December Sermon Archive
Sunday Summary
Here's a quick summary of Rev. Macon's sermons.
December 31, 2017
Preparing to Enter a New Year
Joshua 5: 1-12 - (NIV)
5 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[a] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. 2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcisethe Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. 4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. 10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.
The children of Israel crossed the Jordan river in Canaan. Note a couple of things here. Their shoes didn't wear out and food didn't run out. God protected them the entire trip. During this time, Moses passes and Joshua takes lead. This is a second generation of Israelites that never had the Egypt experience. They are a crowd coming to church that can't remember being in bondage. Don't be this second generation. Don't go into the new year acting like you don't remember what God has done for you this year. For 2018, take inventory of your spiritual life. Just like the Israelites had to prepare for God's promises, you should prepare for 2018. If there's something or someone in your life that does not glorify God, cut that person or activity off. Enter 2018 ready to receive the blessings God has for you. Be blessed!
December 24, 2017
*Due to last week's Christmas service, no summary is available; however, here's the text Rev. Macon preached from.
Unwrapping God's Gift
Galatians 4: 4-7 - (NIV)
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
December 17, 2017
How a Maniac Became a Messenger
Mark 5: 1-20 - (NIV)
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
The love of God meets us right where we are. He doesn't ask us to change and come meet him. He gets down into our mess and pulls us out of it. He does this because He knows we can't get to him. In this passage, we see a maniac. He screams, screeches and has been possessed by the devil. He's not welcome in any circle and has been bound with shackles away from other people. However, the demons inside of him are so strong, he's able to break the chains. However, Jesus shows up and changes the man's condition. He casts out the demons from the man's body and they enter into swine that walk off of a cliff. What's interesting here, though, is that as the demons are speaking with Jesus, they ASK HIM for permission. Did you catch that? These "breaking chains" demons ask Jesus to send them to the swine. What does this mean? This means that your demons, whatever they may be, might be strong, BUT the power of the Holy Spirit is STRONGER. Rev. Macon said last week, call the name of Jesus! He's your salvation. Call that name and you too can be delivered from what binds you. Those demons have no choice but to flee at the powerful name. Be blessed!
December 10, 2017
The Name of Jesus
Philippians 2:9-11 - (NIV)
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
From birth, we all have a name. Our parents take time to think and craft a special name for each of us, and our name means something. While they are special to us, we recognize that Jesus is the name above all names. At his name, mountains move and demons tremble. The name Jesus was handpicked by God himself and means Jehovah is salvation. How powerful! God is saying that in that name, Jesus, I LOVE YOU. Remember that. When you get down, call on the name of Jesus and remember that God loves you. Be blessed!
Preparing to Enter a New Year
Joshua 5: 1-12 - (NIV)
5 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[a] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. 2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcisethe Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. 4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way.8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. 10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.
The children of Israel crossed the Jordan river in Canaan. Note a couple of things here. Their shoes didn't wear out and food didn't run out. God protected them the entire trip. During this time, Moses passes and Joshua takes lead. This is a second generation of Israelites that never had the Egypt experience. They are a crowd coming to church that can't remember being in bondage. Don't be this second generation. Don't go into the new year acting like you don't remember what God has done for you this year. For 2018, take inventory of your spiritual life. Just like the Israelites had to prepare for God's promises, you should prepare for 2018. If there's something or someone in your life that does not glorify God, cut that person or activity off. Enter 2018 ready to receive the blessings God has for you. Be blessed!
December 24, 2017
*Due to last week's Christmas service, no summary is available; however, here's the text Rev. Macon preached from.
Unwrapping God's Gift
Galatians 4: 4-7 - (NIV)
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
December 17, 2017
How a Maniac Became a Messenger
Mark 5: 1-20 - (NIV)
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
The love of God meets us right where we are. He doesn't ask us to change and come meet him. He gets down into our mess and pulls us out of it. He does this because He knows we can't get to him. In this passage, we see a maniac. He screams, screeches and has been possessed by the devil. He's not welcome in any circle and has been bound with shackles away from other people. However, the demons inside of him are so strong, he's able to break the chains. However, Jesus shows up and changes the man's condition. He casts out the demons from the man's body and they enter into swine that walk off of a cliff. What's interesting here, though, is that as the demons are speaking with Jesus, they ASK HIM for permission. Did you catch that? These "breaking chains" demons ask Jesus to send them to the swine. What does this mean? This means that your demons, whatever they may be, might be strong, BUT the power of the Holy Spirit is STRONGER. Rev. Macon said last week, call the name of Jesus! He's your salvation. Call that name and you too can be delivered from what binds you. Those demons have no choice but to flee at the powerful name. Be blessed!
December 10, 2017
The Name of Jesus
Philippians 2:9-11 - (NIV)
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
From birth, we all have a name. Our parents take time to think and craft a special name for each of us, and our name means something. While they are special to us, we recognize that Jesus is the name above all names. At his name, mountains move and demons tremble. The name Jesus was handpicked by God himself and means Jehovah is salvation. How powerful! God is saying that in that name, Jesus, I LOVE YOU. Remember that. When you get down, call on the name of Jesus and remember that God loves you. Be blessed!