30
Mar 2025
Salvation Realized A Sermon by Chris Hensley Based on Joshua 5:9-12 & Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Presented to Sardis Baptist Church March 30, 2025 I have got some friends who run a printing and embroidering company who printed some merchandise for a local sports team. When I say local in this context, I mean to them. The sports team was not doing well financially and there were signs on the wall of a looming bankruptcy. My friends saw the signs and worked out a payment plan for an order which they fulfilled for......
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23
Mar 2025
Repentance Revisited A Sermon by Chris Hensley Based on Isaiah 55:1-9 and Luke 13:1 – 9 Presented to Sardis Baptist Church March 23, 2025 I am a pastor’s kid, or a PK in some circles. Now, my father always served more moderate leaning congregations within the Baptist tradition, or that was his aim as that was where he found himself. This meant that, when the topic of repentance came about, I never heard him specifically utter any of the following phrases which I have heard and seen in certain circles of Christianity.......
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16
Mar 2025
Forms of Salvation A Sermon by Chris Hensley Based on Psalm 27 & Luke 9:37 – 43 Presented to Sardis Baptist Church March 16, 2025 During this season of Lent we are taking up the idea of salvation and exploring it in different ways with specific emphasis on the idea of salvation within the here and now, remembering and recognizing that the Kin-dom of God which Jesus spoke of is now, not some distant and far off thing. Salvation is not something for which we wait as though we are merely......
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09
Mar 2025
Reflection and Worship A Sermon by Chris Hensley Based on Luke 4:1 – 13 Presented to Sardis Baptist Church March 9, 2025 Lent is upon us, that season during which the Church collectively makes reparations for the season of Easter. Most often these preparations manifest as fasting and more praying. Hopefully though – however you prepare yourself spiritually – you are engaging with God in more intentional and meaningful ways during this season. Our passages today deal with two, seemingly, different situations. To begin, The Hebrew Bible passage offers to its......
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02
Mar 2025
Transfiguration 2025 Luke 9:28-36 Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley March 2nd, 2025 I must say that we have some magnificent proclaimers who are a part of this congregation and I shudder to think that any part of Christianity would dare to silence their voices. We are better for having heard the proclamations, encouragements, and challenges which we heard throughout February and I thank the Revs. Tillie, Kathryn, Hilary, and Debbie for your hard work and the dedication to your ministry. Now, to our passages. We continue in Luke this year and find ourselves......
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19
Feb 2025
Blessings and Curses Be Upon You Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 6:17-26 Hilary Kearns McIntyre February 16th, 2025 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For......
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10
Feb 2025
Discipleship: Into the Deep Rev. Kathryn Kreutzer Luke 5:1-11 February 9th, 2025 Our scripture today tells a familiar story – the calling of the first disciples. We hear some version of the “call story” in all four gospels. Today, we’ll hear from Luke, which parallels Matthew and Mark, but is much longer. Their versions have about 5 sentences, but in the book of Luke, there is A LOT more going on, and it is about A LOT more than calling disciples. Hear these words from Luke 5:1-11. 5:1 Once while Jesus was......
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04
Feb 2025
Where Is the God of Justice? Rev. Tillie Duncan Malachi 2:17-3:4, Luke 2:22-40 February 2, 2025 Oyez, oyez! Hear ye, hear ye! This court is now in session. The Honorable judge Malachi presiding. Case # 517. Post-exilic Israel vs. God. The attorneys for the litigants may give their opening statements. Thank you, your honor. Our contention, our grievance is this: Where is the God of justice? Can we be sure there IS a God? We propose that, if there is a God, that God is a liar. Prophets have come saying, “This......
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26
Jan 2025
God’s Favor Practicum Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley January 26th, 2025 Luke 4:14-21 Throughout my theological education I have had the privilege to sit in several practicums. These were always my favorite classes. From highly specific pastoral care in the parish to more generalized ministry practicums. I fancy myself a more practical theologian anyway and have always enjoyed taking what I have learned in the classroom setting and putting it into practice in the real world. Practicality is important for followers of Christ. While having a working understanding of the various theories of......
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19
Jan 2025
Baptism of Jesus 2025 Rev. Dr. Chris Hensley January 19th, 2025 Luke 3:15-17, 20-22 Baptism has been an important sacrament, ordinance, rite, or whatever word you would like to attach to it, since before Christianity even existed. Baptism, which means to immerse or dip or wash, is an act of individual worship, a ritual which was done solo and was done so that the individual in question might be made ceremonially clean once again after having been through an event which made them unclean. John the Baptist, though was baptizing people in......
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