Sermons that are not a part of a sermon series.

Matthew 2:13-23 | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris | "Best of all, God is with us." These are reportedly John Wesley's dying words, an expression of faith uttered in his final breath. The gift of Christmas is Emmanuel, God with us. But, the challenge of Christmas is that this presence isn't comfy and cozy; it is kicked out on the street, put on the run by a tyrant, embodied in fragile flesh under the terrible swords of murderers, and put on the run...in hiding, even.

Genesis 1:26-31a | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris | We are created in a state of grace, with the resources and blessings we need for the purposes of God. One of the fruits of faith is learning to see ourselves as creatures created and claimed by the God who is our source and stay.

Matthew 5:17-20, 38-42 | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris | As with all high aspirations, developing the sort of life that glorifies God involves degrees of growth and maturity. The biblical “law” and commandments about giving guide us in this growth; they attune us to a pattern, but they are not the end.

Matthew 26:6-13 | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris | Generosity is a way of life, not simply an action. It begins with an awareness of blessing and issues into a life that overflows with thanksgiving and extravagant love. Sacrificial generosity is a means of grace because it allows us to experience God’s blessing in our lives.

Philippians 4:4-13 | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris | The secret to living a life full of joy that naturally overflows in praise is contentment, which involves having one’s heart satisfied by the presence of blessing. But, a significant impediment to contentment is that we often value the wrong things, things that are elusive and fleeting.

Psalm 29:1-11 | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris

1 Kings 12:1-19 | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris | Jeroboam and Rehoboam both set up sham worship of God. Jeroboam set up idols. Rehoboam was half-hearted. Both

represented a turn away from God and a return to the attitude of Saul. This sermon will explore the events and the fallout of the split, including the trajectory of each kingdom.

Esther | Rev. Matt Lacey

1 Sam 15:10-23 | Rev. Dr. R. Brandon Harris | Samuel receives word that Saul has been rejected as king. Saul does not heed the command of the Lord and spares some of the animals and booty from the Amelekites, which the Lord has told him to utterly destroy. Samuel reveals to Saul that the Lord desires obedience over sacrifice. This sermon will discuss the cultural transitions from the time of the judges to the time of the kings, the deuteronomistic suspicion of kingship, and the unique nature of Jewish kingship as divine choice.