INTRODUCTION
Two days ago on Independence Day, you fired up the grill, threw on some burgers and dogs, and immediately, out of now where came the flies. I think when I get to heaven, if God asks me if there’s anything I’d like him to explain I’m going to ask, “Why flies. Lord? Were you tired? Did you slip up and say, ‘fly,’ and they just appeared?”
As nasty and pesky as they are, at …
Prayers for the Church
Our Father,
You are the God of hope. So fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by your Spirit, we may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13) You will not abandon us to the grave but have already ransomed us with the blood of Christ.
Prayers for Members
Father, we thank you for our members, ____ and ______ ________. May your grace be upon their home, their son …
GRAB THEIR ATTENTION
The Pyramids of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Pharo’s Lighthouse at Alexandria, and the Colossus of Rhodes. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They’ve captured the imagination of school children and archeologists for centuries. But the list is incomplete. In fact, the most glorious of ancient cities, the most beautiful of ancient temples has been overlooked, and that …
Jesus Calls Sinners
An Orderly Account: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Luke
Luke 5:27-32
The Text
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at …
What is Christian Community? _____________________________
Letter from the Pastor 5/22/2025
INTRODUCTION
Community in the church is unique. There’s nothing else like it. Outside of the church people find community through nationality, shared political ideas, shared stage of life, work, or common interests and hobbies. But the unity and community of the church transcends all these categories.
Every Sunday morning we confess our belief in the “communion of the saints,” form the Apostles’ Creed. …
Letter from the Pastor 5/13/2025
INTRODUCTION
204 people have come through the doors of Lake Wylie Baptist Church in the last three months. Around three-quarters of that number are members and their children and the rest are regular attenders and recent visitors. Those 204 people are spread over a 25 mile stretch on the southwest side of the Charlotte Metro area. Some live right down the street from our church campus, others …
The Healing of Community
An Orderly Account: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Luke
Luke 5:12-26
The Text
12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy …
Introduction:
Last Summer I read Ernest Hemmingway’s The Old Man & the Sea while I was at the beach on vacation.
The story follows Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, who hasn’t caught a fish in 84 days. He’s deemed “salao” (unlucky) by his community. He’s wrestling with his age, his weakness, his recent failure. And he says, “If I can go out to the deep water one more time and catch a giant Marlin that …
Introduction:
No, I am not referring to a tattoo, or to marriage. …
THE DEATH OF DEATH
Gospel of Mark
Mark 15:40-16:8
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to Easter service at Lake Wylie Baptist. It’s a pretty safe Sunday to attend church because you already know what the preacher is going to talk about.
And there will be no surprises today. You’re going to get a fairly traditional sermon on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, though we will approach the resurrection from a slightly different angle.
Most of us understand …