15
Dec 2024
Joy at the Coming of the Christ Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley December 15th, 2024 Luke 3:7-18 Last week we explored how the ministry of John the Baptist announced the coming of the Christ of God, first through connections to the Hebrew Bible prophetic book of Isaiah and then through the call on the part of the Baptizer to those listening to repent of their sins. We spoke of the reality that all of us have fallen short in some capacity and the repentance of which John speaks is the restoration of the......
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08
Dec 2024
The Peace of Christ Announced Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley December 8th, 2024 Luke 3:1-6 We begin this morning with our Gospel text found in Luke’s account. As a brief aside, Luke’s account is my favorite as it is the most in-your-face when it comes to the reversal of societal norms and as it points to the reality that we are the beloved children of God no matter our circumstances or choices in life as revealed in parables unique to Luke such as the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee. We......
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01
Dec 2024
How Will Emmanuel Arrive? Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley December 1st, 2024 Luke 21:25-36 There is often great uncertainty when it comes to reading the Bible. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, though. Uncertainty, as those doing the book study with Tillie are learning and being reminded of, is not a bad thing, even when it comes to matters of faith. As we begin this season of Advent, this season of waiting, preparation, and arrival, it is fitting to reflect on what it is that we are waiting for within Christianity, and......
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14
Dec 2023
Magnificence in the Ordinary The Season of Advent A Different Sound: The Trinity Bell Message 2 of 4 Sardis Baptist Church December 10th, 2023 Rev. Dr. Daynette Snead Perez Mark 1:1-8 Click here to open to an audio file of the sermon....
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04
Dec 2023
Magnificence in the Ordinary The Season of Advent A Different View: The Creation Window Message 1 of 4 Sardis Baptist Church December 3rd, 2023 Rev. Dr. Daynette Snead Perez Mark 13:24-37 Click here to download the full sermon: 12.03.2023 A Different View...
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30
Nov 2019
Stargazing A Sermon for Sardis Baptist Church Bob Stillerman Isaiah 2:1-5 12/1/2019, First Sunday of Advent Star Gazing Isaiah 2.1-5 12-1-2019 Some twenty-eight hundred years ago, the prophet Isaiah gazed upon a night sky, not too different from ours. As a matter of fact, many of the stars we gaze at today were the very same ones that caught his gaze. This morning, I imagine our prophet. He’s resting. Nighttime has fallen. The light of the stars and the glow of the moon have replaced the tortuous brightness and heat of the......
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09
Dec 2018
I Will Send My Messenger I Will Send My Messenger Becky Proctor Malachi 3:1-4 I have a recurring dream that causes me to wake in a panic whenever it visits me. It comes in two forms. In one I am sitting in an unfamiliar classroom where I am about to take a final exam. However, it seems that I have forgotten or somehow neglected to have attended any of the classes throughout the year, so I have no idea what I am expected to have learned. In the other form I......
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27
Nov 2016
one-little-light-isaiah-2-1-5-11-27-2016 One Little Light A Sermon for Baptist Church Bob Stillerman Isaiah 2:1-5 November 27, 2016 Advent is the audacious story of one pink candle. One. That’s it. But it’s burning bright. And that one bright light will change the world. Many, many moons ago, the people of Israel demanded a king. Samuel was leery: “A king will only disappoint you. It’s God’s world, don’t you know?” But still the people insisted, and God told Samuel: “Tell them: ‘have at it!’” It turns out that Samuel was right. Before too long, one......
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06
Dec 2015
12-6-2015 Advent Two – Voices of Mothers Exodus 2 1-10 The Voices of Mothers Second Sunday of Advent Sardis Baptist Church December 6, 2015 Exodus 2:1-10 During Advent, we continue to explore the voices of the mothers who have guarded our faith. This week, we meet the women who nurtured and protected Moses: Jochebed, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s Daughter. The Voice of Jochebed : Tillie Duncan Those years were fearful and full of uncertainty. We Israelites had lived in the land of Egypt for hundreds of years— but always......
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29
Nov 2015
11-29-2015 Advent One – Sarah and Hagar Gen 16 1-15 Hagar and Sarah A Sermon for Sardis Baptist Church November 29, 2015 Genesis 16:1-15 An Introduction to Advent On April 12, 1955, Jonas Salk announced the cure for polio. The following day, he received this letter: Dear Dr. Salk, Not the least among the many honors a grateful world bestows upon you are the blessings of a million mothers to whom your discovery means freedom from a most tragic fear. When I realize that my young daughter and another child as yet unborn will......
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