Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

What is our destiny as Christians? Surprisingly, many Christians don't know the answer to this question. If you are one of those people (and even if you're not), listen to this sermon to learn the answer! Sermon delivered on Lent 5A, Sunday, March 29, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Ezekiel 37.1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8.6.11; St. John 11.1-45.

Last week we saw that we are to die for in Christ's eyes, that he while we were still God's enemies Christ died for us to spare us from God's judgment on all that is evil and break the power of Sin over us. Now what? Listen to Father Maney develop the New Testament's clear call to us to be the light of Christ to a sin darkened world. Given these desperate times, there never was a greater need for us to pay attention to God's loving call to us to be his forever! Sermon delivered on Lent 4A, Sunday, March 22, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are 1 Samuel 16.1-23; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5.8-14; John 9.1-41.

During the coronavirus pandemic that grips us it is easy to join with ancient Israel as they wandered through the wilderness. We too are tempted to ask, "Is the Lord among us or not?" But for those who claim to know the God made known supremely in and through Jesus Christ, this question is a question of doubt based on fear. We should not expect God to honor such complaints. Listen to Father Maney develop this idea and resolve not to put God to the test during these difficult times. After all, while you were still his enemy, God sent his Son willingly to die for you so that you could experience God's peace, the best peace of all. In other words, you are to die for in God's eyes. Sermon delivered on Lent 3A, Sunday, March 15, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Exodus 17.1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5.1-11; St. John 4.5-42.

Listen to Father Ric Bowser's sermon for Lent 2A delivered Sunday, March 8, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Genesis 12.1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4.1-5, 13-17; St. John 3.1-17.

Listen to Father Philip Sang's sermon for Lent 1A. Sermon delivered on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5.12-19; St. Matthew 4.1-11.

Lent reminds us that something is amiss in God's world. As Christians we believe this stems from human sin and the alienation from God that results. But how to end our alienation from God? Repentance is not enough. More is needed and thankfully God has provided the conditions needed to reconcile us to him and restore order in his disordered world. Listen to Father Maney as he unpacks this story and then resolve to give your life to Christ who died to free you from your slavery to Sin and Death. Lectionary texts for tonight are Joel 2.1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51.1-18; 2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10; St. Matthew 6.1-6, 16-21.

Listen to Father Philip Sang's sermon for Transfiguration Sunday A delivered on February 23, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Exodus 24.12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1.16-21; St. Matthew 17.1-9.

Creation matters to God. Therefore it should matter to us. In fact, a case can be made that the entire story of Scripture is about how God is rescuing his good creation and creatures gone bad. Every Christian should therefore have a solid creational theology to help guide all of his/her thinking and actions. Listen to hear how Father Maney develops all this and resolve to live as a resurrection peep, one who has hope in its ultimate restoration along with your own. Lectionary texts for today are Genesis 1.1-2.3; Psalm 136; Romans 8.18-25; St. Matthew 6.25-34.

Eulogies are fine for what they are, but they cannot bring the dead back to life. Only Jesus Christ, crucified for our sake and raised from the dead, can and will do that. This is why Christian funerals are so important: they remind us that Death and Evil do not have the final say. Listen to Father Maney unpack the Christian hope of new creation and the resurrection of the dead and then resolve to give yourself to Christ, the author of life and first-born from the dead. Lectionary texts for today are Revelation 21.1-7; Psalm 23; 1 Corinthians 15.1-26, 35-38, 42-44a, 53-58; John 11.17-27.

As Christians we believe that God's light has shined on the darkness of a sin-corrupted world and our lives in the person of Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? Because we live in the "already-not yet" things are not always so simple or straightforward as we would like them to be. Listen to Father Maney develop this idea so that you too might know the wisdom and power of God made known in the cross of Jesus Christ. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 9.1-4; Psalm 27.1, 4-12; 1 Corinthians 1.10-18; St. Matthew 4.12-23.

So who was the Servant in Isaiah? Israel? A third party? Someone else? The New Testament tells us all the above! Listen to Father Maney's sermon for Epiphany 2A and resolve to be Christ the Servant's servant. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 49.1-7; Psalm 40.1-11; 1 Corinthians 1.1-9; St. John 1.29-42.

Listen to Father Ric Bowser's sermon for the Baptism of Christ A delivered on Sunday, January 12, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 42.1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10.34-43; Matthew 3.13-17.

Listen to Father Philip Sang's sermon for the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord (transferred). Sermon delivered on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 60.1-6; Psalm 72.1-15; Ephesians 3.1-12; St. Matthew 2.1-12.

Listen to Father Kevin Maney read select meditations from Church Fathers and Doctors on the Incarnation, including the first extant Christmas sermon preached in Antioch in AD 386 by St. John Chrysostom. Today's meditations were read on Christmas 1A, December 29, 2019 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Merry Christmas!

What did Saint John mean when he wrote in the prologue to his gospel that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it? Listen to Father Maney unpack the answer to this question, especially if you are one who struggles with the darkness at this time of the year, and be healed and refreshed by the power of God's word and promises. Merry Christmas! Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 52.7-10; The Song of God’s Chosen One (Isaiah 11); Hebrews 1.1-12; John 1.1-14.

Listen to Father Ric Bowser's sermon for Advent 4A delivered on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 7.10-16; Psalm 80.1-7, 18-20; Romans 1.1-7; Matthew 1.18-25.

The season of Advent is strange to those who do not know about it because it begins in the darkness and invites us to peer into the darkness as people who have hope. But what is our hope based on and why would we want to look at all that is wrong with our lives and this world? Listen to Father Maney lay out the basis of our hope and the reason for Advent, and then resolve to claim the promise in penitence and faith. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 35.1-10; Luke 1.46-55 (Magnificat); James 5.7-10; Matthew 11.2-11.

Listen to Dr. Jonathon Wylie's sermon for Advent 2A delivered on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 11.1-10; Psalm 72.1-7, 18-19; Romans 15.4-13; Matthew 3.1-12.

Happy new year! Listen to Father Philip Sang's sermon for Advent Sunday, Year A, delivered on December 1, 2019 at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Westerville, OH. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 2.1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13.11-14; Matthew 24.36-44.

In case you hadn't noticed, we are at war. The dark powers are relentless in their effort to destroy God's good creation and creatures. We are up against forces far stronger than us. Is the situation hopeless? Not at all. Enter the cross of Christ and his resurrection from the dead. Listen to how Father Maney develops this and then give yourself to the One who loves you and gave himself for you so that you can live and fight the good fight. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 65.17-25; Song of Deliverance (Isaiah 12); 2 Thessalonians 3.6-13; Luke 21.5-19.