Sermon Notes for Sunday, July 3, 2011.  The Text will be Matthew 11. 16-19, 25-30

“Sermon Starter”  -  Tom Brokaw has identified the WW II generation as “the Greatest Generation”  -  and certainly their values and their accomplishments make them worthy of this accolade.  But what about the generation that secured our liberty?  What any of the generations that came before, or will come after?  What is the proper measure of greatness, and how can we make it our own?

Sermon Notes for Sunday, June 26, 2011.  The Text will be Romans 6. 12-23

“Sermon Starter”  -  If you have a problem with the occasional sin in your life (not that I want to imply that you are anything other than perfect), wouldn’t it be nice if you could just say the word, issue an edict, and it was banished?  Alas, it appears we must find an alternate means of dealing with that which holds us back from fully enjoying all that God intends for us.  Let’s look at what Paul has to say on the matter and how we might make it a part of our lives.

Sermon Notes for Sunday, April 24, 2011.  The Text will be Matthew 28. 1-10

“Sermon Starter”  -  What difference does it make when ordinary people (like you and me) embrace the reality of the resurrection and live as if it were really true?  From the two Marys at the tomb and throughout history up to the present day, it has made all the difference.  Will we carry this forward to the next generation?

Sermon Notes for Sunday, April 17, 2011.  The Text will be Philippians 2. 5-11

“Sermon Starter”  -  What can we learn from Jesus’ journey?  We remember his journey to Jerusalem and the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, but what about his prior journey  -  the one where he didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself and took the form of a servant?  We would do well to follow along on the path where Jesus leads.

Sermon Notes for Sunday, March 13, 2011.  The Text will be Genesis 2. 15-17; 3. 1-7

“Sermon Starter”  -  Are we free to make our own choices in our lives, or have they been pre-determined in some way by God?  And, if we are free, what do we do about that?  There are misconceptions out there about how Presbyterians understand this tension between the sovereignty of God and human freedom and responsibility.  Genesis 2 gives a good reading on the freedom God, in confidence and in love, has given us.  Now, how can we do a better job of living lives worthy of that confidence and receptive to his love?