• A Dove Descends To Light A Fire

• Steve Lindsley (Isaiah 43: 1-4; Luke 3: 15-22) It is an odd phenomenon that happens every January in the church year.  One Sunday it is Epiphany, where the infant Jesus and his parents are visited by wise men from the east, bearing gifts.  And then, the very next Sunday – this Sunday - Jesus... [read more]

 

• They Shall Come From East And West

• Grace Lindvall (Isaiah 60:1-9; Matthew 1:1-12) This is a rich text; it is a story about 2 powers that exist in the world, it is a story about faithful people who come from foreign lands, and it is a story about people who follow signs of hope to find Christ. The evangelist, Matthew, does wha... [read more]

 

• The Light Is Here!

• Steve Lindsley John 1: 1-5, 14 The “For Sale” sign appeared rather unceremoniously in the front yard one day.  It has been awhile since anyone lived there.  Those in the neighborhood had grown accustomed to its empty state, the lack of a car parked in the driveway or children running on the ... [read more]

 

• A Light Is Dawning - Expecting

• Grace Lindvall (Matthew 1: 18-25) Will you pray with me? God of advent waiting, of hope, and expectation. Sit with us in this time of waiting and preparing, open our hearts to hear your word and open our hearts to receive your presence with us. Move your spirit through our hearts that we wou... [read more]

 

• A Light Is Dawning: Wait For It

• Steve Lindsley (Luke 1: 5-20; Isaiah 2: 1-5) When I started seminary, I lived for the summer with some friends in their spare bedroom.  Their apartment was in Vinings, outside Atlanta, up I-75 in the far northwestern corner of the city.  The seminary was way over in Decatur, due east of Atla... [read more]

 

• Are You?

• Steve Lindsley (John 18: 33-38a; 2 Samuel 23:1-7) Are you King of the Jews? It’s a simple enough question, right?  There are two possible answers: yes or no.  You either are, or you aren’t.  It’s simple. Are you King of the Jews?   Unless….unless it isn’t simple.  Unless it’s more t... [read more]

 

• God Hears Your Voice - God And me

• Grace Lindvall (Isaiah 6:1-9; Psalm 139) Will you pray with me? God of abundant grace, your presence is with us wherever we go, and yet, we pray that you would surround us, be with us, make your presence apparent to us so that through our recognition of your presence, we might grow stronger ... [read more]

 

• God Hears Your Voice - Holy Anger

• Psalm 137: 1-9; Mark 11: 15-18(Steve Lindsley)So let’s not mince words, shall we?  The writer of the 137th Psalm certainly doesn’t.This is a hard Psalm.  And that last verse is reprehensible.  And there’s really no rationalizing away these words.  The Psalmist certainly doesn’t.  There’s no redempti... [read more]

 

• God Hears Your Voice - Deep Longing

• Steve Lindsley (Psalm 42: 1-3, 7-11) We continue this morning our sermon series on the many voices of the psalms.  Last week, we looked at the voice of lament, and the words of Psalm 13 - How long, O Lord, how long??  The ache and pain of not being seen, and our calling as the community of f... [read more]

 

• God Hears Your Voice - Unseen

• Steve Lindsley (Psalm 13) It happens so often that we barely even notice it. You meet someone in the course of your day. You make eye contact.  They ask, how are you doing?  And you say, Fine! It’s the standard exchange, right?  How are you doing?  Fine.  Even if you’re not really “fine.”... [read more]

 

• The Power Of The Redirect

• Dr. Paul Roberts (Job 38: 1-7; Mark 10: 35-45) Paul Roberts was the speaker at our 2018 All-Church retreat in Montreat, NC.  Dr. Roberts is the President of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta.

 

• Rooted In Faith, Growing In Gratitude

• Grace Lindvall (Luke 17:11-19) Leprosy in first century Israel was both a physical ailment and a social one. Having leprosy meant a life lived outside of community – outside of the tender touch of a spouse, conversations with friends, the love of a community – leprosy meant living life outsi... [read more]