Changed by God to Make a Difference for God
485 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratings"Changed by God to make a difference for God" is St. Augustine Anglican Church's (Westerville, OH) mission statement. Check out our website at https://saa.church. These sermons from the priests at St. Augustine's are offered to help you do just that so that you can live your life fully as a human being created in God's image and to help equip you to be one of Jesus' kingdom builders.
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Episodes
Ministry of Reconciliation
February 12, 2017 16:00 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBHow may we as a nation find common ground in the midst of our differences? How may we, even during challenging and uncertain times, create spaces for dialogue and reconciliation? Jesus came to this world to reconcile us with God. It is that ministry of reconciliation that encourages us to create spaces for healthy and productive dialogue. It is that ministry of reconciliation that urges us to remain faithful to our vocation of love where we reject sin while embracing the sinner. Check out wha...
True Worship = Liturgy + Lifestyle
February 05, 2017 16:00 - 15 minutes - 21 MBIn our OT lesson from Isaiah today, the Lord takes his people to task over their worship. Apparently they seek after the Lord and his ways and delight in drawing near to him. They seek God's righteous judgments and humble themselves before God. In response, God calls them rebels and sinners. Wait. What? What's going on here? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and be challenged to become true worshipers of the one true and living God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Lec...
Foolishness or Wisdom?
January 29, 2017 16:00 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBToday we celebrate the presentation of Christ at the Temple in Jerusalem. But what's that all about and why should we care? It's about being wise. Check out what Fr. Sang has to say and let it help transform you. Lectionary texts for today are Malachi 3.1-5; Psalm 24.1-10; Hebrews 2.14-18; Luke 2.22-40.
WWJT (What Would Jesus Think?)
January 22, 2017 16:00 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBThe apostle Paul tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12.2). But what does that mean and how do we let that happen? Check out what Fr. Bowser has to say about it all, especially his thoughts on the "Sacred Way," and then let the Spirit begin to transform you by the renewing of your mind. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 9.1-4; Psalm 27.1, 4-12; 1 Corinthians 1.10-18; Matthew 4.12-23.
A New Year’s Resolution Worth Our Time and Effort
January 15, 2017 16:00 - 14 minutes - 19.9 MBWho is the Servant in our OT lesson from Isaiah? Is he Israel? The prophet? Someone else? Why should we care? Christians would answer, of course, that Jesus is the Servant, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That's the good news. But it's not the whole story because we who follow Jesus are called to be servants as well, in the manner of Jesus. But we protest. How can we possibly do that being the ragamuffins and losers we are? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all...
Eureka! I Have Found It!
January 08, 2017 16:00 - 15 minutes - 20.6 MBThis week's sermon considers what it means to find something precious and of immeasurable worth, even if we didn't purposely go looking for that thing. The revelation of God put before our eyes changes our perception of ultimate reality, and causes us to joyfully wonder what exactly we have seen and have come to know. Check out what else Deacon Gatwood has to say and be enriched. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 60.1-6; Psalm 72.1-15; Ephesians 3.1-12; Matthew 2.1-12.
Christmas: Light Shining in the Darkness (or the Beginning of the End of our Exile)
December 25, 2016 01:00 - 16 minutes - 23.1 MBSt. John tells us that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1.5). But our experience often claims otherwise. We live in the darkness of the threat of terrorism, of loneliness, of addiction, of fear, of alienation. So what do the NT writers have in mind when they make claims like this and what does it have to do with the celebration of Christmas? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and take hope. Your God reigns and is with you. Lectionary te...
"God with Us"
December 18, 2016 16:00 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBAs we near the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus, we are reminded that we are a people who must wait. We wait for good things and sometimes we wait anxiously for other things. Like Joseph, when he was confronted with the reality of a pregnant fiancee, we are sometimes afraid. But fear not, for we are promised Emmanuel, God with us. Check out how Fr. Sang develops this theme and take hope. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-8, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25.
Waiting
December 11, 2016 16:00 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MBWaiting patiently isn't always our biggest strength, especially when we know there is a good gift waiting just ahead. Advent is a time of waiting, but it's the one for whom we wait that brings the real joy. Seek after him who gives joy in abundance. Check out what else Deacon Gatwood has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 35.1-10; The Magnificat (Luke 1.46-55), James 5.7-10; Matthew 11.2-11.
Advent—A Season of Hope (and boy, do we need hope in this season!)
December 04, 2016 16:00 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBAdvent is a season of hope and anticipation for all Christians. But why? What is the nature of our Advent hope and how do we know that our hope is not just some human invention designed to pacify us in the living of our days? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about this and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 11.1-10; Psalm 72.1-7, 18-19; Romans 15.4-13; Matthew 3.1-12.
Walking in the Light
November 27, 2016 16:00 - 21 minutes - 29.1 MBToday we begin the season of Advent and a new calendar year for the Church. Why should we care about Advent, let alone observe it? What's it all about? Check out what Fr. Sang has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44.
How the Kingdom Came (and Comes) on Earth
November 20, 2016 16:00 - 14 minutes - 19.4 MBToday we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, where we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King over all creation. But what kind of kingdom did Jesus bring in and how did he do it? What does that mean for those of us today who want to follow Jesus and acknowledge his kingship over our lives? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 23.1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1.11-20; Luke 23.33-43.
A God Big Enough to Heal All Creation
November 13, 2016 16:00 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBIn our OT lesson we find the breathtaking promise of transformative healing and the re-creation of everything, ourselves included. This tells us, among other things, that God really is in charge of his world, unlikely as it seems to us at times. And the NT writers unanimously proclaim that God has appointed Jesus to rule over his creation to assert God's rule. Jesus is Lord, not the dark powers and principalities! But how does that work? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and se...
Master Builders
November 06, 2016 16:00 - 13 minutes - 18.7 MBHaggai prophesied to God's people to be strong, and build his Temple. In the shadow of the formerly immaculate Temple built by Solomon this new Temple would look in the people's eyes to be a shabby thing. But God promised that he would be with them, just as he was when they fled Egypt. He would aid them in their building and doing. How does this passage speak to us today now that the Temple is gone and we have Jesus? Check out what Deacon Gatwood has to say and see what you think. Lectionary ...
For All the Saints, Not Just the Church Triumphant
October 30, 2016 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MBToday is All Saints' Sunday, where we celebrate the communion of saints, both living and dead. But our lessons focus on the hope and task of the Church Militant, Christ's Body here on earth. As God's holy people in Jesus, what are we called to be and do? Living faithful lives is hard enough on its own. It's extra hard when we are confronted by the forces of evil and chaos! But we are not in this life alone. We are a people of real power. What does that look like? Check out what Fr. Maney has ...
Pardon Me, God. Is That Justice?
October 23, 2016 15:00 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MBAs Christians, many of us tend to look at God's justice and mercy as being antithetical. But is that really the case? Not if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts and minds open to God's truth. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Joel 2.23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4.6-8, 16-18; Luke 18.9-14.
Living In Between Ages
October 16, 2016 15:00 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBScripture is clear in its promises that God will heal and redeem his good but broken creation and human creatures. But can we believe those promises? Of course! But it is not as straightforward as most of us would prefer. The result? Tension and uncertainty at times. But there is reason to hope and his name is Jesus. Check out what Fr. Sang has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 31.27-34; Psalm 119.97-104; 2 Timothy 3.14-4.5; Luke 18.1-8.
Feast When You Can
October 09, 2016 15:00 - 8 minutes - 12.2 MBWhat does Babylonian exile have to do with our circumstances? Jeremiah 29:11 may be one of the most-taken-out-of-context verses in all of scripture. Jeremiah's response to false prophecy tells us more about the nature of God than our individual plans. In this sermon, Alex Shaver explores Jeremiah 29 and its implications for the church today. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 29.1, 4-7; Psalm 66.1-11; 2 Timothy 2.8-15; Luke 17.11-19.
From Faith to Faith
October 02, 2016 15:00 - 10 minutes - 14.7 MBCan we have more faith? Is it something that we should be begging Jesus for along with his apostles in Luke 17? How do we know it if we do have it? And will it sustain us for the long haul? In this sermon Deacon Terry tries to answer these kinds of questions with the assurance we are given in Jesus Christ. Check him out and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Lamentations 1.1-6; Psalm 137; 2 Timothy 1.1-14; Luke 17.5-10.
Do You Have a Resurrection Hope that is Worthless or Worthwhile?
September 25, 2016 15:00 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MBHow to explain Jeremiah's crazy land acquisition in the midst of utter destruction and chaos? How to explain William Wilberforce's relentless pursuit of abolishing slavery in England at terrible personal cost? How to explain many Christians' joyful response to persecution and death? It's all just cray-cray! Or is it? The secret is in what you hope for and the God you worship. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 32.1-...
Reading Scripture for All Its Worth
September 11, 2016 15:00 - 16 minutes - 22.1 MBHow do you read Scripture? Are you reading it for all its worth? Check out what our guest preacher, Daniel Semelsberger, has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 4:11–12, 22–28; Psalm 14; 1 Timothy 1.12-17; Luke 15.1-10.
A Confession from Luke 14
September 04, 2016 15:00 - 10 minutes - 15 MBIn this week's sermon, Dcn Terry makes a prayerful confession through the Gospel text of Luke 14:25-33. What does the cost of discipleship begin to look like when we stop counting the assets of the Kingdom of God and start looking at the liabilities? It is important to understand before setting out to do the work Christ has called us to do to count the cost of doing so. May this confession be a help in your praying through the text this week. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 18.1-11; P...
Why the Church Matters: Why We Matter
August 28, 2016 15:00 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MBWhat is "the church" and why should Christians (or anyone else for that matter) care? As the NT writers astonishingly claim, church is nothing less than God's Spirit-empowered people living out their faith in Jesus Christ, imperfect as that can be at times. Simply put, without the Church there can be no Christianity. What a remarkable challenge! Are we up for it? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today's parish dedication festival of...
The Call to Our Freedom and Freedom of Others Too
August 21, 2016 15:00 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBJesus calls us to freedom, but what kind of freedom? What does that look like on the ground? What does being free mean for his body, the Church? Check out what Fr. Sang has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Jeremiah 1.4-10; Psalm 71.1-6; Hebrews 12.18-29; Luke 13.10-17.
Endurance and Joy
August 14, 2016 15:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBLife is hard. There's no way of getting around the hard stuff and having it resolve without actually engaging it and going through the process of difficulty. But we don't have to do it alone. God, our brothers and sisters, the Church, are all with us as we persevere through in faith, armed with the hope of joy found in the resurrected life. There will always be struggles in this life, but through them we may find healing, hope, and a stronger faith as we celebrate overcoming in joy. Check out...
The Nature of Faith
August 07, 2016 15:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBWhat is the nature of biblical faith? Are we asked to believe in God blindly, to ignore facts and reality, to whistle through the graveyard? Or is it something quite different than any of this? Why, for example, does the NT consistently talk about hope, not as optimism, but as a sure and certain expectation of the current reality and things to come? These are important questions because without faith, we are simply not able to please God or have any real basis for hope. Check out what Fr. Man...
Praying in Step with Jesus
July 24, 2016 15:00 - 13 minutes - 18 MBPrayer is an essential part of a person's spiritual life. Without a regular prayer life a person becomes a dry well, or an arid desert. Spiritual life can little survive without the necessary prayer that brings to life our response to God's goodness and faithfulness, and our sharing with God our brokenness and hopes and wishes. Following the Lord's Prayer found in Luke, this sermon breaks apart some of the petitions of the prayer in order to show that everyone can pray as Jesus has taught us....
The Christian Hope of Glory
July 17, 2016 15:00 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MBWhen Paul talks about Christ being in us, the hope of glory, what does he have in mind? It's more than being just about Jesus and me, although that's part of it. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Amos 8.1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1.15-28; Luke 10.38-42.
Obedience to God
July 10, 2016 15:00 - 18 minutes - 25 MBWhat does obedience to God look like on the ground? Does it conjure up for you a list of interminable rules to follow that suck the joy out of living? For many, sadly this is the case. But as Fr. Sang explains, this is not the essence of obedience. How well we follow the rules really doesn't matter that much, important as rules can sometimes be. Check out what Fr. Sang has to say about this topic of obedience and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Amos 7.7.-17; Psalm 82; Colos...
Real Freedom
June 26, 2016 15:00 - 17 minutes - 23.9 MBPaul wrote the following to the churches in Galatia, "For freedom Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5.1). But what kind of freedom is Paul talking about? Freedom to sin? Freedom to do something else, or freedom from something else? And what does any of this have to do with the stern demands of Jesus found in our gospel lesson today? To understand the answer, you have to understand why God created his image-bearing creatures and became human on our behalf. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say ...
Paul and the Law: What Things Must I Do to be Saved?
June 19, 2016 15:00 - 17 minutes - 24.6 MBHow does one reconcile the requirements of the Law with the grace of Jesus Christ? Do the requirements for circumcision and other practices prescribed by the Law require our following if we are to truly be a part of God's covenant? What is it that we must do to be saved in Christ? This sermon explores what it means to be saved by grace, and what we can make of the Law after the Christ-event. Lectionary texts for today are 1 Kings 19.1-15a; Psalms 42-43; Galatians 3.23-29; Luke 8.26-39.
Forgiven
June 12, 2016 15:00 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBIn our epistle lesson, Paul talks about being justified by faith in Christ. But what does that mean? More importantly, what does that look like as we live out our lives? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 1 Kings 21.1-21a; Psalm 5.1-8; Galatians 2.15-21; Luke 7.36-8.3.
Faith, Miracles, and Other Interesting Questions
June 05, 2016 15:00 - 18 minutes - 26 MBWhat are we to make of the so-called miracles in our OT and gospel lessons this morning? Why are they there? Did they really happen? Are they there to remind us that only the favored in God's eyes get special treatment while the rest of us are are on our own? Not so fast, my anxious friends. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are 1 Kings 17.8-24; Psalm 146; Galatians 1.11-24; Luke 7.11-17.
What's Worth Remembering?
May 29, 2016 15:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBWhat things are worth remembering and honoring? This is the time of the year when we remember those who have fallen in battles on behalf of our nation. They have made a sacrifice with their lives. Jesus, too, has made a sacrifice, but it is more unlike our human sacrifices than it is alike. Jesus' sacrifice was THE ultimate sacrifice for all people, everywhere, at any time. He gives to us freedom that is so much higher than what we will ever know apart from a life spent with Jesus. Check out ...
The God We Worship: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
May 22, 2016 15:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBChristians are the only ones who worship the one holy and undivided God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No other religion worships this the one true and living God. But what does that mean? What does it mean for us on the ground who try to live out our days faithfully? Check out what Fr. Sang has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Proverbs 8.1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5.1-5; John 16.12-15.
The Pre-Pentecostal Mindset (and Why You Don't Want It)
May 15, 2016 15:00 - 20 minutes - 28.9 MBToday we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, the promised coming of God's Spirit on his people. But many churches pay no attention to this fantastic promise and event. Why is that? Why should Pentecost be a big deal to every Christian? One word: Power. Check out what Fr. Bowser has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 2.1-21; Romans 8.14-17; John 14.8-27.
Jesus is Lord? I Mean, Jesus is Lord!
May 08, 2016 15:00 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MBToday is Ascension Sunday, the day the Church celebrates Jesus' ascension into heaven. But what's that really all about? We celebrate the Ascension because it proclaims and affirms that Jesus is Lord and nobody else is. But what kind of Lord? Let's be honest. If Jesus is Lord he is a different kind of Lord we expect or want. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 16.16-24; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12–14, 16–17, 20–21; John 1...
The God Who Makes Himself Known
May 01, 2016 15:00 - 22 minutes - 32.1 MBBishop Roger Ames is our guest preacher this morning. We worship a God who makes himself known to us and who is always active in our lives and his world. But sometimes we don't believe that or miss God's presence and activities all around us and in us. Check out what Bishop Ames has to say about it all and see what you think. It's a game changer when you realize we worship a God who comes. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 16.6-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21.10, 21.22-22.5; John 14.23-29.
Water and New Creation
April 24, 2016 15:00 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBThis morning we baptize a new person into Christ's body, the Church, and we will pour water over her. As with any sacrament, there is more than meets the eye than just the splashing water. In fact, the water itself is changed and at least one scientist has demonstrated this! Listen to what else Fr. Bowser has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 11.1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21.1-6; John 13.31-35.
The Easter Effect
April 10, 2016 15:00 - 16 minutes - 24.8 MBThe New Testament makes clear that after Easter, everything has changed, and for the good. But how? If we don't know what to look for, it will be hard for us to believe this. But it's true if we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts and minds to believe. So pay careful attention to the stories and visions that announce the Easter Effect. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 9.1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5.11-15; John ...
Whom to Obey?
April 03, 2016 15:00 - 17 minutes - 10.4 MBSo what's the point of the resurrection? That God is capable of some pretty strange one off things while ignoring the rest of the world? Is it to give us an excuse to look down at our noses at non-Christians? Or is there something deeper going on in the resurrection narratives? And what about Jesus' strange command to forgive and retain sins, not to mention him breathing on people? What's that all about? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts...
The Resurrection: History's Turning Point
March 27, 2016 15:00 - 24 minutes - 11.6 MBEaster is the turning point in all history. What an audacious claim we make as Christians! But it is true, precisely because the claim is rooted in history so that our faith has a real basis to it. But to make such a claim also requires that we know the broader story of God's plan to heal and restore his good but sin-corrupted creation. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say in this Easter Day sermon and be changed forever by the Good News of Jesus' resurrection. Alleluia! Christ is risen! The L...
Suffering Servant
March 26, 2016 01:00 - 10 minutes - 5.26 MBWhy is Good Friday called "good" when a man is unjustly crucified? Check out what Fr. Sang has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for tonight are Isaiah 52.13-53.12; Psalm 22.1-31; Hebrews 4.14-16, 5.7-9; John 18.1-19.42.
Costly Obedience: The Strange World of Shouting Rocks and Unexpected Kings
March 20, 2016 15:00 - 15 minutes - 7.79 MBToday is Passion (Palm) Sunday, the day we observe God's return to his people as their king and Messiah. But are his people ready for Jesus's brand of Messiahship? Like today, some were, some weren't. Why? Because Jesus wasn't and isn't the Messiah we want or expected. His path to glory is through suffering obedience, not power and status. By his wounds we are healed and restored and our Lord calls us to follow him in his suffering obedience as well. Uh-oh. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say...
The Kingdom of God is in this Room
March 13, 2016 15:00 - 11 minutes - 5.48 MBJesus and his friends sit down for dinner on this night. The company he is keeping on this particular night is filled with some interesting people. A few of his disciples are present; Martha is serving, Mary is pouring expensive perfume on Jesus' feet, Lazarus is alive and eating with them, and Judas is scheming for his personal benefit. A vision of what life looks like in God's Kingdom is before us, showing us that even those who walked with Jesus during his earthly ministry aren't that diff...
Before and After Portraits
March 06, 2016 16:00 - 8.06 MBThe Bible offers many interesting before and after portraits of the human condition and life in general, three of which we find in our lessons today. But why should we care? Do these portraits really matter? They do indeed, especially if Jesus' parable of the lost and found is any indication! Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Joshua 5.9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5.16-21; Luke 15.1-3, 11b-32.
Feasting at the Banquet
February 28, 2016 16:00 - 20 minutes - 9.38 MBA strange thing, this invitation of God to come feast at his table. We are to eat the richest foods and drink the finest wines, all at no cost! How can that be? And what are we to make of the warnings contained in our NT lessons? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 55.1-9; Psalm 63.1-8; 1 Corinthians 10.1-13; Luke 13.1-9.
Promises, Promises
February 21, 2016 16:00 - 16 minutes - 7.78 MBIn our OT lesson today, we see God promising Abram (Abraham) once again that he will enjoy numerous offspring. So what's the big deal? Why is this promise so important? Let's face it. We've all grown skeptical of promises, even God's promises, because we've all been burned more than a few times and have broken a few promises ourselves. And what's this got to do with Lent with its emphasis on self-examination, confession, repentance, and self-denial? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about i...
The Resurrection of the Dead: The Promise of Evil Defeated
February 20, 2016 20:00 - 9 minutes - 4.39 MBDeath under any circumstance is hard, isn’t it? But it is especially hard when we are dealing with cancer, a disease that can only charitably be called pure evil. In this case it has struck down a mother in the prime of her life, robbed her of her human dignity as God’s image-bearer, and took her against her will from her husband and young son, along with the rest of her family and friends. There is no good way we can spin this, nor should we try. Her death from cancer is just wrong. There is...
Restoring the Image
February 11, 2016 01:30 - 20 minutes - 9.63 MBToday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the 40 days of Lent with its focus on self-examination, confession, and repentance. In our Old Testament lesson the prophet Joel warns about the fierce and terrible Day of the Lord, the day when God judges all our sins. Does this mean we worship a God bent on our destruction and punishing us? Not so fast, my friends. It's always dangerous to pull a passage from Scripture out of its context. Listen to what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what ...