Click HERE to view Sermon Scripture and Slides
@Copyrighted by Rev. Dr. Troy Sybrant Sermon: The Cost of Grace (Philippians 3:7-14) September 20, 2020
“The Cost of Grace”
Click HERE to view the YouTube video
Tag: cross
Click HERE to view Scripture and Sermon Slides
@Copyrighted by Rev. Dr. Troy Sybrant Sermon: “Heading into the Unknown” (Exodus 12:37-41, 13:17-18, 21-22, 14:10-14, 21-22; Hebrews 11:13-16), Sunday Sept 15, 2019
“Heading into the Unknown”
Share this:
Click HERE to view Scripture and Sermon Slides
@Copyrighted by Rev. Dr. Troy Sybrant Sermon: “Arise!” (John 20: 1-18) Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019
“Arise!”
Share this:
Click HERE to view this newsletter in a PDF format
Good Friday Service April 19th
CCC is honored to host this year’s District 12 Good Friday service, welcoming sister congregations, their choirs, clergy, and our regional elder as participants. Come worship and recall the night of Jesus’ crucifixion as we hear meditations upon his “7 Last Words” from the cross, and share fellowship after the service.
- 1st Word Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
- 2nd Word Luke 23:43 “Truly, I tell you, today you’ll be with me in Paradise.”
- 3rd Word John 19:26-27 “Woman, behold your son! Behold your mother!”
- 4th Word Matthew 27:46 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- 5th Word John 19:28 “I thirst.”
- 6th Word Luke 23:46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
- 7th Word John 19:30 “It is finished.”
Our speakers are the Revs:
- Nik Donges, First Christian Church of Middletown
- Beckie Linn Gregory, Mt. Healthy CC
- Karakay Kovaly, Carthage CC
- Anna Hope Curwood, Anderson Hills CC
- Cheryl Coggins, Promise Fulfilled Ministries
- Thomas Barnes, Kemper Road CC
- Michael Harris, Body Of Christ CC.
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things…When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb 1:1-3
Holy Week approaches and the high drama of Jesus’ identity and destiny comes into high relief. The question “Who do people say that I am?” is now on the lips of onlookers waving palm branches. It’s asked by a Pharisee observing a sinful woman anoint Jesus at dinner, by moneychangers in the temple, and by Judas. It’s pondered by disciples over a basin and towel, bread and cup. Pilate, Herod, and religious leaders wonder, as do the crowds leading to Golgotha. So do Barabbas and Simon of Cyrene, crucified thieves to his left and right, and Roman soldiers that nail him to the cross and pierce his side.
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea muse as they bury him, as do guards at his tomb, and Mary Magdalene and the other women Easter morning. It’s puzzled over by Peter and John, by Thomas and Cleopas, by the 11 in the upper room and Paul on the Damascus road. It’s a question disciples ponder today entering Holy Week.
While no single response will suffice, the Church has offered a three-fold answer: that Jesus is prophet, priest, and king. Each of these offices in Israel was signified by anointing and alluded to in the verses above.
As a Prophet, Jesus is contrasted with those who came before him. While God “once spoke” indirectly through prophetic intermediaries, now God speaks directly through Jesus. We don’t get God’s messenger, we get God’s Son. As the incarnate Word he speaks and teaches God’s will and is the source of revelation. His teachings enlighten us, reveal God to humanity, and continue God’s work into the future. Where do his teachings in Holy Week surprise, shock, puzzle, or scandalize us? How is he calling us to be more zealous students of his?
As a Priest, Jesus “made purification for sins” and his superiority as the high priest after the order of Melchizedek is unpacked through the rest of Hebrews. He represents humanity before God, joins us in our human weakness to give strength to overcome, offers prayers to God, and chooses obedience through suffering. As the High Priest he’s simultaneously the final sacrifice for humanity, the temple, and the recipient. How do his actions in Holy Week demonstrate that priestly ministry? Where is he calling us to be sacrificial intercessors for others?
As a King, Jesus is “appointed the heir of all things” and “sits at God’s right hand.” He not only reigns over the Church but over the world. His sovereignty was demonstrated Easter morning as he broke the power of sin and death. That victory continued with his Ascension where all things were put under his feet, and will conclude at his Second Coming. How do Holy Week’s events conceal and reveal his sovereignty? How is he calling us to be more loyal subjects of his kingdom?
First Friday Female Fellowship:
This event will be hosted by Mairi H. and will be held at Indian Spice Train – You can request all levels of spice (or not spicy at all).
More Shirts!
The shirts were a big hit! I’m glad everyone is enjoying them. There is interest in placing another order. We need 20 items to get the same prices we had with the first order.
With the first order, I limited the selection to make the ordering process easier, but several people have expressed an interest in having the logo on a jacket, tote bags or other items. If you are interested in something other than the original items, please go to www.SanMar.com to see what else is available.
Regarding sizing, I have found that Port Authority runs true to size. I don’t have experience with other brands. The price of the finished product will not match what is on the website. (Note, the logo as sized for the shirts must fit the new items so hats will probably not work).
Also, several people have items that didn’t fit as expected so I can help find homes for items if you would like. At this time, I have a Women’s large navy polo shirt for $25 or best offer. Contact me for shirt swaps or orders. As soon as we get 20, I will place the order.
Linda H.
Click HERE to see pictures of our Camp Sunday celebration
Click HERE to see pictures of Rose Riley Terrell Baby Dedication taken on March 31
Share this:
Christ Candle Lighting (all purple candles gone, unlit Christ candle at center with gold crown as centerpiece)
L: Darkness covered the whole land as Jesus died.
P: From Jerusalem outwards the shadow of death hovered.
L: Yet even at the moment of his death the tombs of the saints were opened.
P: They were raised and entered the holy city and appeared to many.
L: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets sent to it!
P: Yet on this day the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee was raised from death! (light Christ candle)
L: On this day an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone!
P: And the soldiers guarding his tomb were terrified and became like dead men!
L: On this day he appeared first to Mary Magdalene in the garden!
P: On this day Peter and John saw the linen wrappings in the tomb!
L: On this day he told the women that his disciples would see him in Galilee!
P: On this day those women took hold of his feet and worshiped him!
L: On this day he walked with two disciples leaving Jerusalem for Emmaus!
P: On this day he broke bread and shared broiled fish with his friends!
L: On this day he appeared to the disciples in the upper room and showed them his hands, feet, and side!
P: On this day he appeared to his brother James, and more than 500 brothers and sisters!
L: On this day, the good and great news of Jesus’ resurrection:
P: Of the Light of the World’s triumph over the grave,
L: Of the Lord of Mercy’s victory over sin,
P: Of the Lord of Life’s conquest over death,
L: On this day that message has gone out from Jerusalem to Judea,
P: And from Judea to Samaria, and from Samaria to the ends of the earth!
L: Christ is risen! Allelulia!
P: Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen!
L: Let us sing, “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus.”
Scripture (Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
Our first reading comes from the good news according to Luke.
1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared.
2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3but when they went in, they did not find the body.
4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.
5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
6Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”
8Then they remembered his words,
9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.
10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
Our second reading comes from the first letter to the Corinthians.
18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom,
23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,
29so that no one might boast in the presence of God.
30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
31in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Here ends our readings. May God bless our understanding.
@Copyrighted by Rev. Dr. Troy Sybrant Sermon: “Idle Tales and Foolish Boasts” (Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31) Easter Sunday April 1, 2018
“Idle Tales and Foolish Boasts”
Sermon Video:
Sermon Slides click HERE
