Category Archives: Sermons

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What Truly Is Life?

A Reflection on Luke 12:13–21

When it comes to measuring the value of life, our culture often looks at bank accounts, portfolios, and possessions. But Jesus offers a very different standard: “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

This was a lesson I began wrestling with early in my Christian walk. As a junior at the University of Florida, I had a newfound zeal for Jesus and a desire to follow Him fully. One day, while reading the Gospel of Luke, I came across some tough words about money and discipleship. I began to mentally inventory my belongings to see if I would truly be willing to give them up for Christ.

At that point in life, I didn’t have much. Everything I owned could fit into my bright yellow 1978 Delta 88 Oldsmobile—affectionately known as the “Chuck Model 1.” I could part with the car. I could part with my clothes. But then came the fish tank—my prized 50-gallon aquarium, home to an eel named Larry and a black bass named Bill.

I couldn’t imagine giving it up.

Years later, when Brooke and I got married and moved to Chicago for seminary, Brooke gently but firmly said, “The fish tank can’t come.” She was right. I gave it to a kid in the neighborhood, not realizing that in doing so, I was finally surrendering that little idol. Strangely enough, years later, after we moved back to Florida, someone called out of the blue: “Are you Charlie Holt? I think I have your fish tank.” It had passed from family to family, with each one told, “If Charlie ever comes back to town, he might want this.”

God took it away. Then God gave it back. It was a parable in itself about detachment and God’s generous provision.

The Heart of Greed

Greed, Paul tells us in Colossians, is idolatry—when our hearts are fixated on money, stuff, or security apart from God. Greed isn’t about how much you have; it’s about what has you. It’s being so attached to something—be it a fish tank or a fortune—that you’d sin to get it or sin to keep it.

In Luke 12, Jesus addresses two brothers fighting over inheritance. Their request sounds reasonable: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus doesn’t affirm their desire. Instead, He warns them to “be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” Why? Because He knows that greed will tear families apart and lead hearts away from God.

Many of us have seen this firsthand: families that once shared meals and laughter are torn apart by inheritance disputes and property battles. The sin nature rears its head when money is on the line.

The Rich Fool and the Internal Monologue

Jesus follows His warning with a story about a wealthy man blessed with an abundant harvest. The man doesn’t pray, doesn’t thank God, and doesn’t ask what God would have him do with the surplus. Instead, he talks only to himself: “Soul, you have ample goods laid up… relax, eat, drink, be merry.”

The Rich Fool: Luke 12:13-21
James Tissot’s painting, The Man Who Hoards

God calls him a fool—not because he was rich, and not because he saved—but because he left God out of the equation. In Scripture, the fool is the one who “says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1)

This man lived like a practical atheist—planning his life around his own comfort, rather than around the Kingdom of God. And when the day of reckoning came, all his wealth meant nothing.

You can’t take it with you—and if you haven’t used it for God’s purposes, someone else will.

So What Do We Do?

This passage is not an attack on retirement, savings, or even wealth. It’s a call to re-center our hearts and our stewardship around God. Whether you’re working or retired, the question is: “What does God want me to do with what He has given me?”

Here are three practical steps:

1. Examine Your Conversations

Are your life plans entirely internal—between “me and myself”? Or are you regularly praying, “Lord, what would you have me do with my time, talents, and treasures?”

2. Embrace the Spiritual Discipline of Tithing

Tithing is not just about funding the church—it’s about dethroning money in our hearts. The Old Testament calls for 10%, a standard that still challenges us today. Tithing hurts just enough to make us realize our dependence on God, but it also blesses in ways we can’t anticipate.

Years ago, a man in my church told me his tithing testimony: He started small, then committed to 10%. That year, his tithe was more than his entire salary the year before. The next year, it increased again. His giving became a pipeline for God’s provision.

I warned him: “What happens when things go down?” Sure enough, they did. The market crashed. But to his credit, he remained faithful. Tithing is not about prosperity—it’s about trust.

3. Redefine What “Abundance” Means

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

This does not mean you’ll be wealthy. Many of the most joy-filled, Spirit-filled people I’ve known lived modestly. Abundance in Christ is not about stuff—it’s about peace, purpose, and contentment.

Final Word: The Life That Truly Is Life

Let me leave you with this word from Paul to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19):

“But godliness with contentment is great gain… For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it… As for the rich… they are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share… so that they may take hold of that which truly is life.”

That’s the kind of “net worth” that never crashes with the market.

Are you rich toward God?

If not, it’s never too late to start investing in the life that truly is 

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The Author Steps Onto the Stage

There’s a moment at the end of a great play when the author walks onstage. The curtain’s drawn, the story complete, and now the playwright himself steps into the light, reminding us that everything we’ve just witnessed came from his mind, his hands. As C.S. Lewis once reflected, that’s how you know the play is over—the author appears.

And in the final pages of Revelation, we find just that: the Author of history stepping onto the stage.

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me… I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12–13)

Jesus—our risen Lord—doesn’t just pen the introduction or write the final chapter. He is the story. Every word, every letter. Alpha to Omega. The first and the last. He is the Author, and He has a word for us.

The Reality of the Story We’re In

We live in a time that’s lost its story. Modern philosophy—rooted in Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am”—has shifted our focus inward. And that’s led to what we now call deconstructionism: the belief that there is no grand story, no meta-narrative, no Alpha and Omega. Everyone has “their truth,” but few are asking what’s true.

The result? Confusion. Division. Tribalism. One story pitted against another, each competing for dominance. But Revelation reminds us that there is a story—one written from the foundation of the world. And it’s not ours to edit.

Jesus says, “I am coming soon.” Whether we embrace the story or try to rewrite it, the Author will return—and He will hold us accountable. Not to punish, but to set things right. To bring clarity. To heal what’s broken.

Two Responses

On that day, there will be two responses to the Author’s appearing.

One is found in those who have “washed their robes”—a symbol of redemption, of sinners made clean through the blood of Christ. These are the ones who will eat from the tree of life and enter the city by its gates.

But there’s another group. It’s a sobering image: “Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:15)

This verse often gets left out. It’s uncomfortable. It’s not “nice.” But it’s honest—and necessary. Because the love of God tells the truth. And that truth is this: either you let Jesus wash your sins, or you choose to carry them yourself.

Lady Macbeth once cried out, “Out, damn’d spot!” as she imagined blood on her hands from her guilt. But no matter how much she scrubbed, the stain remained. Shakespeare, like the prophets, understood something deeply human: we all want to be clean, but we cannot cleanse ourselves.

Only Jesus can.

https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/3/christ-enthroned-in-majesty-darcy-garneau.jpg

Don’t Change the Story

The final warning of Scripture is a plea: don’t add to these words, and don’t take away from them. Yet how often do we do just that? We add extra writings. Or we delete the difficult parts. We want a god who sounds more like us—more tolerant, more relaxed, less demanding.

But that isn’t the Author. That’s a counterfeit.

The real Author offers not just judgment but grace. “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17) This invitation—wide open and full of mercy—is spoken by both the Spirit and the Bride (the Church). It’s not exclusive. It’s not narrow. It’s generous. And it’s for you.

No matter your story, Jesus wants to redeem it. He wants to write you into His story—one of cleansing, restoration, and purpose.

One Prayer, One People

In His final prayer before the cross, Jesus prayed for us:

“That they may all be one… I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20–23)

Our unity as believers isn’t based on preference or personality. It’s grounded in truth. When we cling to the Author’s story, we become living witnesses to the world—a people marked not by confusion, but by conviction and grace.

The final words of the Bible are not threats. They’re promises.

“Surely I am coming soon.”
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

That’s the heart of the gospel. A warning and a welcome. A righteous Judge and a loving Savior. A story that invites us in, just as we are—and transforms us.

Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb.

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Reflecting on Psalm 8: Our Royal Identity

The Majesty of God and the Dignity of Humanity

Have you ever gazed up at the night sky, marveling at the vastness of the universe, and felt simultaneously small yet profoundly significant? This paradoxical experience captures the essence of Psalm 8, a beautiful hymn of praise that explores the relationship between God’s majesty and human dignity.

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” These words, which both open and close Psalm 8, set the tone for a profound reflection on the nature of God and humanity’s place in His creation. The psalmist invites us to consider the greatness of God, revealed in the wonders of the natural world, while also pondering our own role and significance within it.

As we delve into this psalm, three key themes emerge, each offering rich insights into our relationship with God and our place in the world:

The Power of Childlike Faith

“Out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.” This verse highlights the unexpected power of childlike faith and praise. In a world that often values complexity and sophistication, there’s something disarmingly potent about the simple, sincere worship of a child.

This truth echoes throughout Scripture, from the promise in Genesis of a child who would crush the serpent’s head, to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where children’s praises fulfilled this very psalm. Even in our everyday lives, we can witness profound wisdom from the youngest among us. As one touching anecdote illustrates, when asked what the greatest thing in the world was, a young child replied simply, “Prayer to God.”

These instances remind us that true wisdom often lies in humility and simplicity. Jesus himself taught that we must have faith like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. In our praise and our approach to God, perhaps we too need to recapture some of that childlike wonder and trust.

The Crown of Human Dignity

As the psalmist contemplates the vastness of the heavens, he asks, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” This question could easily lead to a conclusion of human insignificance. Yet, remarkably, it takes us in the opposite direction.

“You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” This verse reveals a stunning truth about human dignity. Despite our seeming smallness in the grand scheme of the universe, God has bestowed upon us a unique status and role within creation.

We are created in God’s image, bearing a reflection of His nature that sets us apart from the rest of creation. This truth should radically shape how we view ourselves and others. Every person we encounter, regardless of their circumstances or background, carries this innate dignity as an image-bearer of God.

This perspective challenges us to “respect the dignity of every human being,” as some Christian traditions put it in their baptismal vows. It calls us to see beyond surface-level differences and recognize the royal nature inherent in every person we meet.

The Commission to Steward Creation

With great dignity comes great responsibility. The psalm goes on to describe humanity’s commissioned role: “You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet.”

This dominion is not a license for exploitation, but a call to responsible stewardship. We are entrusted with the care of God’s creation, to tend and nurture it as His representatives. This role is fulfilled not through autonomous rule, but through submission to God’s authority and purposes.

When we align ourselves with God’s will, recognizing Him as our true Lord, we can fulfill this commission in ways that bring blessing rather than curse to the world around us. However, when we attempt to rule independently of God’s guidance, we risk corrupting and damaging the very things we’re meant to steward.

This commission extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass all aspects of how we interact with the world and each other. It’s a call to cultivate and create in ways that reflect God’s character and purposes.

The Ultimate Fulfillment in Christ

While Psalm 8 speaks profoundly to every human being, it finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Throughout the New Testament, we see this psalm applied to Jesus in unique ways.

Jesus often referred to himself as the “Son of Man,” a title that echoes the language of this psalm. In his incarnation, Jesus exemplified both the humility and the exaltation described here. He willingly became “lower than the angels for a little while,” taking on human flesh and experiencing our weaknesses and sufferings.

Yet through this humility and obedience, Jesus was “crowned with glory and honor.” His life perfectly embodied the submission to God’s lordship that the psalm calls for, and in doing so, he opened the way for all of humanity to be restored to our intended dignity and purpose.

As we reflect on Psalm 8, we’re invited into a posture of both humility and confidence. We recognize our smallness before an infinite God, yet also embrace the incredible dignity and purpose He has given us. We’re challenged to approach God with childlike faith, to treat others with the respect due to those made in God’s image, and to steward our lives and our world in ways that honor Him.

May we, like the psalmist, be moved to wonder and praise: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” As we embrace this perspective, we find our true place in God’s grand design – humble yet dignified, small yet significant, always looking to our majestic Creator as the source of our identity and purpose.

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Behold, I Am Making All Things New

“And the one seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” – Revelation 21:5

A Vision Worth Seeing

The book of Revelation invites us to see—truly see—what God is doing in the world. In chapter 21, the voice from the throne says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” This isn’t just poetic language. It’s an imperative: Look. See. Pay attention.

The Greek word here—ἰδού (idoú)—carries that sense of urgency. It’s as if God is waving us down, saying, “Look here! I need you to see this.” This call to see echoes throughout the New Testament, where Jesus invites people to look beyond the surface and behold the Kingdom of God breaking in.

But many of us struggle to see. Our culture, influenced by centuries of philosophical turns, especially since Descartes, has trained us to start with ourselves: “I think, therefore I am.” But what if Descartes got it backward? What if it’s not “I think, therefore I am,” but “I am, therefore I think”?

In Exodus, when Moses meets God at the burning bush and asks for His name, God replies: “I AM WHO I AM.” This divine self-revelation is the true foundation for knowledge, identity, and meaning. Rather than beginning with our thoughts, Scripture calls us to begin with God’s revelation. It’s a totally different way of seeing ourselves and the world.

Seeing Through God’s Eyes

In Revelation 21, John describes what he saw: a new heaven and a new earth, a holy city descending like a bride prepared for her husband. God promises to dwell among His people, wipe away every tear, and abolish death and mourning. It’s a breathtaking vision of hope and renewal.

But here’s the key: we’re not meant to merely admire this vision. We’re meant to live into it. To begin embodying it now.

Christian author Henry Blackaby put it this way:

“Watch and see where God is working, and join Him in His work.”

He reminds us that experiencing God isn’t about mustering up an encounter through self-effort. It’s about aligning ourselves with what God is already doing. And what is God doing? Making all things new.

Master Planning and Future Hope

At our church, we’ve been doing some literal master planning. We hired an architect named Sam, who walks around with a sketchbook. As we talk, he listens, dreams, and suddenly—with a few swift strokes of his pencil—draws out a vision of what could be. A beautiful new building. A transformed space.

That’s vision. That’s what God is offering us: not just a plan for bricks and mortar, but a picture of the new heavens, the new earth, and the new people He is forming. Jesus gives us a glimpse of that future and says, “Live into it. Let it take root in the present.”

Reimagining People

The Apostle Paul offers a strikingly practical application of this vision in 2 Corinthians 5. He writes,

From now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view… If anyone is in Christ, new creation! The old has gone, the new has come.

What would it look like to see others—not as they are, but as God sees them? Not defined by their past, but by their potential in Christ?

This challenges us. We often define ourselves—and others—by our wounds, failures, and limitations. But the gospel calls us to a new way of seeing. You are not just your brokenness. You are beloved. You are being remade. And so is your neighbor.

In a world quick to label, dismiss, and divide, Christ gives us a ministry of reconciliation. Why? Because the old has passed away. The new has come. The risen Lord is building a new humanity.

The Eternal Perspective

Ortega is a beautiful place. Sometimes it feels like paradise. But even the most beautiful homes here are subject to rot. Even our historic buildings will one day pass away.

But you—the people of God—will not pass away. You are the beloved of Christ, the bride of the Lamb, the citizens of the new Jerusalem. Heaven and earth may pass away, but God’s people endure. And so we must shift our gaze—from fading structures to eternal souls. From what is passing to what will endure.

Living the Vision

Jesus left His disciples with a “new commandment”: “Love one another as I have loved you.” That is the seed of the new creation. When we live out that love, we begin to manifest the Kingdom now.

So let us no longer look at ourselves or others from a worldly point of view. Instead, let’s adopt the eyes of faith. Eyes that behold. Eyes that see. Eyes that recognize God’s vision and join Him in making it a reality.

“Behold, I am making all things new.”

May we see it. May we believe it. May we live it.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of new life, for our children, and for the promises you give us in your Word. You are inviting us to catch a vision—a vision of a new community grounded in your new commandment to love as you have loved us. You are the one who declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Speak to us now through your Word. May the preaching of your Word be your Word—for the glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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All Out

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. As we pray to the Lord of the harvest our vision and heart becomes for those who are not yet part of the church. The call of the disciple is to be “all in”, the call of the apostle is to be “all out” in the world in evangelical mission. 

https://vimeo.com/727039657
Sermon: All Out preached at Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, TX on 3 July 2022. Come visit: https://www.sjd.org/

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

The Return of the Seventy-Two

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

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All In

Jesus calls his followers to be completely devoted and dedicated to him. He has done everything for us to set us free from the bondage sin and death. Walk in the freedom he has graciously given you by being “all in” with the Holy Spirit and the free gift of God’s salvation.

https://vimeo.com/724477371
Sermon: All In preached at Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, TX on 26 June 2022. Come visit: https://www.sjd.org/

Galatians 5:1,13-25

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Luke 9:51-62

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

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What is in a Name?

The story of the world is to make a name for oneself – the ego drama. In Christ and through the Holy Spirit, God is uniting the world in his Name. The promise of Pentecost: everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 

https://vimeo.com/717518411
Sermon: What is in a Name? preached at Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, TX on 5 June 2022. Come visit: https://www.sjd.org/

Acts 2:1-21

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

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Trivial Pursuit

The challenge of the book of Revelation is that there’s more to life than what we see or experience. Without a connection to the author of life and surrender to the grand story, life becomes merely a trivial pursuit. Jesus informs everything. He alone gives significance meaning and abundant life to those who will surrender their hearts and lives to him. The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, Jesus is Lord overall.

https://vimeo.com/715004235
Sermon: Trivial Pursuit preached at Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, TX on 29 May 2022. Come visit: https://www.sjd.org/

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

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The Great Multitude

As we go through great tribulation in our day, an eternal perspective provides great hope. One day all the pain and suffering and sorrow will be no more. The lamb upon the throne will wipe away every tier from our eyes.

https://vimeo.com/707819420
Sermon: The Great Multitude preached at Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, TX on 8 May 2022. Come visit: https://www.sjd.org/

Revelation 7:9-17

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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Eternal Reality vs. Virtual Reality

The statistics are sobering, the disembodied virtual world of social media has led to an epidemic of loneliness and sadness. The glorious revelation of Jesus Christ alone gives the eternal perspective needed to bring life and hope to those lost in the malaise of social disconnect.

https://vimeo.com/702910155
Sermon: Eternal Reality vs. Virtual Reality preached at Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, TX on 24 April 2022. Come visit: https://www.sjd.org/

Revelation 1:1-8

Prologue

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Greeting to the Seven Churches

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”