Joseph: The all grown-up version

The story of Joseph is one of those that kids raised in the Church learned about early on.  We were told about his coat, his dreams, his brother's jealousy, his time in prison, and his eventual triumph and reunion with his family.  What strikes me as I prepare a series of sermons on Joseph is how brutal the life he lived must have been at times.  Not only was he betrayed by his own brothers and nearly killed, but he spent YEARS as a slave.  When things finally looked like they were turning for the better, Joseph found himself in prison for YEARS.  I don't know about you, but suddenly Joseph doesn't seem like a safe Sunday school story anymore.  There must have been huge swings in his emotions, from fear to rage, from fragile hope to crushing doubt.  How on earth did Joseph remain a man who followed the LORD through all of this?  My faith is strong, but is it that strong?  How would I react to betrayal by my own family, to loss of my freedom, and to years of waiting for things to get better?  The Old Testament saints may make for interesting Disney-style stories for children, but I have to look long and hard to find one of them I'd switch places with.  The next time you feel like looking down at the mistakes of the men and women of Scripture (and there certainly are plenty to point out), make sure you real the whole story with your eyes open first.

Sermon Video: "Joseph: From favorite son to slave" - Genesis 37

Have you ever wondered how Joseph turned out to be such a man of faith?  His family and childhood were full of exploits that seem more at home in the tabloids than the Bible.  At seventeen he was set upon by his own brothers and sold into slavery.  This sermon explores the sin that crept over his brothers, their chances to put a stop to it, and leaves us wondering how Joseph overcame such as dysfunctional family.  The second part of the sermon will follow next week.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" - Luke 3:7-14

When the crowds began to come out to the Jordan to John to be baptized he responded with dire words, calling them a "brood of vipers".  Why would John respond harshly to those seeking to repent?  The answer lies in the covenant that God's people had broken by wandering away in disobedience.  John doesn't criticize new believers, nor should we, his message is for those within Israel (and the message is the same today for the Church) who already know God's grace but fail to act upon it.  What should we do to confirm our repentance?  We must produce fruit through acts of kindness in service to others, only then will the genuine nature of our repentence be confirmed.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

My first Ministers' meeting in Franklin...

I was at the monthly meeting of ministers and lay leaders in Franklin this morning.  We had a fairly large turnout of local pastors and lay ministers who attend the group, but even this is a paltry amount compared to the 52!! churches within a few miles of Franklin.  Who knew there were so many?  How can so many churches hope to cooperate and work together to serve the poor and advance the cause of Christ?
One of the things that this group has decided is that we will move forward with various projects and events in the hopes that our activity will prove to be the catalyst that brings more churches, and their leadership, into the fold of cooperation in Franklin (and Venango County as well).
I have to say that this is exciting stuff, I certainly didn't have so many church neighbors back in Palo, MI.  When we had a town wide church leadership meeting I only needed to call the Methodist minister and that was all of us.  Now, I have 2 Methodist churches, 1 Episcopal, 1 Catholic, and more within the blocks next to my own!  This is an amazing opportunity to serve this town from many different directions with the same Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also a warning to us all that we need to grow OUTSIDE of our normal church circles if all of us are to maintain vibrant churches in the future.
Needless to say, the future here in Franklin holds much promise, much work, and much need of prayer support.  May God continue to bless us for seeking to bridge the gaps that our forefathers created between our churches.  Christ only has one bride, HIS Church.

Sermon Video: "a baptism of repentance" - Luke 3:2-6

How do you go about preparing the world for the coming of the Messiah?  If you were John the Baptist, charged with this very mission, what would you do?  John's answer is to preach "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins".  In other words, John knew that God's people needed to repent of their sins, turn their lives around, and start following God once more.  If they did that, Jesus' message would be heard.  The same hold true for us today, when we humble ourselves, confess our sins, and begin serving the Lord we open our eyes to see God's salvation and our ears to hear his Word.  When we do that, God can work mighty deeds through his people.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video