Langdon Palmer

Apostles Creed 1 - God the Father - The Story of the Cosmos Dehdrated - Isaiah 45:5-22

When we hear great news, ever notice how the whole world seems to change ? We look at everything, not just the news, in a different way. What if the most exciting news we could ever hear has been at hand all along, lying in the corner, covered with dust, dismissed by us as unimportant and irrelevant? What if we mistook the Apostles Creed for a somewhat arbitrary bundle of religious doctrines and propositions when in fact, it was the very story of the cosmos... dehydrated ? Join us as we disco...

The Gospel according to Severus Snape - Matthew 15:21-28

Would the Jesus you know tell a desperate woman who comes to him for help that "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs (i.e. to you)" !??? What is going on in Matthew 15:21-28 ? What do you do when God seems cold ? What do you do when you have prayed your heart out but God remains silent? In this podcast we cover a crucial aspect of Jesus' nature that is often ignored in our generation. In so doing we discover that even Severus Snape can teach us a thing ...

Moses - Exodus 3:1-22

We often think that the stories of the Old Testament are either made up, or that God doesn't work that way anymore. The lives of these ancient heroes of the faith seem so unlike our own lives. But when we take a closer look at the calling of Moses, we find that life pretty much works the same way for him as it does for us. In the classic story of the burning bush we actually find helpful clues to how to hear God's call on our own lives today.

Hebrews Chapter 9 - The gospel according to the Grand Canyon

Are you an idealist or a realist ? What if neither quite sees the world for what it actually is ? The book of Hebrews says that the earthly sanctuary and sacrafices of the Old Testament are but a copy of the real thing in heaven. Does that mean that this physical world is just a cheap imitation of the real thing in the spiritual realm? Today we both dig into philosophy and practical insights as we discover the implications for our lives when the bible says Jesus gave his life as a ransom...

Hebrews Chapter 8 - Replacing that old furnace in the basement

How do the Old Testament and New Testament go together ? If God knows everything, why didnt he just start with the New Testament ? Did he try something that didnt work and then change his mind ? To look at one of the deepest sections of the book of Hebrews, today Pastor Langdon talks about the adventure of replacing a 30 year old furnace in an old farm house as a way of understanding God's radical plan of redemption.

Hebrews Chapter 7 - Out of Nowhere - kattywampus like Melchizedek

Some of us want "free range" spirituality others want to stick to rules, traditions, and doing things "the right way"... but left to our own devices all of us end up in the end... kattywampus. This morning we follow the strange logic of the book of Hebrews about a mysterious high priest who shows up out of no where to bring blessing, and we find out that behind the scenes everything is connected, and that God often comes to us out of left field - from the last place we expected.

Hebrews Chapter 6 - My Anchor still holds

We all have many hopes for the future, and unfortunately, there is no guarantee that most of them will come true. And yet in the midst of life’s storms and trials there is still one place we can turn to - there is one anchor that will hold in any storm. Join us as we turn to Hebrews Chapter 6 and the real life experiences of others to discover the meaning behind one of the most popular verses in the bible.

Hebrews Chapter 5 - Eeyore and Tigger meet the Author of Salvation

Is the glass half empty or is the glass half full? We often talk alot about optimists and pessimists. It turns out they not only see life differently, they do life differently. Find out what a difference it makes, and how following Jesus can actually change the way we look at life and therefore change the way we do life.

Hebrews Chapter 4 - The Sabbath, The Sword, and the Savior - or - Understanding the Word of God

This morning we come across some of the most famous verses in the bible such as "The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than a two edged sword." But what does that mean ? How does modern scholarship and honest doubts about the bible go with this claim ? Can they be reconciled ? Today we see there is a way - which is to be true to the bible as it actually is.

Hebrews Chapter 3 - Science, Christianity and Diversity - or, how to encourage one another

Recently in the news was a study that showed that a diverse multi-ethnic research team produced better science than a team from all the same ethnicity. But it turns out that diversity can either bring flourishing and growth or death to science depending on how it is used. The same is true for diversity in the church. Join us as we see how the writer of Hebrews brings us back to those few non-negotiables that make diversity a blessing to the church.

Marriage - is this as good as it gets ?

Is marriage as good as it gets ? What about my life as a single ? Looking at the status of my own marriage - is this as good as it gets ? Today we look at a biblical understanding of marriage and some practical steps for both singles and couples to see marriage as God intended it.. Key to understanding this sermon is watching the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2bk_9T482g Join us for a fun, sad, passionate look at marriage!

Sex - Why does it bring out both the best and the worst in us ?

Do the bible and Christianity frown on sexuality ? Are Christians to be uptight about sex ? It turns out that the impression our culture has of what the bible says about sex has very little to do with what the bible actually does say about sex. Join us as we honestly face what it means to be sexual beings who love Jesus. For more resources, go to http://www.southridgeworship.com/relationships.htm

Stimulus versus Response - Proverbs 3:3-4

All of us what deep, meaningful, supportive relationships. Today we start with the most basic building block - the first step to building better relationships with co-workers, friends, and family. Do you think you have the ability to have more rewarding friendships ? Join us for this first crucial step of growth. For more resources on this topic, go to http://www.southridgeworship.com/relationships.htm

A Threshing Floor Advent - Matthew 3:1-12

Why did the ancient church always read scriptures about the judgement at the second coming as a way to prepare for Christmas ?

Is any of this real ? Hope for WYSIWYG Christians John 20:24-36

Why can't I have a simple faith ? Why do I always struggle with doubt ? There are so many scams in the world, how do I know Christianity isn't just another one of them ? It turns out that the one they calling Doubting Thomas is the very one who can show us the way to real faith in the midst of our questions !

The Catcher in the Rye - Mark 1:14-20 Mark 2:13-17

What does the crude, irreverent, alienated hero of The Catcher in the Rye possibly have to do with the gospel and the good news of Jesus Christ ? It turns out - quite a lot.

2 Samuel 7 - When God said no to David - Living in a house of Cedar

What should we do when we are trying to do the very thing we thinking would give God pleasure and God seems to be giving us a big "No." ? Why does the Old Testament contain such strange stories about such messed up people - stories that never seem to resolve neatly? Are people like David in the bible to be our heroes and role models or for a totally different reason ? We cover a lot of rich ground that brings us right up to the current Left-Right divide in our country as we turn to a key...

MUSIC - The Coming Of October

For lyrics, see Notes. For more from Watermark see http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/LangdonPalmer

When God Comes Knocking 1 Samuel 3 - Part 1

Is it possible God is knocking at your door? Is it possible to be too religious ? Is it possible to religious but never actually know God ? In our scripture for this morning God reached out to Samuel four times before Samuel finally understood and said "Speak Lord, for your servant listens." Today's sermon offers us a chance to walk the "Roman Road" - a basic explanation of the gospel that can help us come to know the Lord.

Moses and the burning bush - Exodus 3

What are we to make of the story of the burning bush ? Did it really happen ? Does God still communicate that way? Would the God you say you know act that way today ? In this amazing story we find something that makes us uncomfortable - God does not reach out to Moses through his reason, but rather by his confusion. In the middle of a very ordinary looking world he puts this one small spot that makes no sense, one place in Moses' world that makes no sense. It is in that place that he ...

Psalm 19

C.S. Lewis said " I take Psalm 19 to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world." When this amazing Psalm becomes our psalm, good things happen. Today we look at what this Psalm means and give you an effective way to memorize the entire thing. In the very act of memorizing it you will be participating in the prayer of it's very last verse: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

I'm not Religious...

A 3 minute reflection on why I can't say "I'm not religious..." anymore. Music by Luke Pigott For more resources, go to TheCreedProject.com

I dont believe in faith, I believe in Science

A 3 minute reflection on why I can't say "You have to choose between Science and Faith" anymore. Music by Luke Pigott For more resources, go to TheCreedProject.com

"I'm not into Organized Religion"

A 3 minute reflection on why I can't say "I'm not religious..." anymore. Music by Luke Pigott For more resources, go to TheCreedProject.com

I dont need doctrine

A 3 minute reflection on why I can't say "I don't need doctrine" anymore. Music by Luke Pigott For more resources, go to TheCreedProject.com

Apostles'' Creed - On the third day he rose again - Christ the Victor

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Apostles' Creed Revelation 1 - God the Father - Isaiah 45:2-22

When we hear great news, ever notice how the whole world seems to change ? We look at everything, not just the news, in a different way. What if the most exciting news we could ever hear has been at hand all along, lying in the corner, covered with dust, dismissed by us as unimportant and irrelevant? What if we mistook the Apostles Creed for a somewhat arbitrary bundle of religious doctrines and propositions when in fact, it was the very story of the cosmos... dehydrated ? Join us as...

Apostles' Creed Revolution 3 - God The Son Victorious - Revelation Chapters 1 & 5

Why did Jesus have to die ? Why does the creed say "descened into hell ?" Is it OK for the church to use military metaphors when we talk about what Christ has accomplished ? Today we look into the amazing imagery of the book of Revelation to get a deeper understanding of the meaning of the phrase "He descended to Hell. The third day he rose again..."

Apostles' Creed Revelation 5 - The Holy Catholic Church - Hebrews 12

What is the church ? How we answer that question will impact many things including how we view ourselves and what we are doing. We look at three images and the amazing teaching of Hebrews 12 and discover the beauty of what the creed means when it says "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church and the Communion of the Saints"

Apostles' Creed Revelation 4 - God the Holy Spirit - Matthew 3:16-4:11

This intense sermon explores the Trinity, the spiritual world, temptation, and how believing in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit both brings you much closer to all the other religions of the world and at the same time sets Christianity completely apart as something different than anything else that has ever been proclaimed in the history of the world. This is a heavy sermon but it covers a lot of ground and gives a great overview of why the Trinity is the central idea of the Christian faith.

Easter - Harry Potter and the King's Cross - Matthew 28:1-20

What could a fantasy story like Harry Potter have to do with understanding the actual historical event of the first Easter ? There is a reason that we love the stories we do. Today's sermon reaches out to those who love Harry Potter but aren't so sure about church and Christianity to introduce them to the actual King of Everywhere. What if we are living inside a story that actually happened ?

Palm Sunday - But for this fleeting moment... rejoice - JOHN 12:9-33

Should we feel happy or sad on Palm Sunday ? Is it the story of how fickle, faithless and fallen human beings are - one minute raising palms in celebration of Jesus and the next minute raising fists crying Crucify Him? Actually it is about a whole lot more, and in it we find the incredible way all of scripture is woven together. There is a promise in it waiting for every person who has ever felt like a hypocrite

Parables of Jesus - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Luke 18:9-14

With this parable Jesus gives us a chance to look under the hood - to see what the basic stance of our heart is. It turns out that this basic stance affects how we see every other aspect of our lives. He gives us the chance to be out of excuses but in to grace. For images of the sculpture discussed in this podcast go to http://www.southridgeworship.com/parables_of_jesus.htm

Parables of Jesus - The House built upon the rock and the House built on the sand - Matthew 7:24-27

Did you ever have a day when you just weren't much of a fan of yourself and you could have used a little comfort and encouragement ? A day when you were depressed over how mediocre you are ? A day when you think you've done everything you are supposed to do and then you show up and they tell you "you're not on the list ?" This morning we look at Jesus' teaching about the man who built the house of his life upon the sand and the man who built the house of his life upon the rock. Comfor...

Parables of Jesus - The Sower, the Seeds, and the Four Soils - Mark 4:1-23

What does this parable mean? Is Jesus saying that God intends for some people not to ever understand the gospel? Does Jesus talk in parables to the crowds but plainly to his disciples to intentionally keep people out ? What do the four soils mean ? What is the point of this parable that some call the very foundation of the Gospel of Mark. Join us as we explore this masterful parable of Jesus. Yep, the sound you hear towards the end of the podcast is Langdon casting seeds all over the s...

Parables of Jesus - The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32

What should be the goal of my life ? What is the purpose of life ? Some say the pursuit of happiness or pleasure, others say the pursuit of nobility and character. It turns out that the answer is found between the prodigal son and the older son - it is found in Him from whom all blessings flow. Join us as we unpack one of the most famous and familiar parables and discover not only sides to it we never thought about before... we find ourselves and the God who loves us.

Parables of Jesus - The Mustard Seed - Mark 4:30-33

When Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed - what does he mean ? We look at three kinds of people - the person who plants, the person who watches, and the person who is too busy to notice - as a way of thinking about our own lives. But what is the primary mustard seed that Jesus is talking about ? . It turns out that something as small and apparently inconsequential as one wandering Rabbi 2000 years ago was the beginning of something that would grow so large that at the ...

Parables of Jesus - The two sons go out into the field - Matthew 21:23-32

How do you want to live this year ? What do you want your life to be about ? No matter what the past has held, there is still time to choose a different way today, because this is the day the Lord has made. On this first Sunday of the New Year we begin our sermon series on the Parables of Jesus. Today we look at one that is often overlooked - the story of the two sons who go into the field. When we listen carefully we find our selves inside the story, and find that Jesus is calling u...

Y= mx+b - or God for people who like Big Bang Theory - Isaiah 9:2-3

This sermon is for people who love the show "Big Bang Theory." Do you have to choose between science and faith ? We all have ideas about the way the world is supposed to work, but what do we do when our rules and laws and equations dont match the way the world actually works ? There is a way to understand the relationship between faith and science that makes sense - but you have to be willing to abide a thing called Paradox.

Advent 2 - Behold I send my messenger Malachi 3 :1-4, Luke 1 :68-79

Often the string of stories in the Old Testament like the string of events in our lives don't seem to make much sense. But today we look at the coming of John the Baptist as the messenger who prepares the way for the coming of the messiah. A messenger implies a message - in other words, things we don't already know, but need to hear. A message that comes unexpected out of left field. If God sent you a message today - about things you know nothing about - would you want to hear? Join ...

Hiding in plain sight: The Lord's Prayer and the City of Ember - Matthew 6:7-16

In many Sci Fi stories there is some ancient relic that has been passed down from generation to generation - but nobody really knows what it's for any more. Then comes the moment when the hero realizes it's not some useless artifact from the past but the very key that can change everything in the present. We look at the story of the City of Ember as way of understanding just how crucial the Lord's Prayer can be. It turns out that this prayer that is so often said by rote and without thou...

Giving, Praying, Fasting, or.... How to live in the wrong story - Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Ever notice how self conscious you can feel in public? We all want to look good to others. Sometimes we waste a lot of energy worrying about what others think of us. But what happens when we start intentionally trying to draw attention to ourselves? More than we think. This week Jesus both talks about the three crucial spiritual practices of - Giving, Praying, & Fasting - AND - shows us how these beautiful things can become ugly if done for the wrong motives. Join us as we explore the...

Lust, Loyalty, and Divorce - Matthew 5:27-37

Some parts of the bible make sex sound amazing and joyful, other parts give warnings and set boundaries. Why? And what is the Christian view of Divorce ? By way of Farming, Burkas, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Monty Python we get to the beautifully balanced teaching of Jesus on these tough, important topics.

Dealing with Anger - Matthew 5:21-26

Some of us really struggle with conflict and our anger. Others of us think we don't have an anger problem but anger has many faces including Grumbling, Sarcasm, Cynicism, Moodiness, Withdrawing, Playing the Victim, Depression, and Contempt. Jesus teaches us how to live in a world full of anger.

Jesus, the law, and the gospel in the Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:17-20

In this crazy world filled with so many opinions and choices, where is the path to the good life found? What's more important - what we believe or what we do ? Could it be that most of us get this question wrong? When Jesus said "Don't think I have come to get rid of the Old Testament law but to fullfill it" what did he mean? Are Christians supposed to obey the Old Testament laws today ? Is Christianity about doing the right things or about God's love, mercy and grace ? How do tho...

The Beatitudes - Matthew 5:1-12

One bible scholar has called the Beatitudes the best known and the least understood of all of Jesus' teachings. What are they really about ? What does Jesus mean when he says Blessed are the Poor, or Blessed are those who mourn? Today we look in depth at the Beatitudes and find they are giving us a summary of both the Christian life and the promises of God.