Second on the Mount

"Tell Me What to Do" – Proverbs 1:1-7
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, August 7, 2022. "The Bible is, in its entirety, from stem to stern, a book about the way of wisdom. It is a book of moral discernment as people in their own circumstances strive to understand what it means to be a people who are devoted to God and who walk in the ways of justice, mercy and peace. . . . The Bible shows us how to [embrace the way of wisdom] with its different perspectives, with its debates about God’s will for new times and situations. The Bible embraces what has been passed on, like the commandments, but also considers what experience and reason have to offer."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/tell-me-what-to-do/

"A Better Barn" – Luke 12:13-21
Sermon by the Rev. Ben Brannan from Sunday, July 31, 2022. "As we continue to make decisions about money in our nation, in our city, in our church, and in our families, who do we need to invite to be part of the conversation that isn’t currently heard? Whose voice should be valued that is left sitting off to the side?
"To the man in the parable, a bigger barn was the answer. But that very night his life was being demanded of him. His obituary might have been entitled, 'Barn Man Dies a Bare Man.' Or he could have changed his ways, much like Alfred Nobel did, to use his abundance to build a better barn, one that was open and charitable, offering his abundance to those in want. Perhaps then his obituary read 'Rich Man Turned Rich Toward God.'
"Instead of banking on more barns and larger barns, God invites us all, rich and poor, into the eternal economy of grace and mercy."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/a-better-barn/ 

"When an Iceberg Knows a Crystal" – I Corinthians 13:8-13
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, July 24, 2022. "Bias can really mess up a friendship. It can mess up a marriage, too. It can mess up faith in God. When we are so clear within ourselves about who others are supposed to be―including God―we can give up on them. . . . The greatest pastoral care Paul can offer when two parties become judgmental about each other while feeling victimized by each other is this: 'Remember, your window is also dark. Your mirror is also fogged.'"
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/when-an-iceberg-knows-a-crystal/ 

"Lord, Do You Not Care...?" – Luke 10:38-42
Sermon by the Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from Sunday, July 18, 2022. "Jesus found Martha in just such a state of fragmentation—a condition in which she could not enjoy his company, savor his presence, find inspiration in her work, receive anything he wished to offer her, or show him genuine love. Instead, all she could do was question his love ('Lord, do you not care?'), fixate on herself ('My sister has left me to do all the work by myself') and triangulate ('Tell her then to help me.”). Does any of this sound familiar? What has you worried? Distracted? Fragmented and frazzled? It could be because of a myriad of things—not just about household chores, but also perhaps the relationships that mean the most to you. It could stem from the state of our country to the sad state of humankind. There is a lot that might have you worried and distracted..."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/lord-do-you-not-care/

"Original Virtue" – Genesis 1:26-28, 3:1-5; Luke 15:7
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, July 10, 2022. "'I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance,' Jesus said. No need to repent? Who really believes that… except each one of the 99 who have 98 others around them telling them they have nothing for which to repent? It is not just Adam and Eve who took a bite. Entire tribes, entire movements, entire ideological silos, eat the fruit of the tree and become convinced they alone have knowledge of good and evil. Together, we can encourage each other to do evil by convincing each other that we are doing what is right. But let’s not forget, we can also encourage each other to recognize the evil that's in and among us and do better."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/original-virtue/ 

"Mission Mindset" – Luke 10:1-11
Sermon by the Rev. Ben Brannan from Sunday, July 3, 2022. "'Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house!"' This peace is not a simple hello or greeting. This is a peace that is representative of God’s salvation, that is God’s salvific shalom. This shalom is to be the opening word to all people. . . . As we engage with others, as the 70 did long ago, we must be grounded first in God’s peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. It is more than a calming presence. It is confidence in God’s abiding presence with us that then allows us to share that presence with others. This peace is the enfolding reality of God’s love. It is the fulfilment of the promise as we read in the first chapter of Luke. It is a peace made known in the birth of Jesus Christ, who came 'to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace' (Luke 1:79)."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/mission-mindset/

"Do This" – Luke 10:25-37
Sermon by the Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from Sunday, June 26, 2022. "What shall we do to inherit eternal life? “Go,” Jesus says, “and do likewise.” Do this. Draw close. Show mercy. Extend kindness. See yourself in the victim and recognize the humanity in the one you hate the most. Do this and you will truly live."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/do-this/

"Wiser Than Its Members" – Hebrews 12:1-2
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, June 19, 2022. "Sometimes―many times―the church is wiser than its members. I use the term 'church' loosely to refer not only to a faith community, but also to that faith and tradition that feeds that community. . . . Don’t let our individual sins―those we know and those we don’t know―cling so closely that our generation skips making its own witness of compassion. . . . There is out there, and I think there is within this congregation, a faith and a tradition that will carry us as we become the next generation of those who do not let our sins cling so closely but who continue to look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/wiser-than-its-members/

"Slowly Won" – John 15:1-17
Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, June 12, 2022. "How many times have you won someone over by arguing with them? If you’re good at it, maybe you could have taught Jesus a thing or two. When I think through the Gospels, I can think of only one time when in the midst of a debate with someone else who came into the conversation to win that debate that Jesus won someone over… only one instance where the other said something like, 'Wow, you know what? I haven’t thought about it that way but you’re right.' I’m going to have to step out of the Gospel of John to tell you about it."
Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/slowly-won/

"The Case for Going to Church" – Matthew 7:24-29
Sermon by the Rev. Howard Dudley, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dunn, NC and our Evening VBS guest speaker, from Picnic Sunday, June 5, 2022.