November 13, 2011

"Grace, Giving, Gain"
Jason Crosby, preaching


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Philippians 4:10-20

            I do not believe that money is the root of all evil as some say.  Before money, people bartered.  They exchanged goods.  They would bring grain or corn, a cow or goat, a bowl or clothing to a market place and swap items of equivalent value.  Money, coins, currency developed because the barter system presented a major problem.  Often, a person could not find another good that he or she needed that was of equal value to what that person brought with them.  Money was created to help resolve this problem.  Money developed so that people could more efficiently exchange goods.  Money developed in order to give people a uniform tool they could use to better acquire the goods necessary to live.  Following the advent of money, the bowl-maker no longer had to find the chicken-seller who needed bowls.  Money enabled the bowl-maker to sell those bowls to several different buyers and then the bowl-maker had enough money needed to purchase that chicken.  Once a uniform monetary system was in place, it didn’t take too long for folks to learn that one can use money to make money.  It didn’t take long to figure out that one could lend someone else money and charge interest on that loan.  Money is a symbol and tool, like language, that allows people to enjoy a better quality of life.  Loans enable people who may not have the available resources to take an idea and develop it into a needed service. 

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November 6, 2011

Being a shy child, when people would ask me what I wanted to be when I was older, I generally said what I thought they wanted to hear.  But down deep and only to myself, I would say I wanted to be a Sparta Saint.  Does that mean anything to you?

When Scripture speaks of the “utter most parts of the world” it may have had in mind where I grew up in central Georgia!  The county seat town we lived near was Sparta.  I attended the Sparta public schools and the mascot for the high school sports was the saint.  Being Georgia, football was most important and the football team was the Sparta Saints.  We played against tigers and raiders, blue devils and red devils and dragons, but we were the saints, and when we scored a touchdown, the band played “When the saints go marching in.”  For us, in was the end zone, not heaven, but it did feel a bit like heaven when you raced into the end zone.

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October 30, 2011

"Just Up Ahead"
Jason W. Crosby, preaching


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Genesis 12: 1-9 

I stand here today with mixed emotions.  I bring sadness with me today.  I miss my friend Greg, with whom I developed a genuine friendship over the course of our nearly four years of ministry together, and who graciously and lovingly steered us through a period of dramatic change in the life of our congregation.  I am grateful today because I have an opportunity to dedicate all of my professional energy and focus, and then some, on ministry to and with you.  I am nervous today.  The task before us is substantial, the work to be done is significant, and the outcome is far certain.  Above all, I am excited today because God has given us, you and me, an incredible opportunity.

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October 16, 2011

Blessing and Benediction
W. Gregory Pope, preaching


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Numbers 6:22-26; Ephesians 3:14-21

 (My Final Sermon at CHBC)

 For twenty years now I have offered the same words of blessing and benediction at the close of worship services I have led.

Twenty one years ago I sat in this room as a seminary student and heard a purposeful benediction for the first time.  It changed the way I departed the sanctuary.  I left with a blessing and a calling.  It was offered by Steve Shoemaker, the pastor at that time.

Two years later I sat in this room for Steve’s final Sunday as pastor of this congregation.  His concluding sermon was shaped by his benediction.  Since then, when I have left my previous three churches, I have done the same.  What better way could there be to leave a people with whom you have served than to offer words of blessing and benediction.

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Written by John Arnett On