A sermon series for Advent at Creswell Presbyterian

Creswell Presbyterian sermon series for Advent.

I used as a resource for crafting this reflective sermon on lament: https://www.anewliturgy.com/no-7-lament 

This is a great resource from Aaron Niequist, I've used the Examen liturgy for years now and this is one I will add to the rotation as well for my own personal prayer times. 

In my adaptation I used a blank paper with six boxes to respond to the different poems and prayers of lament. I introduce the concept of lament by sharing Psalm 13. I hope that by introducing personal practices of lament in public worship settings we can begin to explore what public lament looks like. Which is the domain of prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah. 

Sermon at Franklin Christian Church about grief. 

Hopeful Imagination series continues as we look at the Book of Jeremiah. I really love the video resources available at thebibleproject.com and highly recommend taking a look at their Exile and how to read the Prophets and Biblical poetry videos. 

This was originally shared as a Facebook live video. These Friday reflection podcasts are going to continue being this way. 

What's your personal mission statement? Do you have values you want to be known for? What clutter in your life keeps you from being able to focus on creativity and leadership? 

The start of a new series of sermons on the perspective of the Old Testament prophets and psalmists who had in the words of Walter Brueggemann a "Hopeful Imagination." 

This was a Facebook live video of the launch of our Improving Leaders YouTube channel. Learn more about what Improving Leaders is by visiting improving leaders.org 

I've preached this message before for New Years but enjoyed sharing it slightly differently with the Franklin Christian Church. Every year is a new beginning, and probably better for us than resolutions we are going to end up abandoning or feeling like we missed out or failed, what if we chose to consider living our normal routines with intentionality. Perhaps that means adding a new one or two but maybe instead it's just a new way of looking at things we do every day like eating meals together. 

One of the most common New Years resolutions for Christians is to start a "Read the Bible Cover to Cover in a Year" plan. And if you're anything like me getting started was fun, Genesis is captivating with big story arcs like Creation and fascinating stuff about towers, languages, floods, and then familial drama throughout all of Abram's kids and grand kids. But then you get to Leviticus and either get bogged down, skip it, or quit all together. In this recorded sermon for a small rural church I spend the week after Christmas and before New Years to explore the big theme of holiness throughout this very underrated book of the Bible.