Emmanuel Baptist Church Podcast

Game Changer

October 16, 2016                                                                                 Game Changer Genesis 32:28   Synopsis: Jacob’s experience with God (Genesis 32:22-31) was a game changer in his life.  No more was he to be identified as Jacob (the heel grabber).”  His new identity was an expression of the transformation that came out of his night wrestling with God.  That event was what I call a Game Changer in his life.  “Jacob” became “Israel” the one who “...

Compassion: God's Call to Action

Guest speaker Norman Eskridge  

Now's the Time

September 18, 2016                                                                             National Back to Church Sunday, September 18, 2016 Now’s the Time   Now’s The Time 1 Timothy 2:3-6   Synopsis: Today we are celebrating Michael Burleson and Marley’s safe return from four-week long mission trip to Benin.  They have some amazing stories to tell about the good things God is doing.  Of course, there is much more to be done.       My sermon text today is from s1 Timot...

Labor: Cost and Benifis

September 4, 2016                                         Labor Day Weekend Travel Mercy Ministry Benin, West Africa   National Back to Church Sunday, September 18, 2016 Now’s the Time   Labor: Costs & Benefits Luke 14:25-27   Synopsis: This is Labor Day weekend in the United States.  It is a national holiday established to celebrate the labor force in the country.  Labor Day has influenced the way I phrased the title of my sermon today.  You already have that mind set an...

In Search of Lost Things

September 11, 2016                                                                           Travel Mercy Ministries Michael & Marley are scheduled to Return to Atlanta at Noon today   National Back to Church Sunday, September 18, 2016 Now’s the Time   In Search of Lost Things Luke 15:1-10   Synopsis: Today is the 15th Anniversary of the terrorist attack on US soil.  On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda h...

No Backing Down

No Backing Down Jeremiah 1:4-10   Synopsis: “No Backing Down” is how I would describe what God said to the prophet in the opening verses of Jeremiah 1:4-10.  One thing is for sure, the LORD was not backing down (Jeremiah 20:7-9).  The same characteristic if found abundantly in Jesus Christ (Luke 13:10-17).  Surely Jesus did not back down and God the Father didn’t either.  It is the same characteristic that is called for in the lives of those who believe in Jesus (Hebrews 12:18-29).  ...

Dressed and Ready for Service

August 7, 2016                                                                                   Traveling Mercy Ministries Report Visa Issues in Benin; forced to return to US; Hoping to fix problem and return.   Dressed and Ready for Service Luke 12:32-40   Synopsis: I have two object lessons to open my sermon with today.  The first was planned and the second just popped up.  First, tomorrow morning school kids in this area will be getting dressed and ready.  Some are excite...

Driven by the Wind

July 31, 2016       Commissioning of Traveling Mercy Ministries     August 3 – September 6       Driven by the Wind     Colossians 3:1-4       Synopsis: Today we are commissioning Rev. Michael Burleson and his daughter Marley for their Traveling Mercy Ministries mission trip to Benin, Africa.  Michael is a registered nurse and will be working in rural clinics with a local ministry.  He and Marley will also be leading in worship services as they have opportunity an...

Reverence At The Table

July 3, 2016                                                        The Remembrance   Reverence at the Table Galatians 6:7-10   Synopsis: Some may be wandering why we have the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of July every year.  This is the weekend when our nation celebrates the remembrance of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.  The believer’s declaration of independence was established in Jesus Christ.  As a nation we celebrate the national July 4th ho...

All God's Children

June 19, 2016                                                               Father’s Day VBS Week: Journey Off the Map   All God’s Children Galatians 3:26   Synopsis: Today we celebrate Father’s Day and mark the beginning of Vacation Bible School.  Starting Monday night our children will be learning lessons for their “Journey Off The Map”. All week we will be paying a lot of attention to the children.  We know who our children are, most of the time, but in VBS we are expecting to...

The Debt

June 12, 2016 The Debt Galatians 2:20   Synopsis: How much debt do you have?  Do you even know?  How often do you check your credit score or run a credit report? Answers to these questions will provide you with important information about your financial health.  These questions can be applied to your spiritual health as well.  While there may not be a spirituality debt report available online there are many ways to determine your spiritual health.  You don’t have to live your life ...

Appalachian Outreach Week

Appalachian Outreach Week

Called Back to the Lord’s Table of Remembrance

May 29, 2016                                           Memorial Day Weekend   Called Back to the Lord’s Table of Remembrance 1 Kings 18:37   Synopsis: Memorial Day weekend is a time the nation has set aside to remember those who have died in the defense of the nation.  We have all been blessed by the sacrifice they have made.        Today in our worship service we remember the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.  He brings to us the hope of everlasting life.  While there are ma...

What's Your Number?

May 15, 2016                                                       Pentecost Sunday What’s Your Number? Romans 8:14-17   Synopsis: So “what’s in a number?”  Sometimes, as far as you and I are concerned, there may not be much at all.  For example: In the largest Powerball Lottery ever the winning number broke open a jackpot of over $1,586,000,000.  I don’t know that it meant much to me.  I guess it all depends on the number and how it defines us.  Obviously, some numbers tell how weal...

Come On Up

April 17, 2016                                                                                    Come on Up! Acts 9:39   Synopsis: “Come on Up!” is an invitation.  Today I start with Peter’s invitation (Acts 9:36-43).  Peter was in Lydda and received the invitation to go to Joppa because of the death of Tabitha.  Death brings an urgency to the invitation.  Then Peter is invited to go upstairs where the body lay ready for burial.  Peter’s word brought life back to her body and the fe...

It Took Jesus

April 10, 2016                                                                                    It Took Jesus Revelation 5:1-5   Synopsis: It Took Jesus to open up our Heavenly Father’s plan for our redemption.  No one in any previous generation; No one in this current generation and No one in any future generation was or is or ever will be worthy to open up God’s plan for our salvation. No not a single one of us.  It Took Jesus!   Text (NRSV): Revelation 5:1-5; Revelation 4:8b...

A New Creation

March 6, 2016 A New Creation 2 Corinthians 5:16-21   Synopsis: This is a wonderful time of the year to think about renewal.  Things all around us are starting to come to life.  It will not be long before all the dark drab signs of winter will be a distant memory.  Because of all the changes in our environment we will have a very different point of view.  I think that is a good illustration of what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.  He calls believers to give up their w...

The Cloth

March 27, 2016                                                         Easter Sunday The Cloth Luke 24:12   Synopsis: There are many elements in the story of the resurrection.  For some reason this year I have been captivated by “The Cloth” (Luke 24:12).  In the story of Jesus’ death burial and resurrection there are three things that I find closely related: the cross, the grave, and the cloth.  Throughout the Holy Week we been especially mindful of the cross on which Jesus died.  With t...

Palm Sunday: All the People

Palm Sunday!

Waiting In God's Sanctuary

February 21, 2016                                                                             Waiting In God’s Sanctuary Psalm 27:14   Synopsis: What comes to mind when you think of “God’s Sanctuary”?  From Scripture you might think of the Tabernacle that Moses had the people to build at Mt. Sinai.  Or maybe your mind might recall the Temple in Jerusalem starting with the days of King Solomon.  Though it was destroyed and rebuilt over the centuries remnants remained until Jesus’ life and...

No Greater Love

Valentines Day Message from : Dr. Sonny Strange Clifford and Carolyn Hodge Vickie Cagle Dusty Shamblin snd Nicki Costantinos Darryl Hendricks    

A Burning Coal

February 7, 2016 A Burning Coal Isaiah 6:6-7   Synopsis: There are people who walk on burning coals, but most of us are happy to bypass that experience.  Imagine what it would have been like to be Isaiah when he was approached by a flaming creature with a burning coal from the altar beneath the throne of God (Isaiah 6:1-13).  And yet that is what Isaiah needed to be forgiven.  What are you willing to do to be forgiven?  Isaiah confessed “Everything I say is sinful.”  Forgiveness starts w...

Living On Purpose

January 31, 2016 Living On Purpose Jeremiah 1:5   Synopsis: Would you describe your life as “Living on Purpose” or just by accident?  It is sometimes described as living proactively verses living reactively.  And no, I am not drawing by message from Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Lifealthough there are a lot of similarities.  I am really looking at two different passages with striking similarities.  The first is Jeremiah who was destined to be the prophet of God even before he was born (Je...

Listening to God Through the Bible

January 24, 2016                           Listening to God Through the Bible                                            Nehemiah 8:8   Synopsis: I often hear people say they are “listening for God to tell them something.”  What I want to ask is are you listening to what God already said.  Listening to God Through the Bible should be a first step toward listening to God.  The Bible is where we not only learn what others have heard but we also learn to recognize the voice of God.  When be...

Let's Have a Party!

January 17, 2016                                        Let’s Have a Party                                              John 2:1-11   Synopsis: Who says believers cannot be the life of the party?  I guess that depends on what kind of party you are thinking about.  Jesus and some of His disciples were invited to a wedding celebration and the host ran out of wine (joy).  In the Fourth Gospel John tells the story of Jesus turning the water of purification into wine.  Lots of wine!  Best stu...

Turning Pages

January 10, 2016                                            Turning Pages                                             Acts 8:14-17   Synopsis: We are all familiar with turning pages of a book or newspaper even if it happens to be a digital version.  I want you to look with me at a couple of Scripture passages where the Holy Spirit turned the pages for believers.  First let’s look at Acts 8:14-17.  The ones who were considered to be “not my people” were transformed into “my people” (Hosea...

Recipe for a Great 2016

Guest Speaker Robert Young

The Light of Christmas

  December 20, 2015                                      4th Sunday of Advent The Light of Christmas Sharing the Love of God With Others Matthew 2:1-2   Synopsis: The Love Light of God got the attention of the Magi even though they live in a far and distant land.  They were not of the linage of Abraham, but they were attracted to the light of God’s love (Matthew 2:1-12).       Their journey of discovery led the Magi to Herod but there was no “LOVE LIGHT” shining there.  The religious...

The Light of Christmas

December 6, 2015                                     2nd Sunday of Advent The Light of Christmas Sharing the Peace of God With Others Luke 1:76-79   Synopsis: The Light of Christmas shines bright because the spark of HOPE has set the kindling of PEACE ablaze.  Soon we will see what the logs of JOY can do when all are fanned into flames by LOVE.  It is the season of Advent and we are celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.        People who live in the shadows need the spark o...

The Light of Christmas Advent Series

November 29, 2015                                       1st Sunday of Advent The Light of Christmas Advent Series Sharing the Hope of God With Others Matthew 4:12-17   Synopsis: “Hope” is the spark that starts the fire for the Light of Christmas!  What is it that you are hoping for this Christmas?  I hope that our Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be the best ever.  Yes I hope we will have more people but I am especially hoping for a movement of the Spirit of Christ in the service...

A Helping Hand

November 15, 2015                                  Base Budget Ballot Vote   A Helping Hand Jude 1:20-23   Synopsis: Believers are on the march to heaven following in the path Jesus has marked out for them, therefore believers are to help others they encounter find the way and help other believers on the way.  This is what Jesus did and commands us to do as we follow Him.       Jude gives us a brief outline for action in regards to how believers are to assist other believers.  His firs...

On The March

November 1, 2015 On the March Hebrews 11:13-16   Synopsis: Today, November 1st in many traditions of the Christian Church is All Saints Day.  This year it fell on a Sunday (Orthodox churches always celebrate the Sunday of All Saints).  It is a day set aside to remember heroes of the faith.  “Halloween” actually means “All Hallows’ Eve.”  Thus, it is the evening before “All Saints Day.”  The Christian life is often described by the use of metaphors.  Christians are identified as “pilgrim...

Can You See Jesus?

November 11, 2015 Can You See Jesus? John 14:6   Synopsis: Last week the focus of my sermon was “On the March.”  This week I want to call our attention to the one leading the march (John 14:6).  Early believers were identified as “people of the Way” (Acts 9:1-2).  Of course that was a reference to the way of Jesus.       I have a few questions for you daily walk.  1. Can you see Jesus?  2. Are you looking for Jesus?  3. Are you looking in the right direction?       A line can be constr...

You Are.....

October 18, 2015                                                                                        You Are … 1 Peter 2:4-10   Synopsis: Sometimes believers get so beat up in life that they forget who they are because of whose they are.  This world and all that is in it has no power to take away what it does not give; no power to give what is not of this world.         In a recent conference (Center for Congregational Health) I was introduced to the African Bible Study.  Today I w...

In A Pinch

September 27, 2015                                                                                          In A Pinch Matthew 7:13-14   Synopsis: We all know a pinch when we feel one.  Pinches, for whatever reason, hurt and therefore, get our attention.  What we do next reveals what lessons we learned from the experience.       There are a lot of situations in life that pinch us.  Sometimes we use those situations as an adjective to describe the pinch.  Have you ever been in a “financ...

Hospitality: Making Room for Others

Hospitality

Hospitality a Biblical Mandate

Hospitality a Biblical Mandate

Hospitality in the Biblical Tradition

September 6, 2015                                                                                            Hospitality in the Biblical Tradition 1 Peter 4:7-9   Synopsis: Today I start a short series on hospitality.  I start with Hospitality in the Biblical Tradition with references pulled from Genesis to Revelation.  Hospitality is a true characteristic of God’s people found in both Testaments.  It requires believers to “make room” for the stranger as well as fellow believers.  Indee...

Kingdom Work

Kingdom Work  

Kingdom Leadership

August 23, 2015                                                       Kingdom Series   Kingdom Leadership Mark 10:41-45 Synopsis: We struggle with the “kingdom language” of the Bible for many reasons.  Our first challenge comes because we happen to live in a democratic republic and thus have a vote.  Another big stumbling block for us is the business/leadership model that permeates our society.  We talk freely of “presidents,” “CEOs,” “Board of Directors,” and the list goes on and on.  “...

Kingdom Living Matters

August 16, 2015                                                       Kingdom Series   Kingdom Living Matters Mark 4:11-12   Synopsis: Let’s admit it, in this country we have more than just a little bit of trouble thinking and talking “kingdom” language.  The Bible on the other hand is filled with “kingdom” language.  In the New Testament believers make a shift from “kingdoms” of this world to the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven.  I hope my sermon series will help bring the dis...

Stick Nouns and Stone Verbs

Title: Stick Nouns and Stone Verbs. Synopsis: The old saying says "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." And the same grandparents who told us that also told us not to cuss...because those words hurt. So which is it? And is it ever OK to call people names? I mean since JESUS did? (At least according to Matthew.)

Kingdom: Thy Kingdom Come

August 2 , 2015                                                                                               Kingdom   Thy Kingdom Come Matthew 6:10   Synopsis: The Lord’s Prayer is a dangerous prayer.  It would change our world starting with the one praying.  Were you paying attention to the words, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10)?  Do you have any idea what the world would that look like if the Kingdom of Heaven came to earth?  The issue be...

Pin the Tale on the Donkey

July 26, 2015                                                                                                    Pin the Tail on the Donkey Luke 22:31-32   Synopsis: This is the third in my summer series on “Games Children Play.”  The sermons are not really about the games.  I simply use them as illustrations for my messages.        In today’s message I use “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”  I make it personal by remembering settings from my own experience where the donkey was drawn on the...

Ordination Service for Michael Burleson

Ordination Service for Michael Burleson

Declaration of Independance

Sermon by Dr. Sonny Strange July 5 2015. 

Gospel Ministry

une 7, 2015                                       Appalachian Outreach Week              Gospel Ministry Romans 11:29   Synopsis: Today’s message deals with “The Gospel Ministry.”  I will be talking about five words we use in ministry: Gifts, Calling, Response, Ordination, and Commissioning.  Each word emphasizes a different aspect of The Gospel Ministry.  The first two words are works of the Spirit.  The third is not a technical word but rather reflects a believer’s commitment in respo...

Body of Honor

May 24, 2015                                     Emmanuel Family Emphasis                                                                     Memorial Day Weekend                          Body of Honor 1 Chronicles 11:10   Synopsis: Our RAs will be performing a Flag Ceremony in the worship service as part of our Memorial Day Weekend Celebration.  They will also be handing out small American flags to all in attendance.       Today churches across the nation stretch Monday’s Memorial Da...

IT All Started with the Refugees

JOY Resurrected

April 5, 2015                                                               Easter Sunday   JOY Resurrected John 20:11-18   Synopsis: Today we gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I think it is fitting that we celebrate the resurrection when there are so many things coming to life and a new growing season is in full bloom.  But Spring is not why we are called to celebrate.  We are called to celebrate because it marks the time that Jesus rose from th...