Archive for category: Sermons

Rev. Dr. Mark Lansberry preaching

Isaiah 49: 1-7  He says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

From the beginning, social holiness has been a core theme of Methodism. In his preface to the 1739 hymnal, John Wesley was insistent that “the gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness.” The writer of the Gospel of James said, “Faith without works is dead.” Our social principles share one thing in common…they are there for the common good of humankind, and they, like MLK, Jr., dream of a world where God reigns.

 

Scripture: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Matthew 2: 1-12

Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. (Isaiah 60: 4-5)

How do we understand God, the Bible, the way the world works, and how to understand Christian life and faith in an ever-changing world? Looking at our faith through the lens of Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience is uniquely Wesleyan and gives us an in-depth way to explore life with integrity.

Scripture:  Luke 2: 1-20

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” (Luke 2: 8-14)

The sky was brighter than usual that night, making it easier to keep track of the sheep. And then it got really bright. You would have thought that all that “glory” shining would have been “the sign.” That’s what most of us look for–great big obvious clues about God’s presence. But instead, the angel says that a baby… a newborn helpless baby in a feeding trough was it–the sign. In a flash, the message was that #morelove is found where you least expect it and perhaps is already there residing in the ordinariness of your life.

Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in “I am feeling blue.” Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other dis-ease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our congregations and communities. Does this fit where you are? Or someone you know?

Scripture: Luke 1: 5-25, 57-80

An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John… He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1: 11-13)

It was just another day at the temple for Zechariah. It was his priestly turn to make sure everything was done properly and in good order. But it turned into something quite different when an angel showed up at the altar. Have you ever had a moment in your life after which you knew nothing would ever be the same? In the midst of great change, hope is always a welcome thing. Advent can remind us that God makes us ready for whatever unknown may come our way and calls us to be messengers of #morehope in an ever-changing world.