Jesus gathered his team, starting with four tough fishermen, Simon, Andrew, James and John. A fisherman at the time was a strong man who caught his fish in heavy nets. Jesus needed strong men on his team, because he had set his foot on a path which would lead to changing the world, and the world just HATES being made to change. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Four Tough Fishermen by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
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Sunday, January 26, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Doing your own Homework
I've often said that the reason King James Bibles are so often bound in soft leather bindings is as a reminder that we are not to use them as weapons. Nonetheless, so much Bible quoting today seems to be just that -- embrace some point of view which pleases you, then find a Bible passage to swat those who disagree with. We have too many Bible quoters and not enough Bible studiers; too many self-proclaimed experts and too few humble listeners. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Doing your own Homework, by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
The Bishop's Complaint
Our churches in contemporary America are such peaceful, safe and non-confrontational places that I wonder if John Calvin's assertion that
“We are consecrated and dedicated to God, that we are not our own, but the Lord’s” still enjoys any currency in our churches? The Bishop wonders, too. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, "The Bishop's Complaint" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
“We are consecrated and dedicated to God, that we are not our own, but the Lord’s” still enjoys any currency in our churches? The Bishop wonders, too. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, "The Bishop's Complaint" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
The Butterfly Effect
In 66 c.e. the Jews of Judea hatched a plan that history has judged to be one of the worst ideas ever. They rose up against Rome. By the time it ended, untold numbers of Jews had been killed. Jerusalem had been laid waste and the Temple, the Footstool of God, had been burned to the ground and desecrated by a Roman soldier. The Jews did not come together again in Judea until 1948. That was, indeed, a cracking bad idea.
Matthew's Gospel, scholars tell us, was written between perhaps 80 and 90 c.e. That is after the disaster, after the Temple was no more, after the time Jerusalem was laid flat. The birth of Jesus, if during the reign of Herod, must have been perhaps 6 or 7 b.c.e to 4 b.c.e. during the time when the Temple stood. How could so tiny a thing as the birth of a child in a remote part of Judea have changed the world such that it would be remembered through the utter destruction which was Rome's response to the Jewish rebellion? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Butterfly Effect by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Matthew's Gospel, scholars tell us, was written between perhaps 80 and 90 c.e. That is after the disaster, after the Temple was no more, after the time Jerusalem was laid flat. The birth of Jesus, if during the reign of Herod, must have been perhaps 6 or 7 b.c.e to 4 b.c.e. during the time when the Temple stood. How could so tiny a thing as the birth of a child in a remote part of Judea have changed the world such that it would be remembered through the utter destruction which was Rome's response to the Jewish rebellion? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Butterfly Effect by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
THE Story
You hear a lot of people going on at this time of the year about the need to "Keep Christ in Christmas". This year, at the Chapel of St. Arbuck's, I have heard several conversations about parents who have decided not to tell their children about Santa Claus. I think both groups are responding to a massive collision between the story of the birth of Jesus and the stories we love so well. Read or listen to the rest of what I think by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Chill
The world laid Nelson Mandela to rest this week and gave itself time to consider what a change he had accomplished in the world. His life spoke both of the cruelty which lives in all of us when we think we have perceived evil, and the power of the individual called to remind us of what we can be if we will simply listen. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Chill by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
David
Some days it's the theology, some days it's the weather. This was one of those days. We had to cancel church for the first time since I've been with Community Presbyterian.
I recorded the sermon in my man cave, which is why it sounds funky, but here it is.
Jesus' ministry began with a call to repent. I wonder if we all mean the same thing by that word? This Sunday, we look into the life of a man from my county, David Edwards, who died this week. David's life was tragic, and we bring a load of baggage to our consideration of what happened to him. I would suggest that we have much need to repent of of our treasured baggage. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, David by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
I recorded the sermon in my man cave, which is why it sounds funky, but here it is.
Jesus' ministry began with a call to repent. I wonder if we all mean the same thing by that word? This Sunday, we look into the life of a man from my county, David Edwards, who died this week. David's life was tragic, and we bring a load of baggage to our consideration of what happened to him. I would suggest that we have much need to repent of of our treasured baggage. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, David by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.
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