Sermon Archive

On this Father’s Day, as we pause to honor the men who have been entrusted by God to love and care for His precious children, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the sense of desperation felt by so many fathers today. Like the agonized father in Mark 9: 14-29, men of color are surely feeling heightened levels of urgency and desperation. Pastor Victor preaches a sermon to help diminish the ever-present turmoil. Of course, Jesus is the model for Christians to move from a state of desperation to deliverance. The first thing Jesus does when the anguished father reaches out to Him is assert agency. Jesus immediately decides He himself will address the situation directly. We too have God-given power to do something in every situation. We are not helpless because God is on our side. Jesus then asks the right question. He understood that the father had endured the suffering of his son for too long. We of a darker hue in this country have suffered long. We have had to bear over four centuries of injustice and inequality. Yes, enough is enough. It is time for real change to occur. The whole world recognizes normalized, brutal inhumanity. That is why we are witnessing diverse protests all around the globe. The status quo is no longer acceptable. Finally, Jesus accepts another set of assumptions. Where others see death and defeat, Jesus sees hope. With Jesus any situation can change. Instead of sinking into depression and despair, why not choose hope? We leave desperation behind when we assume something better is ahead. We do not have to take it anymore. Our own agency, asking the right questions, and our acceptance of alternative assumptions have the power to propel us from desperation to divine deliverance.

On this Pentecost Sunday, we pause to recognize the birth of the Christian church. In today’s passage, Ephesians 1: 11:14, Paul tells the first believers that they have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because we too have heard and accepted the Gospel, His spirit dwells in us. We are His children and therefore guaranteed the same inheritance. Recognizing that we are God’s own calls for a celebration of the unique gifts the Lord has bestowed upon each of us. The sermon tells us that when others do not treat us as children of God and there is no affirmation, our very humanity is devalued. That may become the basis of excruciating spiritual pain. The riots we are witnessing in the United States at this unprecedented time are the outcry of pain unleashed. Rioters feel unvalued and hopeless. They are seeking an inkling of acknowledgement and an outlet for their overflowing anguish. Though society, individual families, or even the church may fail to acknowledge the worthiness and Holy Spirit in others, never forget we are all valued by God. He sees us and we can count on Him to claim us as His own. Because we are His, at this very moment we can have peace, joy, kindness, and a life full of grace and abundance. The seal of the Holy Spirit allows us to remain hopeful, secure in the knowledge that He values us and calls us His own. We can never be denied our inheritance. Because of His remarkable down-payment plan, we enjoy our blessings right now. We are His children and His claim on our lives mean that we can live our lives on purpose, be productive, and full of praise. This life, born of His spirit and full of His love, is just a foretaste of glory divine, the best that is surely to come.

One of the lessons we are learning from this socially-isolating, devious, lingering virus is what is truly essential. Many of our former must-haves have fallen by the wayside as we grow more appreciative of the simple things in our life. In Hebrews 11: 5-6 it is apparent that although we can live without some things once considered essential, we cannot live without faith. Faith pleases God and that is the essence of Christian life.

Why does God delight in faith? This sermon provides to us three clear assertions. The first being without faith it is not possible to please God. Our faith allows us to converse and engage with our Lord. Though we cannot see the blessings God has in store for us, faith assures us that great things are in our future. Faith allows us to remain hopeful and trust in Him.

Approaching God means that we believe in Him and know that He is exists. Amid difficult circumstances, no matter how harrowing, the faithful call on God. We do this because deep down in our hearts, we believe that He can do anything. God cannot and will not fail for He is above everything.

Finally, God delights in and honors genuine faith. Just as God rewarded Enoch, the faithful believer, we stand to be rewarded for our faith as well. Of this we can be certain because God keeps His promises. God sustains us and He is essential. We can live with confidence that God will see us through these times to better times, our best times.

As we continue to celebrate the triumphant Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, today’s sermon text is taken from John 20: 19-21. Jesus could not keep still as he walked among humanity, for he was doing the work of his Father. That same inability to remain idle meant a borrowed tomb could not hold him. He left the grave to keep sharing the good news.

The risen Christ appeared unexpectedly to his isolated disciples who were living in fear of his crucifiers. He proclaimed to them, “Peace be with you”. His words of assurance let them know that he was with them always and everything would be alright.

Today we are socially distancing because of this menacing virus, and many are living in fear of sickness, the death rate, economic instability, food insecurity, mental stress and the fate of our youth’s educational needs and mental wellness. But we can be assured for Jesus is still in the midst. Wherever we are, Jesus is right there in the center. We do not have to be afraid.

Remember, the Lord has a divine purpose for our lives, especially now. Even in social isolation, Jesus wants us to continue to discover ways to help those in need and those who need reassurance of his presence. He wants us to be generous, to love and have a spirit that is willing to do his work here on earth. Do not be afraid to live in his purpose for your life. Won’t you pop-up for Jesus today and every day?

He is Risen and we rejoice! On this glorious Easter Sunday morning, our pastor takes his text from a passage of scripture that focuses on the fundamentals of Christianity. 1 Corinthians 15: 3-11 contain the “ABCs” of hope for believers. This back-to-basics sermon is just what we needed to quiet the gnawing skepticism that can diminish our faith and hope for brighter days. We first learn that we must make Jesus a matter of priority. Living a life led by Christ is the primary source of our hope. Even in the midst of this global, life-altering crisis, hope is not lost. Jesus loved us enough to die on the cross to save us from our sins. We in turn should make our blessed Savior our life’s greatest priority. Secondly, it is a matter of perspective. We know of Jesus’ death because the bible tells us he was crucified and buried in a tomb. Though Christ died on that old rugged cross, the gospel also tells us God raised him from the dead. Therefore, we know that even in death there is good news. In the midst of the devastating losses we hear of daily, goodness does exist. With the right perspective we recognize that God is at work. This can be a time to renew and restore relationships and rediscover what matters most in our lives. Jesus appeared to his apostles and followers after his resurrection, and he was present with them. Today, his presence is unleashed among us as well. We know that Jesus is real. How do we know since he does not walk among us? Well, we can feel his presence deep, deep down in our hearts. And that is why, my fellow believers, we always have hope!