February 15, 2009

Are You Willing?

2 Kings 5:1-14

Sermon Synopsis: Has any one ever approached you with the question, “Would you like to try something new?” If so, what were your first thoughts? Were you suspicious or adventurous? Sometimes our response depends on how much we trust the one making the offer or on how desperate we are at the time.

Leprosy Bible times was feared as much then as AIDS is today. Naaman had it. He was a mighty general but had no power over the disease. Was he desperate enough to trust word of a captive slave girl, a prophet he never saw, a method he had never tried? Was he willing? Yes, and he was healed.

There were people with leprosy in Jesus’ day who were just as desperate as Naaman. Mark 1:40-45 tells about one asking Jesus if he were willing to heal him. The man found that Jesus was willing.

Jesus is still willing to heal men and women, boys and girls of the most dreaded disease that plagues humanity, sin. The consequences of this disease lead to death, eternal separation from the blessings of God. The question is “Are you willing to be healed?” God has a plan to heal all who are willing to come to Jesus.

Scripture References in NIV: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Mark 1:40-45; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,

Dr. Sonny Strange, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1916 Overlook Ave., Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone (865) 475-9424

Sermon podcasts available online at www.emmanueljeffcity.com

February 8, 2009

Until Everyone Knows

Mark 1:29-39

Sermon Synopsis: We begin with a statement about the importance of story in determining cultural and religious identity. Isaiah 40:21-24 supports this concept with a series of questions. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?” These question emphasize the role of people in a society (civil or religious) to tell their story and the role of the individual to understand or accept the story.

A New Testament illustration is found in Mark 1:29-39. It is the story of Jesus raising Peter’s mother-in-law from her death bed. The news of the miracle spread to others in the area and many who were sick came to Jesus to be healed. I suppose that as the news spread throughout the community one could hear the lines of Isaiah, “Have you not heard?” Once everyone knew, Jesus moved on to tell others the good news. His goal was to share the story of redemption until everybody knew.

In 1 Corinthians 9:29-39 Paul shared his since of urgency in telling the story. He said he was compelled but wanted to do it voluntarily instead of forced. Therefore, he made himself the slave of the gospel so that he could share the good news with all types of people.

The burden is placed upon the people of faith to tell the stories of the faith. Those stories give us our identity. In order to tell the stories we must first learn the stories. That is a part of what church is all about. Then we must experience the truth of the stories in our own lives. Then we must demonstrate the truth of the stories in our relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and all the others we encounter. We must become tellers of the story in “Word, Gift and Deed.”

Scripture References from NIV: Isaiah 40:21-24; Mark 1:29-39 (Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law); 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 (willing slave); Isaiah 40:21-24, 28-31.

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,

Dr. Sonny Strange, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1916 Overlook Ave., Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone (865) 475-9424

Sermon podcasts available online at www.emmanueljeffcity.com

February 1, 2008

Souper Bowl Sunday

The Fire Still Burns

Mark 1:21-28; Deuteronomy18:15-20

Sermon Synopsis: Cold winter weather brings out a threat of house fires and dramatically increases the since of loose associated with a fire. Why would we then go without smoke detectors and fire alarms since they are so readily available?

Every time a house fire is reported our since of urgency mounts as does the demand for us to do something!

The fear of fire caused the people of Israel to distance themselves from God. The fire that guided them was no natural fire and that made them even more fearful of it. They feared the fire and the voice of God that spoke through the fire.

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the one who baptizes with fire. That may explain why some are afraid to approach him.

Fire not only heats our homes it has the potential of destroying them. The fire of Jesus purifies and empowers believers in the face and adversity and frees them of the fear of a judgment of fire.

The job of the church is to keep the fires of the Gospel burning bright. The fire of Jesus still purifies and empowers believers for life. Let’s keep the fires burning.

Scripture References from NIV: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (people afraid of the fire); Matthew 3:11 (baptism of fire); Mark 1:21-28 (Jesus in Capernaum).

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,

Dr. Sonny Strange, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1916 Overlook Ave., Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone (865) 475-9424

Sermon podcasts available online at www.emmanueljeffcity.com

Restore the House: Now is the Time

Presented on January 25 2009

January 18, 2009

Restore the House

Called to Action

Sermon Synopsis: This sermon examines the call of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and the call of Nathanael in John1:43-51. Both calls demonstrate the importance of the voice of the Lord to bring light to the darkness they were experiencing. When people neglect their place in worship and their place of worship darkness sets in. Notice too that the call of God must be followed by acts of obedience.

Make no mistake about it, God knows you. God knows your hiding place and all your excuses. God knows where you are right now. God knows your need of transformation and is ready to turn on the light. Are you ready for the transformation that the light brings? This year transform everything!

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,

Dr. Sonny Strange, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1916 Overlook Ave., Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone (865) 475-9424

Sermon podcasts available online at www.emmanueljeffcity.com

January 11, 2009

Restore the House

It is the Time for New Beginnings

Sermon Synopsis: Sermon continues the theme of transformation. Three passages of Scripture provide a metaphor for the uncontrolled aspects of life. In the story of creation, Genesis 1:1-5, the God of Creation is introduced as the God of New Beginnings. God looked down on creation and breathed life into it. You and I often see the dark and murky side of life. God wants to turn the light on so we can see new possibilities with God.

The story of Jesus’ baptism, Mark 1:4-11, provides another look at what happens in the water. Jesus’ baptism transformed the baptism of repentance to the baptism of the Spirit. Again, the breathe of God descended on creation. This time God’s light illuminated Jesus as the Son of God.

The baptism of John’s disciples by Paul, Acts 19:1-7, provides the backdrop for us to consider our own baptism. The God of creation wants to be the God of transformation for all of us.

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,

Dr. Sonny Strange, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1916 Overlook Ave., Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone (865) 475-9424

Sermon podcasts available online at www.emmanueljeffcity.com

"Of the Father's Love Begotten"

Of the Father's love begotten

Ere the worlds began to be,

He is Alpha and Omega,

He the Source, the Ending He,

Of the things that are, that have been,

And that future years shall see

Evermore and evermore.

January 4, 2009

The First Sunday of the New Year

Called to Restoration: This Year Transform Everything

2 Chronicles 24:4-5

Sermon Synopsis: The sermon is a challenge for believers to start the year off “right” not mounting up debts, but paying tribute instead. We begin with the story of Joash King of Judah calling the people to “restore the temple of the LORD.” The people responded by providing funds for the restoration, but the Levites, the priests, did not act. Joash realized the time had come to do the right thing so he stepped in to get the work started. It was time to restore the house. I hope 2009 will be your “Year to Transform Everything.”

At the beginning of this New Year, I invite you to survey the house in which you live. Assess the damages. Evaluate the needs. Estimate the cost. Start now! Set aside personal resources. Address what is needed. Begin to work where you are. Don’t wait!

Prayer of Restoration

O God help me restore my house: Body, Mind, and Soul/Spirit.

I don’t want to be defeated again this year.

O God help me restore my relationships with others.

Family: Start at home, we all have homework to do.

Spouse, Parents to children and children to parents,

Brothers and Sisters

Friends and Associates

O God help me, restore my place in worship.

Start with the restoration of your relationship with God and with your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

O God help me, restore my place of worship. We’ve waited long enough. The time has come to do the right thing. It is time to restore the house!

This Year Transform Everything

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,

Dr. Sonny Strange, Pastor

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1916 Overlook Ave., Jefferson City, TN 37760

Phone (865) 475-9424

Sermon podcasts available online at www.emmanueljeffcity.com

Welcome to our Christmas Eve Service. We hope you will enjoy this special presentation of the Emmanuel Podcast. Tonight you will from Dr. Mark Hussung, Norman Eskridge, Tony Hickman, Tammy Ogle, Fred and Kathy Wilson and Dr. Sonny Strange.

Thank you for joining us for this special service. The production team of the Emmanuel Podcast wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God bless you greatly in 2009.

Welcome to a Christmas edition of the Emmanuel Podcast from Emmanuel Baptist church in Jefferson City TN. In this episode, Pastor Sonny Strange continues his series entitled Adventures in Faith. This installment is subtitled “Love”.

Thank you for spending time with us today. If you would like to learn more about Emmanuel Baptist Church and the oppurtunitie availible there please vist our website www.emmanueljeffcity.com. If you have any questions or comments about our podcast, please email us at [email protected]. Have a very Merry Christmas.

Welcome to a Christmas edition of the Emmanuel Podcast from Emmanuel Baptist church in Jefferson City TN. In this episode, Pastor Sonny Strange continues his series entitled Adventures in Faith. This installment is subtitled “Peace”.