A ministry to spread the Good News through sermon-based audio programs http://lastpew.org Copyright 2006 en-us Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:02:06 -0500 afukada@andrew-umc.org Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:01:30 -0500 FeedForAll Mac v1.6 (1.6.0.8) Home of sermon-based audio programs A ministry to spread the Good News through sermon-based audio programs St. Andrew United Methodist Church, West Lafayette, Indiana afukada@andrew-umc.org St. Andrew United Methodist Church no http://lastpew.org/images/iTMS-300.jpg http://lastpew.org 2 Corinthians 3:1-3 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-9-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-9-08.mp3 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:11:55 -0500 (2 Corinthians 3:1-3) There is an art to writing recommendation letters. Deciding what to leave in and what to leave out can make all the difference in that recommendation having the desired effect. The Bible says that we're letters of recommendation from Jesus to the world around us. This morning we want to stop and consider what might be lost if those letters were to be "lost in the mail" or returned to sender. If we are charged with delivering the good news, what happens if we keep that news to ourselves? 24:49 Rev. Tim Burchill no Mark 4:1-9 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-2-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-2-08.mp3 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:11:55 -0500 (Mark 4:1-9) From generation to generation, we have a story to tell. THE story. Of course, the truest way we do this is by living out, as best we can, the example of Jesus Christ. The tradition of the Church, through the ages is to share this story, in both formal and informal styles, through our worship. As Pastor Tim has suggested to us in the opening sermon of the series, we all have our own preferences as to a particular style of worship but we need to be careful that these preferences don't detract from the true and only purpose of worship: to honor the God who is worthy of our praise and love. We have also talked about the various elements of worship and took note that these are, or should be, in response to God's Word and presence in our midst. This morning we will spend some time talking about generational differences that can add so much or detract, if we let them, from our worship experience. 17:23 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Matthew 13:44-49 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p10-26-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p10-26-08.mp3 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Matthew 13:44-49) It is so easy to think that what comes before the sermon are just preliminaries and what follows after is just debriefing, but the most personal aspect of worship is what happens after the sermon and before the service is over. The reflection that takes place in the offertory, the offering, singing and being sent out into God's world--and on special Sundays the Lord's Supper--these are all our response to God's Word and presence with us. It is where the rubber hits the road in worship. It is where the Holy Spirit does or does not break through and touch our hearts--shape our lives. 20:08 Rev. Tim Burchill no Mark 5:1-20 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p10-19-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p10-19-08.mp3 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Mark 5:1-20) Worship is so central to loving God and following Jesus that many of us never stop and think much about it. If we do give it a second thought, it is usually to express a preference for a particular hymn, sermon, or style of prayer. But worship is never really about the God we want. Sometimes worship is about the God we need, but the bottom line is that worship is always about the God who Is, Was, and Always Will Be. We begin a three part sermon series this morning on Why Worship Matters. 27:18 Rev. Tim Burchill no Matthew 22:15-22 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p10-5-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p10-5-08.mp3 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Matthew 22:15-22) Here we are, right in the heat of political debate season, trying to figure out who will be the next President of these United States. So in honor of our current sermon series, I wanted to take a look at how, Jesus, an undeclared fourth-party candidate might do in a political debate. In our text today, Jesus is being questioned by two of the three major political parties in the Jewish political system. On the one hand, we have the Pharisees, a religious group who were conservative and ultra-nationalists who believed Israel was for God's chosen people -- period. Then we have the Herodians, who were their political polar opposites. They were much more liberal, often collaborating with Herod Antipas and the Roman government and supporting Roman policies, usually for their own personal and political advantage. Isn't it amazing that BOTH sides, bitter political enemies, joined forces and took political issue with a poor, itinerate, no-name rabbi with no party affiliation by the name of Jesus? In our text today, both the Pharisees and the Herodians are trying to trip up the people's choice candidate in a public debate -- on taxes. So, let's take a look at the text and ask ourselves did Jesus win the debate or refuse to get involved in it? Based on this brief debate is there any question where Jesus' "party" loyalties lie? 18:22 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Matthew 16:13-23 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-28-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-28-08.mp3 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Matthew 16:13-23) If Jesus had started a political party based on his teaching and preaching about the Kingdom of God what would its primary "planks" be? If Jesus were running for national office in 2008, what are some of the mega themes he would want to address? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in the age of Spin, attack ads, and the 24/7 news cycle? What role should our commitment to truth play in the important political decisions before us? 29:26 Rev. Tim Burchill no Luke 12:13-21 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-21-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-21-08.mp3 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Luke 12:13-21) When is the last time you looked the in mirror and said, "I've gotten a little too greedy lately?" There are any number of folks who might confess to feeling guilty, being angry, or even confess to jealousy--but the number of people who admit to being greedy are few and far between. Yet if you were to ask the average American on the street what 'monsters' were most attacking the hearts of their neighbors and friends, Greed would be in the top 5. Today we're going to look again at a familiar parable of Jesus and ask, could I too be suffering from BBS (Bigger Barn Syndrome)? 33:59 Rev. Tim Burchill no Ephesians 4:25-5:2 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-14-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-14-08.mp3 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Ephesians 4:25-5:2) Our current sermon series is based on Andy Stanley's latest book, "It Came From Within." This book deals with some of the "monsters" that most of us have lurking in our hearts. According to Stanley, four of the very worst are: guilt, anger, greed and jealousy. He calls them variously "nightmarish foes" and "malevolent forces," that, given their way can ruin our relationships, trash our homes and ruin our careers every bit as thoroughly as Frankenstein or Godzilla. Wow! Overly dramatic language used to sell books, right? I mean, each of us have these issues in our own hearts, to one degree or other, so how bad could they be? Well, Stanley is not talking about these issues properly recognized and confronted; he's talking about the seriously dangerous nature of these emotions left unchecked -- or worse, given full reign in our lives and in our relationships. When this happens, look out! But, take heart! There are ways to tame the monsters within! 17:43 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Genesis 4:1-12 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-7-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-7-08.mp3 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Genesis 4:1-12) Jealousy is not limited to those who are in love with the fickle-hearted. Jealousy and envy arise from the same place in our hearts that gives birth to covetousness and lust. The green-eyed monster that is jealousy not only robs us of a satisfying life, but it makes loving like Jesus an impossibility. Our ability to celebrate with those who are richly blessed is the key to being able to appreciate and return thanks for the blessings we ourselves have been given by God. 18:28 Rev. Tim Burchill no Luke 19:1-10 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p8-31-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p8-31-08.mp3 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Luke 19:1-10) When we feel guilty we feel as if we have done something or taken something from someone that puts us in another's debt. "I owe you an apology," we say. The problem for many of us is that we have no idea how to pay off those debts so that we can move forward without the oppressive baggage of guilt. It is almost as if there is an Invasion of Happiness Snatchers that just sap our joy and leave us depressed. This morning we're going to hear about God's plan to fight back and begin living without chronic or excessive guilt. 31:37 Rev. Tim Burchill no Matthew 15:1-20 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p8-24-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p8-24-08.mp3 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:11:55 -0400 (Matthew 15:1-20) The human heart is a mystery, so says the prophet. Who can fathom its many facets? We may think of ourselves as being 'good hearted' and then all of a sudden we say something or do something and it doesn't sound or look good at all. Where did that come from? Somewhere from deep within our heart, of course. We begin a new sermon series today based on Andy Stanley's book, It Came From Within. It is an honest assessment of what's lurking in our hearts as well as God's plan for putting our hearts back in order. 28:42 Rev. Tim Burchill no John 15:1-12 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-1-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-1-08.mp3 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:43:06 -0400 (John 15:1-12) With Pastor Tim off to exotic and far away lands, we searched for some of the best preachers we could find to lend Pastor Pat a hand with the preaching this summer. Several of our own congregation members have agreed to share their faith story! Our series will be based on "Amazing Events and People: Lessons on Life and Faith." We've asked our guest preachers to share those things in their own life journey that have been most important to them in their journey of faith. We will hear not only about life and faith lesson, but also about the women and men who have been important mentors to them along the way. Join us for this fun and important series! Remember: we have a first-class line up of guest preachers--you won't want to miss a single Sunday! 19:19 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Matthew 4:18-25 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-25-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-25-08.mp3 Sun, 25 May 2008 08:43:06 -0400 (Matthew 4:18-25) So, what do you do when you want to learn something new or get better at something you already do? I can tell you what I do: I buy or borrow every book or video by every expert on the subject. Then I talk with everyone I can find about how they do it. Next, I buy the latest gizmo or whatchamacallit on the market, hoping technology will be a good substitute for any actual talent or physical skill necessary on my part to succeed at the task--then I practice. Can you ever learn everything you need to know by reading about it or practicing a skill? Probably not. If I want to catch a fish, I'd better put down the book, pick up a fly rod and head to the river. I believe this same principle works with our faith as well; at some point, we need to put down the latest book on "Five Easy & Practical Steps to Sharing Your Faith" and get on with doing and sharing the Gospel. Practice is great, but whether fly fishing or faith-sharing, nothing replaces doing! 18:34 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Mark 12:41-44 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-4-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-4-08.mp3 Sun, 04 May 2008 20:34:27 -0400 (Mark 12:41-44) With Pastor Tim off to exotic and far away lands, we searched for some of the best preachers we could find to lend Pastor Pat a hand with the preaching this summer and we didn't have to look far to find them -- several of our own congregation members have agreed to share their faith story! Our series will be based on "Amazing Events and Amazing People: Lessons on Life and Faith." We've asked our guest preachers to share those things in their own life journey that have been most important to them in their journey of faith. We will hear not only about life and faith lessons, but also about the women and men who have been important mentors to them along the way. Now, we already know that Pastor Pat will be sharing Lessons on Life and Faith he learned on a trout stream and from those he meets along the way. We know he has certainly learned life lessons there; but faith lessons? Join us for this fun and important series and find out! Remember: we have a first-class line up of guest preachers -- you won't want to miss a single Sunday! 20:21 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Genesis 50:15-21 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-27-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-27-08.mp3 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Genesis 50:15-21) Wanting to get even and having the opportunity to do so are two very different things. But it just might be that in this Dog Eat Dog World God is calling us to give up meat. Settling old scores is fraught with all kinds of problems that scripture warns us to avoid. 18:30 Rev. Tim Burchill no Genesis 39:1-20 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-20-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-20-08.mp3 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Genesis 39:1-20) If you're one of those people who think that gossip is little more than a bit of harmless fun; the kind of inconsequential thing that happens around the water-cooler or between office mates with a few extra moments on their hands, then you need to understand that these unfounded and careless statements can end a reputation or a career – and in a very real sense, ruin a life. There is nothing harmless about gossip! We've all been on the wrong side of gossip and it is absolutely no fun. So, how should we respond to gossip? Is there a better solution than 'fighting fire with fire?' Yes! Perhaps we can gain some insight on how best to do this as we continue our 'Stuck' series this morning on how to handle one of life's trickiest situations. 19:20 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Genesis 28:10-17;Genesis 37:1-11 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-13-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-13-08.mp3 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Genesis 28:10-17;Genesis 37:1-11) For good or for ill we learn what matters from our parents. And if we are ever going to learn what it means to love God and others, the example of our parents and grandparents is crucial. Even as we recognize how much we learn about faith from Moms and Dads, we can also learn a great deal about the simple child-like faith Jesus described, from the little ones around us. The relationship of Jacob and Joseph holds a lot of teachable insights into how parents shape children and children, in turn, shape their parents. 26:03 Rev. Tim Burchill no Genesis 39:20-23; Proverbs 29:18 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-6-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-6-08.mp3 Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Genesis 39:20-23; Proverbs 29:18) There is a whole industry out there that celebrates dreams and aspirations. Unfortunately, it easily slips into a Hallmark kind of banality. Women and men of real faith have always been shaped and formed by the dreams and visions they’ve been given. In fact, without those glimpses of God’s purpose and plan God’s people would cease to exist. What can Joseph’s life teach us about what happens when we stay true to the dream given us? 30:13 Rev. Tim Burchill no Genesis 37:1-11 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-30-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-30-08.mp3 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Genesis 37:1-11) When it comes to choices, we can pick our shoes, pick our clothes, pick our friends and pick our habits. We can pick a spouse, pick a church, pick a car and pick a movie. We can pick books, colors, food and candidates. We have nearly endless choices about all the things we can pick; but one thing we can't pick is our family. Sometimes, even in the healthiest, most loving families we can imagine, the question is still "Why can't we just get along?" Great question! Join us (for the next several weeks) as we hear how, with God's help, Joseph comes "unstuck" in one sticky situation after another. 21:27 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Matthew 28:1-7 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-23-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-23-08.mp3 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Matthew 28:1-7) The resurrection of Jesus is more than just a test of how much we are willing to believe or not believe about God and God's power over life and death. The resurrection of Jesus is a decisive response by God to what we did to His son on the cross. We did the worst we could do to the One who deserved our best. The ball is now in God's court. At the first light of Easter God, through Christ, makes it crystal clear what lies in store for us. 24:56 Rev. Tim Burchill no Isaiah 6:8, Matthew 21:1-11 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-16-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-16-08.mp3 Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Isaiah 6:8, Matthew 21:1-11) Every great question deserves a great answer. God posed the perfect question to Isaiah. Jesus decisively answered it (though in a somewhat surprising manner) some 700 years later. Was Jesus' parade into Jerusalem more than just a political statement? What if the heart of Jesus' bold and courageous ride was to let us know that we can find the courage to stand up to even the very biggest challenges in our own lives and say "Yes, I can!" 23:09 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Luke 22:47-53, Mark 15:21-22, Mark 15:33-38, Matthew 27:19, Mark 15:6-15 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-9-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-9-08.mp3 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:41:27 -0400 (Luke 22:47-53, Mark 15:21-22, Mark 15:33-38, Matthew 27:19, Mark 15:6-15) We don't want to dwell on the negative. There's too much of it out there anyway. And yet how we deal with the worst the world can throw at us might be our strongest testimony to the character of the life within us. This was certainly the case with Jesus. The way he faced death was every bit as powerful a witness to his faithfulness as the way he faced life. Just let imagine the difference that death meant to Malchus, the centurion, Barabbas, Pilate's wife, and Simon the Cyrene. 25:03 Rev. Tim Burchill no John 8:2-11 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-2-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-2-08.mp3 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:41:27 -0500 (John 8:2-11) What difference can one person make in this world? More and more we believe that a single person can impact this huge and complicated world less and less. And yet the cross of Christ is a startling reminder that one person can change everything. The question we have to wrestle with of course is: At what cost? 24:19 Rev. Tim Burchill no Matthew 18:21-35 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-24-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-24-08.mp3 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:41:27 -0500 (Matthew 18:21-35) There it is. Just stands there; impossible to ignore. You can't get around it, can't climb over it, and, well, burrowing under it would just be weird. But, there it stands, right in the middle of every Christian's journey of faith. Every Christian's journey leads them right to the cross and we have to decide what to do with it. We could relegate it to little more than a gold or silver symbol we wear as jewelry. Some do. Or, we could lift it high as a sort of victory banner. Some do that, too. But we do have to deal with it. The Cross. The ugly, nasty, terribly inconvenient Cross. I hate that thing. Right in front of US. Now, what do we do with the likes of THAT? 21:37 Rev. Pat Sleeth no 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-17-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-17-08.mp3 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:41:27 -0500 (1 Corinthians 1:18-31) What does the cross tell us about God? What does the cross tell us about human beings? What does the cross tell us about the relationship between God and human beings? Actually, it tells us more than we want to know. As we begin our Lenten series on the Promise, Purpose, and Power of the Cross we begin with an overview of how we might best begin to get our minds around this mysterious and potent symbol of our faith. 31:44 Rev. Tim Burchill no 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9, 18-23 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-10-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-10-08.mp3 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:41:27 -0500 (1 Corinthians 3: 1-9, 18-23) There is something very unhealthy about certain triangles. Not so much with the geometry but with the kind of relationships that result from not dealing with our problems and the people we love one-on-one. In the Corinthian church there is more than one situation in which a believer's hesitancy to confront a problem with a brother or sister turns a mole hill into a mountain. On a spiritual level, our unwillingness to deal with God as God can have the same consequences for us as individuals as well. 27:49 Rev. Tim Burchill no Romans 16:1-15, 21-24 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-3-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-3-08.mp3 Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:41:27 -0500 (Romans 16:1-15, 21-24) Opportunities come and opportunities go and the Bible is filled with stories of folks who were well acquainted with both. One factor seems to make a pretty big difference in the ability of us human beings to choose wisely: the ability to begin, continue, and complete our tasks with the end in mind. This morning we're going to stop and consider how we might learn to do just that as a church, as families, and as children of God. 25:02 Rev. Tim Burchill no 1 Cor. 13:1-13 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-27-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-27-08.mp3 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:41:27 -0500 (1 Corinthians 8) We love to sing "They'll know we are Christians by our love," and it is a great hymn. The song assumes that whomever "they" might be will know who are the Christians by the love we share with the world. I love that idea! That the love we share will be like a spotlight, pointing out who is and, presumably, who isn't a Christian. But, what if they don't? Know us by our love, I mean. Our text this morning is from Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth and this important letter suggests that the actions they were showing made them difficult to distinguish from the rest of the world. My questions this morning to all of us is: Do we look different than the world? And, WILL "they" know us by our love? And, what does that love look like? 22:31 Rev. Pat Sleeth no 1 Corinthians 8 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-20-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-20-08.mp3 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:41:27 -0500 (1 Corinthians 8) This morning we're going to do an old fashioned Bible Study on the 8th Chapter of 1 Corinthians. We're going to model what studying the scripture is all about -- asking the right questions, knowing where to look for wise answers, and applying the insights in a faithful way to our lives. The first in a series that looks at the "holy mess" that was the first century Corinthian congregation, this morning's message wrestles with the relative importance of being right vs. being gracious, particularly within the community of faith. 29:14 Rev. Tim Burchill no Exodus 20:1-17 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-13-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-13-08.mp3 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:41:27 -0500 (Exodus 20:1-17) Everybody wants a well trained pet. Not everybody wants to put the hard work into training their pet. Teaching even a new dog any kind of trick at all takes time and energy, but for those who've been through it -- it's time well spent. God longs for an obedient people and God is never hesitant to invest Himself toward that end. As we begin a new year, let's pause today and ask ourselves what a faithful and obedient life look like? 24:44 Rev. Tim Burchill no Matthew 6:5-15 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-6-08.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-6-08.mp3 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:44:34 -0500 (Matthew 6:5-15) Relationships, to be rich and satisfying, require give and take. When a relationship becomes all take and no give, you can pretty much guarantee tough sailing ahead. How does that principle apply in our relationship with the God of Jesus Christ? Our ongoing conversation with God -- this thing we call prayer -- isn't simply about our asking and God giving. As we begin a new year with a renewed desire for a more satisfying relationship with our Creator, maybe it's time for us to ask ourselves "Why DO Beggars Make Such Lousy Lovers?" 18:39 Rev. Tim Burchill no Genesis 32:22-28 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-30-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-30-07.mp3 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:41:27 -0500 (Genesis 32:22-28) Sometimes life gets pretty confusing. And, sometimes we listen so much to what other people say about us or we want to be like this person or that person so badly, that, after awhile, we can forget who we are. Now, how can I live the life God calls me to live and do the things He's asked me to do if I don't even know who I am? God has called you to do something no one else can do. Maybe it starts with your name? Who are you? What do people call you? Do they call you Honest? How about Peace, or Patience or Hope -- because these are the things you offer to others. But maybe our REAL name is Fear, or Greed or Lust. What then? Want to know what God calls you? Beloved. If you can believe that (and you SHOULD), perhaps you're one step closer to helping others who've lost their way. Beloved. That's you. And, if you've lost your way, it's a great place to start. So, what's your name? 17:19 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Matthew 1:18-25 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-24-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-24-07.mp3 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:41:27 -0500 (Matthew 1:18-25) Joseph may be the least attended to person in the Christmas Story. Mary and Jesus are most often front stage center and Joseph is somewhere just behind or off stage looking for clean swaddling cloths. And yet Joseph's faithfulness--his ability to make the best out of a tough situation--are right at the heart of what God was about in the birth of Jesus. Tonight we will look a little more closely at Joseph, the manger, and how God can take common ordinary things--as well as common ordinary people--and do some pretty amazing things! 9:09 Rev. Tim Burchill no Luke 2:25-33 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-23-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-23-07.mp3 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 19:41:27 -0500 (Luke 2:25-33) Third in the "Sweet Little Jesus" series. 19:10 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Luke 3:1-16 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-9-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-9-07.mp3 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:15:58 -0500 (Luke 3:1-16) Second in the "Sweet Little Jesus" series. 26:45 Rev. Tim Burchill no Matthew 24:36-44 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-2-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-2-07.mp3 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:17:46 -0500 (Matthew 24:36-44) Sweet little Jesus Boy, we didn't know who you was…” so go the lyrics to that beautiful and profound Christmas song. We didn't recognize Jesus when he came to us two thousand years ago. We missed all the cues and he confounded all our expectations about the Messiah. Throughout our history God has had a way of catching us off guard. Would today be any different? What has the incarnation taught us about how God acts in our world? And are we any better prepared than our Hebrew predecessors in discerning the presence of God in our world and in our lives? 25:41 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Amos 7:10-17 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-25-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-25-07.mp3 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:18:45 -0500 (Amos 7:10-17) We've spent the last weeks talking about great mistakes in the Bible--what we can learn from negative examples. This Sunday we want to look at a key mistake we make about the Bible: we don't take it seriously enough. There is another somewhat obscure biblical story--in this case about the prophet, Amos--that might help us wrestle with our own relunctance to listen and live out God's word in our lives. 25:41 Rev. Tim Burchill no 1 Kings 12:1-19 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-18-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-18-07.mp3 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:51:24 -0500 (1 Kings 12:1-19) Rehoboam may not be the best known king in scripture, but his father Solomon sure is. And as much as Solomon was known far and wide for his wisdom, it seems as if he did not bother to pass much of that wisdom on to his son. Rehoboam is faced with a pivotal decision in the life of God's people and chooses poorly, disastrously. What went wrong? How did the wisest and most earnest of all Israel's kings end up with a self-centered tyrant for his heir? This morning, we'll as just that as we consider another of the Great Mistakes of the Bible. 32:57 Rev. Tim Burchill no Luke 17:11-19 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-11-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p11-11-07.mp3 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:51:24 -0500 (Luke 17:11-19) Question: When is a gift not a gift? Answer: When you don't let go of it. Have you ever given a gift that you want used in a particular way and then got angry when they either did not use it like you had wanted it used or just ignored the gift altogether? Don't you hate that? How ungrateful can you get? In our text this morning, Jesus heals 10 lepers. Only one bothers to be grateful enough to praise God and thank Jesus. So, what do you suppose Jesus did to the other nine? Curse them with leprosy again to teach them a lesson? More important--what would you do? 17:49 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Luke 4:1-13 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-2-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p9-2-07.mp3 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:31:01 -0400 (Luke 4:1-13) Part 2 of the sermon series "What Would Jesus Say to...?" We live in a culture built on consumption. Many Americans might rephrase Decartes: "I own the best stuff, the right stuff; therefore, I am somebody." In a new improved, designer world, Paris Hilton is the High Priestess of conspicuous consumption. But is that what life is really all about? Jesus doesn't think so. This morning, we will ask "What would Jesus have to say to Paris Hilton?" 21:37 Rev. Tim Burchill no Mathew 5:38-48 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p8-26-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p8-26-07.mp3 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:48:16 -0400 (Mathew 5:38-48) Part 1 of the sermon series "What Would Jesus Say to...?" We're beginning a new sermon series today by asking the imaginative question about what would Jesus say to people and situations in our world today. This has certainly been a Harry Potter summer with the release of the last book in the series (Deathly Hallows) and the blockbuster movie: Order of the Phoenix. And though there has been a smattering of protest from some Christians, there is a growing consensus that J. K. Rowlings has produced a classic fantasy & adventure story for children as well as adults. But what is there in the Potter stories that we, as people of faith, ought to pay attention to? We'll look at just that question from the perspective of Jesus' teaching on fear & evil. 28:10 Rev. Tim Burchill no Luke 10:25-37 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p7-1-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p7-1-07.mp3 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 11:47:10 -0400 (Luke 10:25-37) What would our world look like if Jesus had never been born? That's the question we've been considering the last several weeks. What would our attitude be toward those who are clearly outside our family, tribe, state or nation? In a world that already leans toward looking out for "me and mine", one wonders what would prevent all of us from doing little more than taking care of our own. In his parable of the Good Samaritan, and elsewhere, Jesus challenges us to define our connection with others in light of God's connection with all His children. 25:00 Rev. Tim Burchill no Mark 10:13-16 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-24-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-24-07.mp3 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:12:39 -0400 (Mark 10:13-16) The great American Christmas film, "It's A Wonderful Life," was about how different life would be if a single human being, George Bailey, had never existed. As it ends up, the world of Beaver Falls, New York would have been radically different. But how much more different would our world be if Jesus Christ had never existed? It's easy to point out all the problems with Christianity and the church, but what about all the ways the followers of the rabbi of Nazareth have made a positive impact on our world? 11:01 Rev. Pat Sleeth no Matthew 7:15-27 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-10-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-10-07.mp3 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:12:39 -0400 (Matthew 7:15-27) One of the most common criticisms of the Christian faith is that Christians don't always act very much like Christ. In a world without Jesus there would be no crusades or inquisition but would their world really be better off? 28:35 Rev. Tim Burchill no Luke 4:14-30 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-3-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p6-3-07.mp3 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 11:45:04 -0400 (Luke 4:14-30) The great American Christmas film, "It's A Wonderful Life," was about how different life would be if a single human being, George Bailey, had never existed. As it ends up, the world of Beaver Falls, New York would have been radically different. But how much more different would our world be if Jesus Christ had never existed? It's easy to point out all the problems with Christianity and the church, but what about all the ways the followers of the rabbi of Nazareth have made a positive impact on our world? We begin a new sermon series this week that asks the simple question: What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? 22:06 Rev. Tim Burchill no Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-20-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-20-07.mp3 Sun, 20 May 2007 13:21:58 -0400 (Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16) Courage is not easy to come by. To have it is rare, to share it with others even rarer still. And yet the ability to offer encouragement is the oil that keeps the engine of the family, school, workplace, and church running smoothly. Without encouragement we begin to wear on one another and wear down one another. With encouragement we are able to come together to do much more than we could ever do on our own. If you were to search all of the scriptures you wouldn't find a more encouraging soul than Barnabas. Because of his gift of encouragement he is the most important Christian you've never heard of. In fact, next to Jesus himself, Barnabas is probably the best role model for those of us today who want to faithfully live out God's love. 23:48 Rev. Tim Burchill no Deuteronomy 5:6-21 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-13-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-13-07.mp3 Sun, 13 May 2007 13:43:20 -0400 (Deuteronomy 5:6-21) We celebrate mothers today, and in a month or so we'll do the same for our fathers. When we think about what we love and appreciate most about our parents, few of us point out all the times they said 'No' and meant 'No'. And yet, when we consider what it means to be godly parents as well as what it means to have a healthy, just society that two letter word looms larger and larger in importance. There is a reason many of the commandments of God are written in the negative--it is the side of love that rarely gets the accolades and appreciation. This morning we're going to take just a few moments and celebrate the well placed No's of our childhoods. 24:50 Rev. Tim Burchill no Luke 12:1-12 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-6-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p5-6-07.mp3 Sun, 06 May 2007 12:20:40 -0400 (Luke 12:1-12) This series is a discussion about being real--not just with God, but with ourselves and others. Are we the same people 'in the world' as we are in church on Sunday morning? If we're not, is that because God is present in the sanctuary, but not our classroom or office? If not, where does He go? Or, have you ever been at a restaurant with a group of people when the conversation is questionable at best, and then the food arrives and everyone assumes an awkwardly reverent posture while someone says a dutiful prayer--and then continues the gossip or off-color conversation right where you left off? How does that work? Which was the real you? The person gossiping about your neighbor or the one who is humble before your God? And, how do you think the people at the next table would answer those questions? Just how 'real' are we? 21:37 Rev. Pat Sleeth no 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-29-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-29-07.mp3 Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:37:41 -0400 (2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2) While teaching English at Miami University of Ohio I learned that a good essay flowed from its thesis sentence. The sharper the thesis, the clearer the connection between the organizing idea and the illustrations, the more powerful and convincing the essay. Maybe it is time for us at St. Andrew to rework--to tinker--with our thesis sentence, our mission as a church. Using four foundational stories, I want to make a case for clarifying our purpose as God's people at St. Andrew. 28:03 Rev. Tim Burchill no Psalm 46 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-22-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-22-07.mp3 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:07:07 -0400 (Psalm 46) In a special message to his churches this week, North Indiana Conference Bishop Michael J. Coyner reflected upon the tragedy that took place this week at Virginia Tech. He said, in part, "At such moments, it is not a time to 'figure out what happened' or to get angry and look for quick solutions. Rather it is a time to pray. The Apostle Paul reminds us that there are times in life when words fail us and we don't even know how to pray. At such times, he promises, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray 'in ways that cannot be put into words' (Romans 8:26)." This is such a time. 14:36 Rev. Pat Sleeth no 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-15-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-15-07.mp3 Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:34:27 -0400 (2 Corinthians 4:1-12) Everybody is looking for something just a little different when they walk through the doors of a church. Sometimes what we hope to find is self-serving, other times it is God-revealing. But there are some important principles about what it means to be a 21st century church that we can learn from off-road biking. Things like authenticity, honesty, and constant practice are the marks of what a faithful church can and should be today. 28:07 Rev. Tim Burchill no 8th (last) of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-8-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-8-07.mp3 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:22:00 -0400 8th (last) of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Matthew 28:1-15) 8th (last) of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Matthew 28:1-15) 24:38 Rev. Tim Burchill no 7th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-5-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-5-07.mp3 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:22:00 -0400 7th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Matthew 5:38-42; Luke 23:44-46) 7th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Matthew 5:38-42; Luke 23:44-46) 18:45 Rev. Tim Burchill no 6th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-1-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p4-1-07.mp3 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 19:22:00 -0400 6th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Mark 11:1-11) 6th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Mark 11:1-11) 12:11 Rev. Pat Sleeth no 5th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-25-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-25-07.mp3 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 12:50:12 -0400 5th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (John 19:23-30) 5th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (John 19:23-30) 24:46 Rev. Tim Burchill no 4th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-18-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-18-07.mp3 Sun, 18 Mar 2007 11:39:18 -0400 4th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (John 19:28-29) 4th of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (John 19:28-29) 24:00 Rev. Tim Burchill no 3rd of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-11-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-11-07.mp3 Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:42:06 -0400 3rd of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Psalm 22 and Matthew 27:45-49) 3rd of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Psalm 22 and Matthew 27:45-49) 26:03 archiology Rev. Tim Burchill no 2nd of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-4-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p3-4-07.mp3 Sun, 04 Mar 2007 12:42:06 -0500 2nd of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (John 19:25-27) 2nd of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (John 19:25-27) 19:56 friend Rev. Tim Burchill no 1st of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-25-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-25-07.mp3 Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:56:21 -0500 1st of the sermon series "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ" (Luke 23:39-43) What if you received the worst news imaginable? Something like, "You only have 3 hours to live." How would your life change? What would be your most pressing priorities? Who would you talk with and what would you say to them? This is the under-current for our Lenten series, "If you only had three hours to live - The Seven Last Words of Christ." We know Jesus spent about three hours on the Cross but have we really considered His words and what He might have meant? Jesus' last words to His People are not meant to be lessons in bravery and courage in the face of death. Jesus' final words to us are very much about how to LIVE! 18:51 heaven Rev. Pat Sleeth no Last of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-18-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-18-07.mp3 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:47:48 -0500 Last of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" Part 6 (final) of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" 23:46 relationship Rev. Tim Burchill no Fifth of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-11-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-11-07.mp3 Sun, 11 Feb 2007 11:55:44 -0500 Fifth of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" Part 5 of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" 24:07 youth, wisdom Rev. Tim Burchill no Fourth of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-4-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-4-07.mp3 Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:48:50 -0500 Fourth of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" Part 4 of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" 22:06 neighbor, love, serve Rev. Pat Sleeth no Third of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-28-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-28-07.mp3 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 11:26:46 -0500 Third of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" Part 3 of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" 26:48 Rev. Tim Burchill no Second of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-21-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-21-07.mp3 Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:27:24 -0500 Second of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" Part 2 of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" 29:06 patience, prayer Rev. Tim Burchill no First of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-14-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-14-07.mp3 Sun, 14 Jan 2007 12:36:39 -0500 First of the sermon series "Packing Up: What Comes, What Stays, What Is Taken Out with the Trash" Our St. Andrew Pastors are beginning a new sermon series for a church on the move. As we look to the transition before us what are the things we need to make sure we don't lose sight of and what are the things better left behind? As sons and daughters of God who are on a life-long journey, we are asking the very same question: what is essential & what can I do without? The answers God has for us may surprise you! [Jonah 3:1-4:3] 25:55 Jonah, Brickianity Rev. Tim Burchill no Mark 1:14-20 http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-7-07.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-7-07.mp3 Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:38:23 -0500 Mark 1:14-20 It's time to go back over familiar territory and reconsider what we have already heard and what we've already understood. What does Jesus mean when he tells his followers that they are to go out and catch "fish" for the kingdom? 31:01 fish, witness, evangelism Rev. Tim Burchill no New Year's Eve message http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-31-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-31-06.mp3 Sun, 31 Dec 2006 15:02:22 -0500 New Year's Eve message How many of us begin the New Year with a long list of resolutions? There's certainly nothing wrong with wanting to get ourselves in better shape or find better ways to schedule our time most effectively. The biggest problem with a resolution is that we are sometimes unrealistic about the manner in which we accomplish them. Let's take dieting, for instance. I am an expert on dieting but what I am NOT so good at is keeping the weight off. The number of pounds I want to lose ends up being my goal and once I hit that, I'm finished! What I need to do is learn to begin with the end in sight, that is, a healthy life-style, not just a set number of pounds to lose. I believe the same is true for our faith life as well. Our goal shouldn't be one more Bible study; the 'end' for a Christian should be to become more like Jesus. May our 2007 be a year that begins with the end firmly in sight! 16:47 Resolution, goal Rev. Pat Sleeth no A message given in a Christmas Eve service http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-24-06x.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-24-06x.mp3 Sun, 31 Dec 2006 15:04:28 -0500 Christmas Eve message A message given in a Christmas Eve service 11:49 Christmas, Jesus, stable, feedbox, room Rev. Tim Burchill no Fourth and last of the series "Learning the Language of God". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-24-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-24-06.mp3 Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:56:39 -0500 Fourth and last of the series "Learning the Language of God". Christmas is a lot of things. It's a time to get and give gifts, to decorate and to celebrate a year well-spent. But is that all Christmas is? Maybe at its heart, Christmas is nothing so much as an invitation. Maybe it's an invitation to do the right thing -- even when no one else is looking -- all year through? Perhaps Christmas is an invitation to take a leap of faith and see where it takes us? Maybe Christmas is an invitation to accept the gift God offers to us (His presence with us) and find a way to offer it to others, like millions of Christians have done down through the centuries? God came to earth as a tiny baby -- however it happened -- and grew into a man that lived, healed, loved and taught us to love. He touched the lepers and the sick and they were healed. He touched the broken, the forgotten, the unloved and they were changed; not by magic, but by the touch and presence of love itself. Christmas is an invitation to all of us to answer the same question Joseph had to answer (in the first Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew): "God is coming. What does that mean to me?" 15:27 Christmas, invitation Rev. Pat Sleeth no Third of the series "Learning the Language of God". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-17-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-17-06.mp3 Sun, 17 Dec 2006 11:47:51 -0500 Third of the series "Learning the Language of God". We know very little about the Magi and the gifts they brought from the scriptures. Much of this morning's message is imaginative reconstruction. God's gift of imagination can open up many possibilities and bring many insights, but in this case, the details are only a means for making a larger point about the Love Language of giving gifts. 22:22 Magi, gifts, God, love, language, Christmas Rev. Tim Burchill no Second of the series "Learning the Language of God". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-10-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-10-06.mp3 Sun, 10 Dec 2006 13:04:04 -0500 Second of the series "Learning the Language of God". Part 2 of the series "Learning the Language of God". 22:57 God, love, language, Christmas Rev. Tim Burchill no First of the series "Learning the Language of God". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-3-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p12-3-06.mp3 Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:40:34 -0500 First of the series "Learning the Language of God". As we prepare our hearts, minds, and homes for Christmas, we will also be Learning the Language of God during our Sunday morning worship services. Author and counselor Gary Chapman has identified five ways we communicate our love for one another: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch. Chapman makes a compelling case that these five 'love languages' are the primary ways God communicates His love to us. The question for us then is simple: What exactly is God trying to say to us by coming into our world as a babe laid in a manger? 20:59 God, love, language, Christmas Rev. Tim Burchill no Last in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle ". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-26-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-26-06.mp3 Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:56:14 -0400 Last in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle" This is the last Sunday of our series on God's Desire To Bring Balance Back Into Our Lives. This morning we want to consider what it might take to simplify our lives. The temptation is to describe a whole variety of practical and organizational techniques to bring some sanity and peace to the clutter of our lives. Yet all the skills in the world aren't going to amount to much if we have no desire to use them. The scripture is clear: a content heart is where a simple, peaceful lifestyle begins. 29:26 simplify, life, clutter, contentment, God, lottery, media, materialism Rev. Tim Burchill no Sixth in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle ". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-19-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-19-06.mp3 Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:49:46 -0400 Sixth in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle" Okay, we've been turning to God the last several weeks to find balance in the midst of hurried lives. But so often the pressure and urgency of life makes it seem as if we have no choice but to keep running. The only problem is that we end up responding to life's pressures rather than choosing the path God has laid out for us. This morning we're going to spend a little time thinking through the difference between what is urgent and what is important. 29:38 Pressure, important, urgent, Spirit, faith Rev. Tim Burchill no Fifth in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle ". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-12-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-12-06.mp3 Wed, 13 Sep 2006 09:10:18 -0400 Fifth in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle" Margin is the wiggle room between the load we bear and the limits we've been given. Go past your limits and you immediately begin to deal with overload. Over the past weeks we've talked about load and limits in regard to time and energy, but what about the emotional and spiritual load we carry around within us? The question we will look at this morning is this: Is our busyness causing the hurt in our lives or do we prefer busyness to dealing with the hurt that lies hidden within? And more importantly, what can God offer to help the hurt and pain we keep locked up inside? 32:13 Anemia, spiritual, wounds, Post Secret, wholeness, Jesus Christ Rev. Tim Burchill no Fourth in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle ". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-5-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p2-5-06.mp3 Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:58:42 -0400 Fourth in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle" What happens when our work no longer works for us? In a culture that enables the workaholic in all of us, it has become increasingly difficult to draw sensible boundaries between our jobs and the rest of our lives. This morning we will consider what happens when we've given so much of ourselves (to our work) that there isn't anything left to give. 26:50 Work, burnout, stress, workaholic, Jesus, boundaries Rev. Tim Burchill no Third in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle ". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-29-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-29-06.mp3 Wed, 17 May 2006 09:48:23 -0400 Third in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle" We're in the middle of our sermon series on building balance in our lives. The natural question might be: "Why do we allow ourselves to get so out of balance in the first place?" The truth is, most of us gradually begin putting more and more of our time and energy into particular areas of our lives and then other aspects of our lives begin to suffer. Instead of trying to focus on the few things in life that are really important we try to do everything. This morning, we're going to try to trim the 'everything' down to three simple statements and make them our foundation for balance. Maybe we should write these things down and make a protestant version of a "Mezuzah"? We could tape it to our doorframes or put it on our mirrors or fridge as a regular reminder of our commitment as followers of Jesus Christ to finding a healthy balance in our lives. 28:02 Balance, priorities, Jesus Christ, health, love, Mezuzah Rev. Pat Sleeth no Second in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle ". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-22-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-22-06.mp3 Thu, 11 May 2006 12:36:19 -0400 Second in the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle" Balance, wholeness, contentedness take time. They take unscheduled time. They require the freedom to alter the course of your day based upon what that day holds and not simply based upon what you've planned yourself. The word of the day today is Margin. Margin is having both the energy and the time to do what most needs to be done in any given day. Margin is what is most often missing in the lives of 2lst Century American Christians. 33:15 margin, energy, workaholic, schedule, time, Jesus Rev. Tim Burchill no First of the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle ". http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-15-06.mp3 religious audio program http://lastpew.org/Podcast/p1-15-06.mp3 Wed, 03 May 2006 12:01:22 EST First of the series titled "Balance: God's Prescription for a Hurried Lifestyle" We live in a culture terribly out of balance. To be able to live a life of spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational wholeness requires more than most of us have. The more hurried we become the more impossible it becomes to be able to find that kind of true balance. Thank God we aren't left on our own to find a way. God's word and Spirit provide a treasure trove of insight and a depth of resources that can make all the difference. This morning we're beginning a new sermon series to help us glean these insights and access those resources for our daily lives. 36:55 slowing down, busy, hurried, Sabbath, God, ten commandments Rev. Tim Burchill no