Resolute!

Have you ever thought about how the car that you drive reflects your personality?
This is an interesting passage for the week after Christmas. In it we find Jesus telling his disciples that he has to go to Jerusalem to suffer, die and rise again on the third day. Jesus clearly tells them what he intends to do. But Peter tries to deter Jesus.
Jesus, however, knew his life giving purpose was to be fulfilled in the cross. If only we knew and committed to our purpose with that kind of determination.

Extravagant Generosity

This is the last of the Bearing Fruit Series. Extravagant Generosity is one of the key components of healthy and vital congregations. Generosity is a form of giving of one's self to others for a cause. Part of our responsibility is to be able to give ourselves; (prayers, presence, gifts, service, witness) in effort to fulfill the mission statement of the church.
As a church our mission statement can be summarized as "Geneseo is committed to reach out, receive, relate, nurture, and send out faithful disciples."
The real question of this sermon is, "Are we committed to this mission statement? And how is God calling us to be a more committed Christian?"

Even the Shirt off His Back

This sermon is the fourth in the Lenten Banner series as we dig into the events that surround the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Today we look at the contrast between the soldiers casting lots and playing games what was happening behind their backs on the cross.
Have you ever asked yourself the question: "Am I playing games with my life while Jesus is trying to work redemption in my heart?"

This is the real underlying question that we attempt to answer in this message. I look forward to your thoughts.

Guilty!

This message is a powerful sermon that created a powerful response. The altar of our United Methodist Church was full of people and not an eye was dry.
As Christians is it time to stop playing games, time to stop holding on to our sin, time to repent and ask forgiveness. Do you realize that your sin is what nailed Jesus to the cross. We judged Jesus guilty, and by our sins he was crucified. As you listen may the Holy Spirit turn your heart again to God. Amen.

I Know Him Not

In this second sermon of the Lenten Banner Series we take a look at Peter's denial.
There is something universally true about fact that we have all denied Christ and walked away from his love. (Isa 53:6) And we probably all face the fear that we have sinned too horribly to be forgiven.
Guilt has a sticky quality. It is like super glue and almost impossible to get it off of you. On occasion we even convince ourselves that God cannot forgive us.
But that is not true. When we look at the rooster it reminds us of our sin, our guilt like Peter's. But if we remember, Christ was headed to the cross at the same time as Peter was Denying him. His guilt was removed at the same time that that Peter created it.
The same is true for us. Christ has washed our sin and guilt away no matter what you have done.
Today if you still have some guilt or a barrier in a relationship, it is time to forgive just as Christ forgave you.