Shows
from the pulpit at Donnels Creek008 Matthew - The Way: Help in the Wilderness 2Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of...
2026-02-1535 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek007 Matthew in Seven Movements: Messiah the Way - Help in the WildernessThat was a very important lesson learned. A mistake that was not repeated, ever again. To keep a fire going you had to have real wood. You can get it started with twigs, but twigs are not going to keep a lasting fire.
By the time we depart from this place I want this image to be engraved on your mind. How do you keep the fire of your faith strong and burning for the Lord? It is not with twigs.
We find that in our passage today in which Jesus finds himself driven to face a...
2026-02-0845 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek006 Matthew in Seven Movements: Messiah the Way - And So It BeginsIn the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the...
2026-02-0436 min2026-01-2038 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek004 Matthew in Seven Movements: Messiah the Advent - A Cry From the Wilderness
2026-01-1537 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek003 Matthew in Seven Movements: Messiah the Advent - New BeginningsDate: January 4, 2026
Lord’s Day: 1
Series: Matthew in Seven Movements: Advent
Title: New Beginnings
Text: Matthew 1:1-17
Introduction
Today is a first, and this is not only in reference to the first Sunday of 2026 but most likely you have never heard a sermon on this text which is just a family tree or a lineage. I never thought I would deliver a sermon on this section of Scripture.
A quick review of the travel logs for 15 years of moving showed we had done over 1400 moves of businesses and...
2026-01-0536 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek002 Matthew in Seven Movements: Messiah the Advent - Hidden Signs of the SaviorDate: December 28, 2025
Lord’s Day: 52
Series: Matthew in Seven Movements: Advent
Title: Hidden Signs of the Savior
Text: Isaiah 7:10-17; Matthew 1:18-23
Apostles Creed on Christ
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried;
He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Fat...
2025-12-3035 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek001 Matthew in Seven Movements: Messiah the Advent Christmas Eve18-Date: December 24, 2025
Lord’s Day: Christmas Eve
Series: Matthew in Seven Movements: Advent
Title: Hope Hidden in Plain Sight
Text: Matthew 1:18-2:5a
Matthew 1:18-2:5a
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[e] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[f] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered...
2025-12-2419 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels CreekCall for Duty: What Are The Implications?1 Timothy 3:1-7
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer[a] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[b] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with c...
2025-12-2128 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels CreekCall for Duty: What Does Leadership Look Like?Acts 20:28-31
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,[e] which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
1 Peter 5:1-4
So I e...
2025-12-0735 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels CreekCall For Duty: What Is It?Date: November 30, 2025
Lord’s Day: 48
Series: Call for Duty
Title: What Is it?
Text: Acts 20:26-32; Acts 20:26-32
The Reading of God's Word
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 W...
2025-11-3029 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek28 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ The Word and the PowerColossians 4:2-4
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Genesis 15:1-6
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I cont...
2025-11-1637 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek27 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Eat, Sleep, PrayDate: November 9, 2025
Lord’s Day: 45
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Eat, Sleep, Pray
Text: Colossians 4:2-4; Genesis 32:22-31
Westminster Confession of Faith 21:3
Prayer with thanksgiving, being a special part of religious worship, is
required of all people by God. That it may be accepted, it is to be
made in the name of the Son, by the help of his Spirit, and according
to his will, with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith,
love, and perseverance, and if voc...
2025-11-0936 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek26 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - The Loving OrderDate: November 11, 2025
Lord’s Day: 44
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: The Loving Order
Text: Colossians 3:12-23
Apostles Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he...
2025-11-0337 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek25 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Peace Rules & Christ DwellsDate: October 26, 2025
Lord’s Day: 43
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Peace Rule and the Word Dwells
Text: Colossians 3:15-17, Luke 8:26-36
Westminster shorter catechism
Church, what is sanctification?
Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
Colossians 3:15-17
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which in...
2025-10-2636 min2025-10-2134 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek23 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - All You Need is Love?Date: October 12, 2025
Lord’s Day: 41
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: All You Need is Love?
Text: Colossians 3:12-14, Mark 12:28-31
Colossians 3:12-15
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...
2025-10-1330 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek22 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ Bold Christian LivingDate: October 5, 2025
Lord’s Day: 40
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Bold Faith
Text: Colossians 3:12-14
This is the Reading of God’s Word
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Introduction:
I have to admit as I...
2025-10-0535 min
from the pulpit at Donnels Creek21 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ ForgivenessDate: September 28, 2025
Lord’s Day: 39
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Forgiveness
Text: Colossians 3:10-17; Matthew 18:15-20
Colossians 3:10-17
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against...
2025-09-2834 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek20 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ Bearing His ImageDate: September 21, 2025
Lord’s Day: 38
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Bearing His Image
Text: Colossians 3:9-10; Genesis 1:26-27
This is the Reading of God’s Word
Colossians 3:9-10
Colossians 3:9 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Genesis 1:26-27 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over...
2025-09-2135 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek19 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Old Self, New SelfDate: September 14, 2025
Lord’s Day: 37
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Old Self, New Self
Text: Colossians 3:5-10; Matthew 26:41
Opening Remarks
As a pastor, it is my desire to keep the main thing, the main thing. The MAIN thing here is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
There are certainly moments when SOCIAL matters find their way into the church body and when they do, it is wise for us to consider them and discern what we must do. This week past week is one of thes...
2025-09-1432 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek18 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Baggage ClaimColossians 3:1-10; Matthew 11:28-30
Reading of God's Word
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these t...
2025-09-0936 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek17 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - How to Get Away with MurderDate: August 31, 2025
Lord’s Day: 35
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: How To Get Away with Murder
Text: Colossians 3:1-5a
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glor...
2025-08-3135 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek16 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - The Happiest Funeral EverDate: August 24, 2025
Lord’s Day: 34
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Happiest Funeral You Will Ever Attend
Text: Colossians 3:1-5
Introduction:
Clarence Forbes was born in 1901. Coming from a farming and snowy background in northern New Hampshire, he entered Bates College in Maine. For his freshman year he registered for five courses in Latin, Greek, German, French, and English, to the consternation of his classmates (who didn’t think he could survive such a rigorous schedule). He not only survived, but earned his Phi Beta K...
2025-08-2435 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek15 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - FilledDate: August 17, 2025
Lord’s Day: 32
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Filled
Text: Colossians 2:8-23
Introduction: I recall many years ago someone taught me a lesson that too me another twenty years to learn. I heard what they were saying but I did not completely understand it till much later in life.
I place before you a glass which represents the life of a potential believer. We are going to define grace. This can be a rhetorical exercise. So, if this cup is the be...
2025-08-1731 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek14 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - EstablishedDate: August 10, 2025
Lord’s Day: 32
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Established
Text: Colossians 2:8-15
Many years ago I was on an out of state move, driving and thinking. I began to consider the long stretches of time I am away from home. I thought, ya know, I could have a complete other family or marriage or relationship and the family and Tina would not know. I am sure eventually it would come out, that is why we have Dr. Phil and Jerry Springer.
As I t...
2025-08-1035 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek13 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - RootedColossians 2:6-7; Luke 18:9-14
2025-08-0330 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek12 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ -Wisdom and Knowledge in ChristQuite possibly the first reality program was Gilligan’s Island. Of course I know that it is a scripted television show and that is the opposite of what they tell us about reality T.V. They tell us that it is unscripted but if you have watched any of these shows they place on set people who are opposites and then throw gasoline on the cast waiting for explosions.
Consider if you will the cast on Gilligan’s Island. There was the Skipper, the head of the ship and his less than mentally capable first mate. Then the ex...
2025-07-2033 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek11 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Christ in YouColossians 1:24-29
2025-07-1330 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek10 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Secure in ChristColossians 1:21-23
2025-07-0627 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek09 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - What if God Was One of Us?Colossians 1:16-22
2025-06-2940 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek08 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - The Implications for the Supremacy of ChristColossians 1:15-23
2025-06-2242 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek07 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - The Supremacy of Christ over ALL ThingsColossians 1:15-20
2025-06-1527 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek06 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Iconic Jesus part 2Colossians 1:15-20
2025-06-0828 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek05 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Iconic Jesus part 1Colossians 1:13-20
2025-06-0129 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek04 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Delivered & TransferredDate: May 25, 2025
Lord’s Day: 21
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: Delivered and Transferred
Text: Colossians 1:12-14
A quick review from last week we were in Colossians 1:12-14 and we were dealing with the end of verse 13:
“12 giving thanks[d] to the Father, who has qualified you[e] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of...
2025-05-2529 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek03 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - The MysteryDate: May 18, 2025
Lord’s Day: 20
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: The Mystery of God’s Love
Text: Colossians 1:12-14
Introduction: Pick and Roll celebration at Chesapeake High.
Point: There are things we desire to remain hidden, things we do not want others to see, especially when it is the entire town on television.
The tittle of this series is Colossians, the Mystery of Christ. If you have read this small book (which was your homework), you will have noticed that thi...
2025-05-1824 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek02 Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - The Sound of the New BirthDate: May 11, 2025
Lord’s Day: 19
Series: Colossians the Mystery of Christ
Title: The Sound of New Birth
Text: Colossians 1:3-12
The Word of The Lord:
“3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to...
2025-05-1130 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek01Colossians: The Mystery of Christ - Faith, Hope and LoveThe Word of The Lord:
“3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in trut...
2025-05-0428 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek09 Redeeming Ruth: Happily Ever After? Ruth 4Conclusion of the Ruth Series
2025-04-2734 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek08 Redeeming Ruth - The Cross: Righteous, Revealed, Released, Received: Romans 3:21-26Easter Sunday 2025
2025-04-2025 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek07 Redeeming Ruth: The Work of Christ (Palm Sunday)Date: April 13, 2025
Lord’s Day: 15 (Palm Sunday)
Series: Redeeming Ruth
Title: The Work of Christ
Text: Matthew 26:30-35, 69-75
Last week in our time together we were in Ruth chapter 3. Naomi had instructed Ruth to go to the Barley Harvest Party. Naomi was trying to attain by works, what Ruth had earlier in our story received by grace.
Namely, Ruth had gone to the fields looking for someone to be gracious to her, seeking God’s blessing. But now that the season is over and...
2025-04-1330 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek06 Redeeming Ruth: The Redeemer Ruth 3:1-18Date: April 6, 2025
Lord’s Day: 14
Series: Redeeming Ruth
Title: The Redeemer
Text: Ruth 3:1-18
Introduction:
1896 Concept of dating was emerging, and it was a form of prostitution
1900’s women would not be seen in public with a man, not her dad or brother (relative) so as not to be mistaken for a prostitute. The standard was courting. A young man would call the father and arrange time that everyone could sit together. The father, after a while, would inquire what the boy’s int...
2025-04-0635 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek04 Redeeming Ruth: I am Hungry Ruth 2:1-17Date: March 23, 2025
Lord’s Day: 12
Series: Redeeming Ruth
Title: I Am Hungry
Text: Ruth 2:1-17
Introduction:
Thus far, our text from the book is saturated with the fall of man. As you recall, the book of Ruth begins giving us when it was written. “In the days when the Judges ruled . . . there was a famine in the land.” How does the book of Judges end? “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
It do...
2025-03-2333 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek03 Redeeming Ruth: Running to Stand Still Ruth 1:19-22Date: March 16, 2025
Lord’s Day: 11
Series: Redeeming Ruth
Title: Running to Stand Still
Text: Ruth 1:19-22
Introduction:
Last year, around November, I had an appointment with a friend in the neighborhood. At that time, she was not as mobile as she currently is, so I had driven her to a doctor’s appointment. We use her car most always when she needs to go places. I had brought what I usually bring things iPad for any reading or note taking and my ear pods if I needed...
2025-03-1630 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek02 Redeeming Ruth: The Bread of God's WillDate: March 9, 2025
Lord’s Day: 9
Series: Ruth
Title: The Bread of God’s Will
Text: Ruth 1:1-7
Introduction:
Several years ago, a passage in Luke 24 really spoke to me. This is a story which appears after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and it details two people walking on a road to a city named Emmaus. And while they were walking, they were talking about the events that had just taken place, but they had no idea that Jesus had been resurrected.
As they wal...
2025-03-0936 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels Creek01 Redeeming Ruth No Bread in the House of Bread: Ruth 1Bethlehem is a city which name means, ”House of Bread.” The family of Naomi and Elimelech had to move away from Bethlehem because there was a famine. What happens when there is no bread in the house of bread? Moments of trial happen in our lives also.
2025-03-0226 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels CreekStraining for What Lies AheadPhilippians 2:12-13
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
2023-05-3024 minfrom the pulpit at Donnels CreekOur Only HopeTitle: Our Only Hope
Text: Isaiah 6:1-5, Psalm 99:1, Romans 1:18-19
2023-05-1224 min