Langdon Palmer

Be Still and Know - Luke 10:38-42

Does it ever feel like hurry is too much a part of your life? But then again is it really that bad? When pastor claims that hurry destroys people's souls. Is it true? We look at the famous story of Martha and Mary and find out that things are a little different than they appear at first. Martha's problem is not that she is busy... it is that she doesnt know what time it is. Find out what that means and think about seven habits that can help to slay the hurry monster in our lives !

Come and See - John 1:35-46

Jesus turns to people and says "Come and See..." What if he were to say that to you ? Is it possible that the writer of the gospel of John tells us about how the first disciples came to follow Jesus exactly because he is calling out to you and I across the ages "Come and See...", Today we look at classic section of the gospel of John that gets us thinking about our own role in saying to others "Come and See". When ever we are given the opportunity to check out a real adventure there ...

The Facts on the Ground - The Woman caught in Adultery - John 8:1-11

When Jesus said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" did he mean that judging other peoples actions is wrong? Is the story of the woman caught in Adultery a story about not condemning others or naming sin for what it is? It turns out that most of us only hear half of this story - the half we want to hear, and miss the half we most need to hear. Join us as we hear the story of the woman caught in Adultery from a fresh perspective - where we are located in the position not of an ...

The Confession - Luke 9:8-26

Ever feel doubtful about saying Jesus is the only when there are so many other religions and good people in the world? How comfortable are you with your understanding of Jesus? Jesus looks at each of us and says "Who do you say that I am?" Today we look at the archeological and theological background to Peter's great confession "You are the Christ." We touch on the trap of those who try to get behind the gospels to the historical Jesus, and turn instead to the Jesus of the gospels, th...

The Unveiling - Matthew 17:1-9

How well do you know Jesus? If you could know him better - would you really want to? In our scripture for today we encounter one of the wildest scenes of the New Testament - the Transfiguration - and we discover that it is in embracing the mystery of Jesus Christ that all the rest of life begins to make sense...

Incubator Church - Part 5 - A Common Mission - James 1:19-27 - Langdon

When we hear someone say they are on a mission for God we either think of something silly like the Blues Brothers or something terrifying like religious extremists blowing people up in the name of God. But what if God really did have a mission for you and you really could know it? We find a mission from God in an amazing section of the book of James - a practical way to live both the outer mission and the inner mission that God wants us to undertake!

Incubator Church - Part 4 - A common Table - 1 Corinthians 10 , 1 Corinthians 11 - Langdon

In the midst of many church services is an activity that seems like the mosty holy mystery to some folks and a strange empty ritual to others... What is this thing we do called The Lord's Table? Why do we do it? What does it accomplish ? Does it really change anything? We take two soundings from the book of 1st Corinthians from chapter 10 and chapter 11 and find out there is a whole lot more going on than meet's the eye !

Incubator Church - Part 2 - A Common Faith - Colossians 2:6-19 - Langdon

What is your church known for? What should it be known for? Why are so many mainline churches dying ? Why do some churches prosper while others slowly fade away ? If we are the church, if we are the body, if we are supposed to have unity - where does that unity come from ? We look at the first and most important ingredient for a thriving church - a common faith. It turns out that many of the things we think are important for church sucsess are actually rotting the church from the ins...

The Incubator Church - Part 1 - The big picture - Acts 2:37-47 - Langdon

Living the Christian life is like sitting on a three legged stool - you need all three legs for it to work. One leg is love of God and the worship and faith that follow it. The second leg is mission and service to the world - acting on our faith - doing something based on what we believe. But third leg which is so vital is often overlooked. It is part of God's plan to grow us up and fill us with joy but it is the leg we often ignore. Today we encounter that third leg and what it mean...

New Year Ebenezer - Locating yourself on the journey to believing

Did you ever feel like your life is full of so many thoughts, issues, and questions that you don't even know what you believe anymore - like the noise and busyness of life has grown like weeds - covering and hiding the underlying assumptions and choices you are living by ? Today we take a weed-whacker to the undergrowth and cut back the weeds so you can see clearly where you stand on the road of faith. We start at the most basic questions of life and look at how major religions of the w...

Voyage of the Dawn Treader 3 - Reepicheep goes Home

All of us struggle with self doubt - but what makes some people fearless despite it ? What makes some people live with honor and dignity even though they know full well what a mess they are? We are so easily defeated - is there a set of convictions that can set us free from the paralyzing effect of feeling so small? YES! C.S. Lewis shows us a way to live firmly here in this world by setting our eyes firmly on the promises of God and he does it through the most surprising character - a m...

Voyage of the Dawn Treader 2 - When Lucy opened the book

Ever wish you were somebody else or wish you had what they had? It is a natural thing to compare ourselves to others instead of delighting ourselves in God. Ever wish you could hear what people were saying about you behind your back? How about if you really could ? We follow Lucy into a Magician's house and learn from the temptations she faces there - not only the temptation to be somebody else and the temptation to eaves drop, but also the temptation of fear itself. We find an amazing...

Voyage of the Dawn Treader 1 - The Rebirth of Eustace Scrubb

There once was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb – and he almost deserved it. What would it be like to become on the outside what you were on the inside? What if that happened and you looked in the mirror - only to see a Dragon looking back at you? In this first talk on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, 3rd book in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series, we find out what happened to Eustace, investigate the incredible parallel to 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21, and discover how what happened to ...

From the Inside Out - The story behind the song

Ever feel like you are stuck in your spiritual life - like it is going nowhere? What if the Hillsong classic "From the Inside Out" contained a four step dance that results in a life of deep joy - a way to get unstuck and purse a deeper walk with God? We dig into the scriptures echoed in this song: Isaiah 60, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 23:26-27, Luke 11:33-41 and Psalm 100:5 to find the good life - the life focused on the art of losing myself in bringing God praise.

You are Holy - The story behind the song

Do you live in a world where the self-revelation of God is possible? Why would Michael W. Smith take the most bizarre, spooky, supernatural verses in scripture and put them in the most fun-loving normal top 40 style melody imaginable? Does a song like You Are Holy trivialize the great truths and revelations of scripture? No it puts them in their right place. It turns out that the best way to have a down earth, normal, natural life is to be in direct exposure to the super-naturally radi...

Better Is One Day - The story behind the song

One of the current classic praise songs is Matt Redman s Better Is One Day... but what is it all about? We look at the rich scriptural foundation of this song as we step through the song line by line. We discover that Psalm 84 is a song for the road - a song for those on the journey when the going get's tough. It turns out that your life was meant to be a living waterfall and no matter how much is broken, no matter how much you have lost - your life can still be a beautiful gift both to ...

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 03 - The Bishop

In this third sermon in the Great Divorce series we move from the basic sins of the Big Man to the sins of intellect of the Bishop. We discover a man who views him self as very religious yet doesnt even realize he is living in Hell. Not all spirituality leads us to Jesus. There are ways of understanding faith, Jesus, and the scriptures that are so distorted that they actually lead us away from Jesus. The scriptures are full of warnings about false teachers. In our own day we can feel t...

Psalm 23 Part 9 - and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

What does it mean to dwell in the house of the Lord - Is David talking about the physical temple, eternity with God, or something else ? In this final sermon on the 23rd psalm, we review the psalm and conclude with this wonderful promise that tells us how we can live our lives now, and how the story of our lives will end !

Psalm 23 Part 9b - a detailed excursus on the hebrew of the last phrase - forever or my whole life long?

Should the end of Psalm 23 say I will dwell in the house of the lord forever, or I will dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long? In this aside from the main sermon, we look at the details of the hebrew and issues of translation to come to a conclusion.

Psalm 23 Part 8 - All The Days of My Life

There are two very different ways to understand the idea that goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life - One involves the Hound of Heaven who refuses to leave us alone that we might not be alone, and the other is concept of that our life leaves a wake like a ship on the water - what does the way you live leave in your wake - do you leave blessing, goodness, and lovingkindness in your wake? Yes, or No, join us for this teaching !

Psalm 23 Part 7 - You anoint my head with oil - my cup overflows

Have you been feeling bugged lately? Are you butting heads with anyone? Does your cup feel like it is overflowing or does it feel like it has run dry? What does this verse mean, and what was Jesus called the anointed one? This short verse gives us insight into how to deal with difficult situations as it brings us closer to Jesus, the anointed one who offers us the cup that never runs dry - the cup of the New Covenant.

Psalm 23 Part 6 - You prepare a table before me

If God offered you a meal - would you really like what was on the menu ? What does it mean that God sets a table for David in the presence of his enemies? Is David just gloating as he eats while his hungry enemies look on? We look deeply into this verse of the 23rd Psalm as well as Hebrews 5:12-14, Mark 10:45, Proverbs 9:1-6,Matthew 26:31 and discover there a Table of Wisdom, of The Word, of Wonder, of Welcome, and of Worship.

Psalm 23 Part 5 - Thy Rod and Thy Staff - They Comfort Me

How could anyone find a rod or staff comforting? Is God more about love or discipline ? Isn't questioning authority a good and necessary thing? Then why is it that most of our modern dictators arose by doing that very thing? What does it mean to make Jesus your Lord? We look at the ways a shepherd uses the rod and the staff and discover that when it comes to Jesus - that the good shepherd stretches out his arms to hold both Rod and Staff - upon the cross - and the space between his Rod ...

Psalm 23 Part 4 - Even Though I walk through the valley of the Shadow

Has your life felt like you were walking through a dark valley that seems like it will never end? This verse is the hinge that turns Psalm 23 from theology to prayer. We take an honest look at what it is like to walk through the valley and still be able to say EVEN THOUGH ...

Psalm 23 Part 3 - He guides me in paths

I keep trying to restore myself, but it never sticks. What are the paths of righteousness, and how do I get there ? It turns out God doesnt just give us the map, he walks alongside us every step of the way - and so I can say with the author of Psalm 119: I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free!

Psalm 23 Part 2 - He makes me lie down

What does it mean to lie down in green pastures and be led by still waters? Today we learn more about sheep than we wanted to know and find out that they look awfully familiar. In a culture of high speed high tech pseudo-life, we find that the Christian life can be one of rhythm and quiet confidence.

Psalm 23 Part 1 - The Lord is my Shepherd

I cannot think of a conclusion that would change the direction of a persons life more, a conviction that would change their outlook on everything more than the five simple words - The Lord is my Shepherd. In this first part of our series we look at how radical it is that the number one description of God in the Old Testament is as the Shepherd

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 1 - What if it was always winter but never Christmas?

The evil witch controls Narnia, but "Aslan is on the move." Do you ever feel hopeless? What if God were on the move in your life ?

EASTER Sunday - But the Third Day... - Luke 23-24

If Jesus paid for the price of our sins on the cross, why did he need to rise from the dead ? Does your Christianity need a Easter morning? We look at an amazing true story of a world war 1 hero and then the role of a lead climber in rock climbing only to discover that Easter is even better news than we thought!

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 10 - Heaven and Hell - John 14:1-7

Would an all loving, forgiving, merciful God really send people to Hell? What is God really like? Get ready to be offended. In our concluding sermon on the Great Divorce we look at the great questions and we discover that our ability to see and enter the gate to the freedom, forgiveness, and joy of eternal life turns upon how we answer the question no one wants to ponder – Do I deserve to go to hell?

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 09 - George Mac Donald - Philippians 2:12-13

Do you make choices or do your choices make you or does God make both? If God is in complete control of how things turn out - how can my choices be real? We look at proton rain, sunlight on a stone, and stupid human tricks searching for answers and find in Philippians 2:12-13 a tiny verse that holds human free will, God's soverignty, and the mystery of human existence together !

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 08 - The Dwarf and Sarah Smith - Colossians 1:3-14

A life of manipulation leads to a legacy of ashes. A life centered on God leads to a legacy of love that never ends. Have you ever felt manipulated by someone? Worse yet, have you ever caught a glimpse of your own manipulative ways? C.S. Lewis shows us the strangest ghost yet - a dwarf chained to a mannequin - to show us the truth about ourselves. We turn to Colossians 1:3-14 to find out how to leave a legacy that matters.

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 07 - The Red Lizard - Colossians 3 1-17

Why do smart people do stupid things? Why are bad habits so hard to break? Who are you when no one is looking? How are we to break the cycle of bad habits of thought or deed? In particular how are we to handle pornography and sexual addictions ? How do you kill a red lizard? The answer is found in Colossians 3:1-7. For more resources for this sermon, search for Red Lizard at www.SouthRidgeWorship.com

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 06 - The Embarassed Woman - Matthew 23:5-12,23-28

What do you do when shame or guilt has such power over you that you would choose a life of hell rather than be exposed to your shame. It turns out that guilt and shame are not the same thing, and real freedom can found in the strangest place - a scripture about the dangers or pride.

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 05 - Robert and the FIX HIM woman - 1 Kings 3:16-28

Why is it that romantic relationships that can provide the greatest joy in life can also produce the greatest misery? We explore 10 key principles that can help us to build relationships that age well. Check the SouthRidge website for a video and PDF of the worksheet.

C.S. Lewis and The Great Divorce 04 - Ikey and the Hard-bitten man - Isaiah 61:10

Do I lean towards Optimisim, Do I lean towards Pessimism, Or do I lean on Jesus? Today we discover that two very common sense approaches to life actually keep us from seeing the Kingdom of God. We take a look at two characters in the Great Divorce, Ikey the Business Man and the Hard-bitten man in order to avoid two dead-end streets. We end with the incredibles words of Isaiah 61:10 which show us the way to live which is life indeed!

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 02 - The Big Man - Luke 18:9-17

What if there was a wall in your mind that was keeping you from crossing over into the wide open spaces of an intimate relationship with God ? It turns out that the idea that we have any rights before God is a wall that shuts us out from the very thing we want. We look at the story of THE BIG MAN in The Great Divorce and discover how to be out of excuses and into grace.

C.S. Lewis and the Great Divorce 01 - The Preface - Proverbs 16

Ever been haunted by a train of thoughts you knew were no good for you ? Ever want to meet C.S. Lewis? We do both as we hear Lewis read from the Preface of the Great Divorce about how the choices we make shape who we become. We look at Proverbs 16 and Romans 13:12-14 and how both they and Lewis call us to go against the flow of our own thoughts when they would pull us away from the good of God. To see the images referenced during the course of this sermon, go to http://www.southridgew...

The Shape of Things to Come 1 Matthew 25:14-29

In a world of winners and losers, of superstars, people who are one in a million like the atheletes we watch on TV, where is your place in this world? It turns out that Jesus has handed you a check for two million dollars to use for good in this world - you just dont know it yet.

THE TRELLIS - How to know deep peace and deep purpose in your life - John 15:1-11

Behind all our striving and fantasies, what most of us want is deep peace and deep purpose. We look at the famous scripture where Jesus says I am the vine and you are the branches to discover where deep peace and deep purpose can be found and the Trellis God provides us to stretch and train us so that we can produce the harvest he wants in our lives.

THE CHURCH - How do you know if your church is headed in the right direction? Hebrews 10:22-25

Do I really need to go to church to be a Christian? Churches are so messed up, why should I bother? What is this thing called the Church of Jesus Christ, and how could you tell a good church from a bad church ? It turns out that lying in 4 short verses in Hebrews 10 is a revelation of four signs of a healthy church. Get stoked - the church of Jesus Christ is the Hope of the world!

The Calling: What am I supposed to be doing with my career and my life?

Does God call us to a specific job or task? How do we figure out what career is best for us? What do you do when you feel stuck in your job or in your life? We turn to Ephesians 4 and discover there that God as 4 callings for us: To work, to walk, to grow, and to build. This is real hope for real lives!

You can take this job and... Ecclesiastes 9:7-11, Hebrews 12:1-13

How is your 9 - 5 life going? We look at the most common frustrations in the workplace and most common tensions between mangers and workers, and find there actually is a really good reason to heed the call - Whatever you hand finds to do - do it with all your heart.

Blessed be your name - The Story behind the Song

What do you do when the dark days come? Why does God allow good things to be taken away from our lives? We turn to the song Blessed Be Thy Name, the scriptures that form its foundation including Job 1:18-22. and ancient painting entitled Hopeless Dawn to discover the way of hope in tough times

Beautiful One - The Story behind the Song

The worship song Beautiful One seems so simple and yet carries within it profound revelation of what we mean by Father, Son, and Holy Spirt. We look at a wonderful collection of scriptures this song is based on and discover that Beautiful One is a refrain that proceeds from the foundations of the world !

MUSIC - Rem Brubaker - Flows Over Me

The Ten Commandments 11 Conclusion - Romans 7 and 8 and the meaning of Grace

In the Lord of the Rings, the heros come to a place where the gate of Moria is supposed to be. But all they can see is a bunch of words on a stone wall. Ever feel like you are sitting outside the gate of the good life with now way to get in? Does the bible ever seem like just a bunch of words on a wall that dont change anything? What good are the ten commandments if I can't keep them? If Jesus is real, why do I feel so miserable? Today we conclude the 10 Commandments series by studying ...

The Ten Commandments 10 - Do not covet - LUKE 18:18-30

Have you ever found yourself thinking - If only I had that ... then I would be happy... ? Or have you ever found yourself envying someone else's life? What are we supposed to do with that feeling ? Is contentment on this earth possible ? Is desire to aquire nice things really wrong? We find an incredibly hopeful answer to these questions as we find out what beach houses, butter wrapped in bacon, tapeworms and the story Jesus told of the Rich Young Ruler all have in common !

The Ten Commandments 9 - No Lying - PROVERBS 6:16-23

Bending the truth, white lies, gossip - they seem to have become America's favorite pastimes. We cant stand it when others lie to us, and yet we dont really think that our own bending of the truth is any big deal. But it turns out that lying creates three great seperations in our lives, and keeps us from experiencing the kind of fulfilling lives God wants for us. Join us as we explore Proverbs 6:16-23 to find out how to fight back against the three great seperations.

The Ten Commandments 8 - No Stealing - A Thief in the night - Leviticus 19:33-37

Is it wrong to make copies of music, or keep stuff from work, or chargge high interest rates? What exactly does God mean when he says "Do not steal"? And why does the Old Testament spend so much time talking about weights and balances ? We take a look at an obscure scripture in Leviticus 19. It turns out it that honest scales are a foundational requirement for any culture and they make us to take a hard look at ourselves when we consider the Commandment "Do Not Steal." It turns out we ...