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Preached this morning at a Baptist Church. During the scripture reading time earlier in the service, I read several sections of Ephesians 1-4, so don’t mark me down too hard for not reading those verses during the sermon.
Full house today, maybe 170. Very cool. I was surprised how exhausted I was. I haven’t really “preached” […]

 

 Where is Jesus? [32:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (166)

If you are in the post-evangelical wilderness, this is a must read. No review can tell you how encouraged you’ll be by this story.
I’ve got a lot of brief book reviews to write in the next few weeks to catch up after sabbatical, but I don’t want to pass up recommending an exceptional wonder of […]

The word “commandment” is one every first century Jew understood. God had made Adam in such a way that he was responsible to obey God’s commandments. The Ten Commandments were the law of God for his covenant people, expounded and expanded in the books of the law from Exodus through Deuteronomy.
It was the law of […]

John 13:12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have […]

The Gospel According to John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it […]

UPDATE: Here’s a wmv file of a Fleming Rutledge sermon from the National Cathedral. (I had some problems with video, but audio was great.)
Ever listened to a mainline (Episcopal) woman preach the Gospel?
I dare you. And I’d like to hear your constructive thoughts in the comments.
Go to the Asbury Seminary Chapel page, and stream or […]

The lectionary text is John 4:5-42. I used the text as a launching place to look closely at Jesus and at the nature of the Good News we have to share.
This is probably my last Sunday filling the pulpit at First Presbyterian London, Kentucky. Pastor Ted is ready to come back to ministry and I’m […]

 

 London Presbyterian Sermon 5 [30:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (175)

Since it’s Lent, the lectionary text was Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus’ test in the wilderness.
I chose a bit of an imaginative beginning, made sure I anchored this story in the Gospel, then used it as a window to talk about the lessons for our own trials and temptations. Pay attention to what kind of community Jesus’ […]

 

 Sermon: Lessons From a Fight [29:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (162)

O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name; whom all […]

I preached at First Presbyterian Church in London, Kentucky again today. I took the lectionary text (John 1:29-42) and followed it down a bit further (-51) so I could not just talk about Jesus calling disciples, but about disciples being promised that they will see more than those who simply believe in miracles. Apologies […]

 

 Sermon At London Presbyterian 2 [28:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (169)

Here’s the sermon I preached this morning at a Presbyterian Church nearby. It’s the Sunday we mark the Baptism of Jesus.
Atheists often characterize Christians as somewhere between stupid and mentally ill. It’s unfortunate that some Christians return the rhetoric in kind, saying that atheists are evil, dumb, etc. The fact is that this isn’t about […]

 

 Sermon on Jesus' Baptism [27:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (174)

The following incident is fictionalized from real experience.
I look at my watch. It’s time for a counseling appointment. I clear my desk, bring in the extra chairs and wait.
My appointment arrives and the conversation begins. This is a first time conversation, with someone I don’t know. I spend a lot of time listening. Then questions. […]

I preached this message- or a version of it- this morning at a church nearby.
“What Now?”
A Sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas, December 30, 2007
First Presbyterian Church, London, Kentucky
Michael Spencer, preacher

Scripture: Matthew 2:12-19, John 1:1-18
As our students were preparing to leave school the Friday before Christmas, we had a power outage. There’s nothing like […]

I want to start this post with a quote from a typical ambitious evangelical church that wants to grow. Get big. Add lots of people. Become “mega.” Get the crowds and their kids in the doors.
But I’ve decided not to insult you. If you don’t know the vast majority of American Christianity is about churches […]

Update: This piece isn’t universally appreciated Remember that Advent isn’t the season of Joy. It’s the season of waiting.
I have several friends who are doing Advent in their Baptist churches for the first time, and they have lots of questions about candles and logistics. I wish there were more questions about Advent itself.
For example, […]