Pastor Note #137: Other People’s Sins & Reading the Bible

When reading the Bible, do you ever find yourself convicted about some sin in your life?  Do you find that the Bible sometimes points out something about the way you’re living that just isn’t right with God?  That’s uncomfortable, isn’t it?  Let me suggest a surefire way to keep that from happening.  Try to always … Continue reading Pastor Note #137: Other People’s Sins & Reading the Bible

Pastor Note #64 — Marriage: And Now for Something Completely Different

Marriage:  And Now for Something Completely Different Is there really a good reason why marriages of more than two people should be forbidden by law? Is sex a necessary part of marriage as it is now defined by the Supreme Court of the United States? Or is it now conceivable that an intentionally non-sexual relationship … Continue reading Pastor Note #64 — Marriage: And Now for Something Completely Different

Sermons #6 — Sex and Loving God: Sin and Grace, Forgiveness and Righteousness

Part 4 of my "Sex and Loving God" series, here I explore John 8:2-11 and the notion of a community of brokenness--a community of redemption.   Earlier in the service, the congregation read Psalm 32 responsively, and that psalm served as a part of the biblical context for this sermon. "Sex and Loving God:  Sin and … Continue reading Sermons #6 — Sex and Loving God: Sin and Grace, Forgiveness and Righteousness

Sermon #5 — Sex and Loving God: Sexual Discipleship

Discipleship is the calling of every one who claims the name of Christ.  Discipleship extend to every portion of our lives without exception.  The third sermon in a four sermon series on sex and the Christian faith, I preached this on January 22, 2012 at North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY.  Prior to the beginning of … Continue reading Sermon #5 — Sex and Loving God: Sexual Discipleship

Sermon #4 — Sex and Loving God: Brokenness and Redemption

The sermon linked to this post is the second sermon in a series on human sexuality and God.  This sermon was preached at North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY on Sunday, January 15, 2012.  Earlier in the service, we read responsively Isaiah 61:1-4.  Then on this recording of the sermon, I read from Romans 1:18-32. The … Continue reading Sermon #4 — Sex and Loving God: Brokenness and Redemption

Bible Note #8–Genesis 3:7–Loin Cloths, the Fall, & Sex

Genesis 3:7--"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves." [HCSB] Maybe it's because I'm preaching about sex these days, but today as I read this verse during my devotions, I was struck by the fact that … Continue reading Bible Note #8–Genesis 3:7–Loin Cloths, the Fall, & Sex

Sermon #3–Sex and Loving God: Natures and Origins

This sermon was preached at North Presbyterian Church on January 8, 2012 at morning worship.  It's part of a series I preached on the topic of "Sex and Loving God."  During that worship service we read Matthew 2:1-12 ( because this was the Sunday nearest to Epiphany, the church holy day when we celebrate the … Continue reading Sermon #3–Sex and Loving God: Natures and Origins

Pastor Note #17–Sexual Discipleship

“When Christ calls a man [a person], he bids him come and die.”  That is a powerful statement made by a man who died because of his faith in Jesus Christ and Christ’s calling on his life.  His name was Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  He was a German pastor and theologian, and he was hanged by the … Continue reading Pastor Note #17–Sexual Discipleship

Pastor Note #16 — “Sex With a Purpose”

  What is sex?  And what is it for?  And is your answer any of my business anyway? For all our modern western  society’s fixation on sexuality, I don’t see any evidence that we are any less confused about it than our great grandparents.  So many books are being published on how to deal with … Continue reading Pastor Note #16 — “Sex With a Purpose”

Pastor Notes #15 — A Theology of Sex

A Theology of Sex Rev. Gary A. Chorpenning We live in an age of sexual confusion.  I suspect it might be possible to make the argument that human beings have lived in sexual confusion ever since the Fall in to sin described in Genesis 3. Forty-one years ago the Presbyterian church produced “The Confession of … Continue reading Pastor Notes #15 — A Theology of Sex