-storms had caused the cancellation of all activities at FCPS schools. Unfortunately, the recording was not through our normal sound system and is distorted with background noise. Jesus challenges the disciples as he fortells the destruction of the Temple. How can this be? Who […]

The religious leaders try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus doesn’t evade the question, he overturns it–challenging their view of Kingdoms and inviting all to come and be a part of his upside down Kingdom by giving themselves wholly and completely to God.

During his final week, Jesus is teaching daily in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Chief Priests, threatened by his Kingdom message, question his authority. Jesus responds to their challenges with wisdom and clarity, but they refuse to listen because they have built their lives on another authority and are not open to the work of […]

Entering Jericho and on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus meets a Blind Beggar and a Tax Collector named Zacchaeus. One is the poorest and the other the richest, one oppressed, the other an oppressor, both are outside of the community, both want to see Jesus. Jesus stops for both of them and offers them his […]

A Rich Ruler who has obeyed all the Commandments asks what he must do to to inherit eternal life. Jesus says he must sell All he has, give the money to the poor, and come and follow him. The man goes away sad for he was extremely wealthy. What is the issue with money and […]

“When will the Kingdom come?” is a question the Pharisees ask Jesus. It is a question Christians have been asking more frequently for several decades. Jesus answer is the Kingdom is in your midst–it is right before you–in me, Jesus. In Jesus, God came to inaugurate his Kingdom. And, He is coming again to judge […]

Jesus’ parables redraw the circles of who’s in and who’s out–as he causes his listeners to examine the state of their heart. In the parable of the shrewd manager, a man facing the loss of his livelihood is commended for forgiving the debts of his master’s debtors and ingratiating himself to those people–revealing Jesus Kingdom […]

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus tells the story of a Father with two sons, the younger of whom disobeys and rejects him but at the end of his rope returns and experiences the Father’s loving embrace. The older son does everything the Father says but only to inherit the Father’s stuff, he […]