Preacher Paul's Blogs

This week's sermon will be based on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 and will be entitled "Get Busy".  There is an old proverb that goes something like this "the devil tempts all people but an idle person tempts the devil."  Paul warned the church at Thessalonica to not be idle but to "get busy".  We'll talk about this on Sunday.  I hope to see you there.  

Every Sunday, okay, almost every Sunday, we resight the ancient words of the Apostle's Creed.  The earliest recording of this creed appears is at the end of the Fourth Century, C.E.  Beleive it or not, the Nicene Creed is actually older.  The last two stanzas of the Apostle's Creed are (I believe in) the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.   This week's sermon will be based on Luke 20:27:38 when Jesus responds to a question about the afterlife and involving an almost impossible scenario involving the Levirate marriage Law.   I'll explain what that is in the sermon but suffice to say we do not practice that law any longer.   Jesus will give some insights into the Life Everlasting and I will discuss this in my sermon.  I hope to see you there... bring a friend or a stranger!  All are welcome!

This week's sermon will come from Luke 19: 1-10 and will be based on Jesus' encounter with  Zacchaeus.  I hope to see you Sunday!

This coming Sunday is Reformation Sunday.   Celebrated on the last Sunday in October, Reformation Sunday commemorates the Protestant Reformation as well as Martin Luther, who nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, the eve of All Saints' Day. We will use Reformation era Hymns and our Affirmation of Faith will come from the Heidelberg Catechism.  The sermon will be based on 2 Timothy 4: 6–18 and is entitled "The Goof Fight".  I hope to see you on Sunday. 

This Sunday, Paul will be on vacation.  Dr. T. Mark Verdery will be the guest Pastor.  The Scripture lesson for the week is from Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 21:1-17 and the sermon title is "Rediscovering Grace". Dr. Verdery is the former General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of Providence Presbytery. After serving 14 years, he retired at the end of December, 2018. Previously he was pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, for approximately 20 years.

This week's sermon comes from 2 Timothy 2:8-15.  I am still working on the outline for this sermon and I do not have an overall theme as of now. 

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday.  Christians around the world will celebrate the mystery of the Lord's Supper on this day.  It is a day where we remember that we are one Church, made up of believers from all times and in all places, with Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church.   We call this the one Holy Catholic (not to be confused with Roman Catholic church) and Apostolic Church.  It exists in two forms; the Ecclesia Militans which is Latin for the Church Militant (Christians that are still struggling on the earth) and the Ecclesia Triumphans which is Latin for the Church Triumphant (Christians that are no longer on this earth but are with Christ).  My sermon will be based upon 2 Timothy 1:1-14.  This is Paul's second letter to the young evangelist.  Paul was a mentor to Timothy, helping and encouraging him as he spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all peoples.  Who was your mentor?  Who most shaped your Christian Faith?...

We continue our sermon series in 1 Timothy this week.  My sermon will be based on Paul's instruction to Timothy for us to  pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Let's be know for what we do for others!

This Sunday's sermon will be based on 1 Timothy 1:12–17.  In Paul's first letter to Timothy, we find Paul giving thanksgiving to God for the mercy that he has received (and continues to receive).  We too should give thanksgiving to God for the same reason but we should always remember that God's mercy is extended to other people as well.  I'll discuss this and much more.  I hope to see you Sunday!

This Sunday (Sept. 8), my sermon will be based on Jeremiah 18:1-11.  Jeremiah is using the illustration of a potter who chose to rework spoiled clay into something new instead of discarding it.  Even though we may become "spoiled", God doesn't discard us and start over with new clay.  God, instead, reworks us into something new.  God is continually reshaping our lives into lives that can best serve the Christian Church.  You're not the person you once was and you will not remain the person you are now. Who has God used along the way to reshape you?  How is God reshaping the church in our ever changing times?  I'll discuss this and more in my sermon.  I hope to see you on Sunday... bring a guest with you. 

This Sunday, my sermon will be based on Luke 14:1, 7-14.  Have you ever had a dinner party and only invited people that you like?  Of course, we all have.  Jesus schooled the Pharisees on who they should invite and why.  We're going to explore this and more.  I hope to see you there and please, invite someone to come with you. 

Tomorrow's sermon is entitled "FIRE!" and it is based upon Hebrews 12:18-29.  Many Christians think that God is portrayed in the Old Testament as a God of wrath and in the New Testament as a God of love.  If that is your understanding, you may be troubled and confused when you realize that this Scripture is from the New Testament.  We will explore this together during the sermon.  I hope to see you there!

This Sunday (August 18, 2019), my sermon will be focused on  1 Chronicles 4:9-10 and the Prayer of Jabez.  Jabez and his prayer were made famous  at the beginning  of this  century  by Bruce Wilkinson's 2000 book "The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life".   Just who was Jabez and what is so significant about this short prayer that he prayed?  My sermon will introduce you to Jabez, who is was and what scholars thought of his prayer and how it applies to us today.  I hope to see you Sunday.

Do you have faith that can move a mountain or do you struggle to have faith at all?  This Sunday, August 11, 2019, we will look at the text from Hebrews 11:1-3 and discuss what it means to have faith.  I hope you will join us.