Bearing the Name ‘Christian’ Texts: Psalm 68:32-35; Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75; Acts 1:6-14; I Peter 4:12-16, 5:6-9; Philippians 3:10-11 The Name “Christian” probably had its origins as a derogatory way for pagans to refer to the followers of “The Way.” Peter encourages his readers to not be ashamed of the Name, but to bear it well.…
Are They Asking? Texts: Psalm 66:16-20; John 14:15-21; Acts 17:22-31; I Peter 2:9-12, 3:13-22; Romans 12:1-2 Peter tells us to “always be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope that is within us.” We ought to be able to clearly explain our faith and how it has made a difference in…
Annual Meeting: A Holy Priesthood of Living Stones Texts: Psalm 68:32-35; Acts 2:42-47; John 10:1-10; Ephesians 4:11-13; I Peter 2:4-10, 4:7-11; I Corinthians 5:20 This sermon is the Annual Pastor’s Report, presented to the Annual Meeting of the Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Jon Twitchell takes a look at some of the victories…
The Power of the Presence of Christ Texts: Psalm 116:1-6; John 24:13-35; Acts 2:14a, 36-41; I Peter 1:17-25 The Presence of Christ was powerful in the lives of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. That same power is available to us today because of the Risen Christ. The Church is to be the Body…
Genuine Faith Texts: Psalm 16:1-2, 8-10; John 20:19-30; Acts 2:14a, 22-32; I Peter 1:3-9 In a world where we must constantly be on our guard against scams, seekers want to know if your faith is genuine, or just for show. Peter suggests that our trials come so that our faith might be proved genuine, and…
Jesus: The One and Only Texts: Psalm 118:1, 15-16, 29; Matthew 28:1-10; Acts 10:34-43; John 3:16-17 On this Easter Sunday, Pastor Jon explores the evidence that John gives us, so that we might believe that Jesus is the One and Only, that He is authentic and can be trusted. For it is when we believe…
Good Friday: Who Do You Say that I Am? In a joint Good Friday Service, members of the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church and the Cape Elizabeth Church of the Nazarene imagine what it might have been like for the disciples and followers of Jesus to gather together after Jesus’ burial. As they attempt to…
Follow Me…For I Am the King Texts: Psalm 118:25-27; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 21:1-11 Palm Sunday presents us an opportunity to consider how the disciples might have felt during Holy Week. We are reminded that the call to follow Jesus is a call to follow Him not just when it’s convenient or makes us…
Follow Me…And Come Forth From the Tomb Texts: Psalm 150; Psalm 137; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 The texts this week lead us to consider the “very dry” bones in Ezekiel, and the “very dead” Lazarus in John. When we realize that these are not simply hopeless situations, but have moved “beyond all hope,”…
Follow Me…And You Will See Texts: Psalm 23; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 The texts this week help us to understand that Jesus is the Light of the World, and that he desires for us to truly see as He sees. In contrast to the man born blind from birth, we find that…