Sermons from St. George's

Unity is part of what it means to be the people of God. Sermon from 5/29/22.

I wonder how Silas and Timothy were feeling around mile 300 when it still seemed unclear where their missionary journey with Paul was actually going. Sermon from 5/22/22.

Sermon from the 8:45am Nave service with the Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt, Bishop of Tennessee. At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35)

The Book of Revelation has extraordinary significance as it concludes the biblical story. In this sermon, the Rev. Colin Ambrose discusses the biblical metaphor of "chaotic waters" and the promise that God has conquered these waters in the dying and rising of the Son of God. Sermon from 5/15/22.

God did not promise a perfect church… But He did promise to meet us there through his son—in his body of believers. Sermon from 5/8/22.

In the light of the Gospel, the differences we cling to as making us better than one another are shown to be nothing in the face of the righteousness of God. Sermon from 5/8/22.

Sermon from The Table on 5/1/22.

Sermon from the Rev. Sarah Puryear at the 8:45am service.

Sermon from The Table on 4/24/22.

"They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11a)

Easter is the proclamation that something has happened, and that something that has already decided our future. Listen as Fr. Colin shares the living hope that comes from the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Sermon from Easter Sunday, 4/17/22.

Sermon from the Great Vigil of Easter, 4/16/22.

Sermon from Good Friday, 4/15/22.

Sermon from Maundy Thursday, 4/14/22.

During Jesus’ final days he was betrayed by many, including his own disciples. Listen as Colin explores the betrayal of Peter, the one who promised to die for his Lord before denying him. Why did Peter, who desired to be faithful, end up betraying Jesus? Sermon from Palm Sunday at The Table, 4/10/22.

Sermon from Palm Sunday, 4/10/22.

"Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’" - John 12:1-8 Sermon from 4/3/22.

Idols will always leave you disparaged; the saints will always leave you encouraged. Sermon from The Table on 4/3/22.

(Luke 15) Luke writes about Jesus, “The Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” In response to their criticism, Jesus teaches about the compassion of God using three parables, including the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Listen as Fr. Colin reflects on the meaning and promise of this remarkable parable. Sermon from 3/27/22.

What keeps that dutiful older brother outside his father's house? Sermon from The Table on 3/27/22.

We were meant to bear fruit. Sermon from the Nave on 3/20/22.

We may not always understand his timing or his ways, but God is the just judge and the merciful Savior, both now and forever more. Sermon from The Table on 3/20/22.

The goal of evil is to convince a soul that there is no hope, that kindness is a silly waste of time, that there is no redemption and that the good deeds which we do are just pathetic delusions. Sermon from 3/13/22.

Christians were originally called “People of the Way.” In the temptation story, Jesus teaches us three characteristics of the way we follow as Christians. Sermon from 3/6/22.

Sermon from 3/6/22 at The Table.

Whatever you learn this lent will begin by spending time with God. It won’t eradicate your sins or eliminate your pain. But as promised in John 14, God will never leave you. Sermon from Ash Wednesday, 3/2/22.

Faith doesn’t last because it never has troubles, it never encounters doubts. Faith endures when you hold onto to what you know to be true, even in the midst of those valleys. Sermon from 2/27/22.

The truth is that listening to the voice of Jesus is costly. But that is okay because the end of the story is good, good, good. Sermon from 2/27/22.

Give and more will be given. Sermon from 2/20/22.

Everyone knows that Jesus instructs his followers to love their enemies, but how many of us actively try to love those who don’t love us? In this sermon we reflect on why Jesus calls us to love our enemies and how it is possible to love in this way. Sermon from 2/20/22.

Sermon from 2/13/22.

It is not that the circumstances of the “woes” are evil, but that they are dangerous. Sermon from 2/13/22.

When Peter encounters the greatness of Jesus, he falls down at Jesus’ knees saying, “Get away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” This is not a unique response when encountering God’s presence. In this sermon we reflect on how our shame drives us away, or towards, the God of grace. Sermon from 2/6/22.

Paul invites us to play the holy game of love. The truth is we might know our theology and we might have beautiful worship. We might give our money away and have powerful healing prayer. But if we can’t play the holy game of love, Paul says we are not fit for the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 13 Sermon from The Table on 1/30/22.

All godly love flows from God himself and it is the overflow of the love God in us that allows us to love with anything even akin to his love. Sermon from 1/30/22.

The Rev. Dr. Mark Clavier is originally from Greenville, SC, but comes to us now from his position as Residentiary Canon of Brecon Cathedral, Wales. His previous visit to St. George’s was in early 2020 as a guest speaker for The Living Church conference. He has published 4 books, including a new release titled “A Pilgrimage of Paradoxes: A Backpacker’s Encounters with God and Nature.” Sermon from The Table on 1/23/22.

Sermon from 1/23/22.

John 2:11 states, “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory.” In John’s gospel there are a series of signs that reveal the identity of Jesus. Why was the first sign of Jesus the fixing of a catering disaster—providing more wine for a wedding? In this sermon, Fr. Colin explores how the promises of the Old Testament unlock the meaning of Jesus’ first sign. Sermon from 1/16/22.

Isn't it interesting that Jesus' first sign is turning water into wine? This sermon draws its trajectory from Time Keller's marvelous book, Encounters with Jesus: Unexpected Answers to Life's Biggest Questions. Sermon from The Table on 1/16/22.

John the Baptist tells us that Jesus's mission has two parts: 1. Take away the sin of the world. 2. Baptize with Holy Spirit and fire. Much is said of sin and forgiveness, but little of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. The Holy Spirit is the most important aspect of Christianity aside of Christ. It is the gift of Christ to the Church. He comes to do two main things in our lives among others: 1) to convict us of what sin is, and to give us remorse to genuinely repent and turn away from sin and 2) to give us the ability and capacity to resist the sinful urges in our fallen nature to a reasonable degree, though not total perfection, since we are still humans. We see from our readings that the Holy Spirit was given after conversion to Christ and likely after water baptism. It was a practical experience, rather than a passive one. Let us take a step further in our confirmation to make the Holy Spirit active in our lives by learning to ask him to reveal his works in our lives daily. Luke 3:15-18, 20-22; Acts 8:14-17 Sermon from The Table on 1/9/22.

It can be tempting to disregard those moments that trouble us deeply about our character. But if we attend to them they are the pathway to knowing the true source of our goodness. Sermon from 1/9/22,

"The very fabric of the universe, and most especially the nature of humanity, was changed because God who created it chose to become a part of that created universe.” Sermon from 1/2/2022 at The Table.

Sermon from 12/26/21 at The Table.

Sermon from 12/26/21.

Christmas is about receiving a gift. Jesus does not just come to us, he is given to us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:15) Sermon from Colin Ambrose on 12/24/21.

When Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, she sings the Magnificat, a song of praise—and of revolution. In this sermon Colin reflects on the meaning of Mary’s song as we prepare for the coming of Jesus on Christmas. Sermon from 12/19/21.

Sermon from Silent Night: A Service of Hope and Healing on 12/12/21.

The promise of God is for judgment, yes, but even more for restoration, salvation, and lasting joy. Sermon from 12/12/21.

Jesus Christ is the one true, faithful Israelite. Sermon from 12/5/21.

A non-judging God is really only good news for the comfortable, for those whose cause is already defended. Sermon from the First Sunday of Advent, 11/28/21.