Sermons on Ann Douglas Vaughan:

You Carry The Gospel!

Contributed by Anne Benefield on May 28, 2008

If we truly believe then we will want to share the Gospel in actions as well as words.

Introduction: The passage that we study today is called the “Great Commission.” The disciples have gone to Galilee to meet with the Risen Christ. These are the last words of Jesus to His disciples and in them He does three things: 1. He assures them of His power. 2. He gives them a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Spirit Of The Living God, Fall Afresh On Me

Contributed by Anne Benefield on May 28, 2008

Your life can sparkle with the Spirit if you will let the Spirit live within you.

Introduction: Today is the birthday of the church. We find the account of what happened in Acts of the Apostles, which perhaps should be called “Acts of the Spirit.” Newsweek magazine features a short column in which famous authors tell what the five most important books to them were. Garrison ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He's Waiting At The Well

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 27, 2008

Like the woman at the well, we are thirsty for salvation, and Jesus waits for us with living water at the well.

Introduction: Our reading today is so completely rich with meaning that I am going to go through it verse by verse. I hope in this way to open the text that it might address us where we are, for Christ always comes to us no matter where we are. Prayer: Lord God, we come thirsty. We live in a ...read more

Scripture: John 9:5-41

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Open Our Eyes

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 3, 2008

Jesus never walks by us, and when He stops our faith will grow if we retell the stories of His touch.

Introduction: Jesus has traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Booths, which was one of the three festivals when faithful Jews would travel to Jerusalem. The other two are Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost). During the Feast of Booths which is seven days between late October and late November, ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Come And See

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 24, 2008

It’s risky, but sharing faith with friends and families is the most important and effective way to bring people to Christ.

Introduction: Last week we studied Matthew’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ formal ministry when he was baptized by John the Baptist. Today we turn to the account of John the Gospel writer. The story begins with John the Baptist witnessing to Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” Two of John’s ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Word We Hate The Most

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 19, 2008

The word we hate the most is "no" and yet practicing Lenten disciples of fasting, praying, and giving can enrich us when we say "no" to the world and "yes" to God.

Introduction: The passage we will read tonight is the traditional reading for Ash Wednesday. It focuses our attention on the three disciplines of Lent: Praying, Fasting, and Giving. You will hear each one described. Tonight we’re going to discuss how to practice those disciplines. Hear now the ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Renewed In The Wilderness

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 19, 2008

The power of Lent is in the wilderness of letting go and disengaging with the world so that we can reconnect to God.

Introduction: The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness is a pivotal event in His life. It is recorded in Mark, Luke, and Matthew. This week we read Matthew’s account. It comes right after Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan and before His formal ministry begins. Hear now the word of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Believe Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

It is important to have a creed...to determine what, in fact, you believe.

I BELIEVE TEXT: 2 Chronicles 20:20-21; Mark 9:17-27 Now that our lighthouse is built and there is a light to shine on our way, I want to shift our point of reference from the lighthouse to a nearby ship. (Steve and George skit.) It is time for us to chart the course of our ship across the year. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:17-27

Denomination: Methodist

Maker Of Heaven And Earth Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The first phrase of the Creed, "I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth."

MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH TEXT: Isaiah 43:9-13; Romans 1:18-23 Across this coming year, we are going to be talking a lot about charting our course. What that means is that, as a church, we are going somewhere and that somewhere is greater mission and ministry in our community and world. As we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-23

Denomination: Methodist

Jesus, The Son Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

Phrase two of the Creed, "And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord."

JESUS, THE SON TEXT: Matt. 3:13-17; 2 Sam. 7:11b - 16 For those of you just tuning in, we have begun a look at one of the ancient maps of the Christian faith, the Apostles’ Creed. I think it’s fair to say that every line of this creed has been questioned and debated from the very beginning. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Methodist

Conceived By The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The third phrase of the Creed: "Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary"

CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TEXT: Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:46-55 As we delve deeper into the ancient church document called the Apostles’ Creed, we come to a line representing an issue that has sparked debate across two thousand years. The line we talked about last week, “And in Jesus Christ, his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-55

Denomination: Methodist

Suffered, Dead, And Buried Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The fourth phrase of the Creed: "Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried"

SUFFERED, DEAD, AND BURIED TEXT: Matthew 27:27-31; Isaiah 53:1-9 So far in our look at the Apostle’s Creed, we have hit a lot of controversial lines. We have waded into the debates about God as “Father,” about the divinity of Jesus, and the Virgin Birth. This week, however, the phrase we are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-31

Denomination: Methodist

Ups And Downs Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The fifth phrase of the Creed: "He descended into hell. On the third day he arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sittith at the right hand of God the Father Almighty"

UPS AND DOWNS TEXT: Luke 24:44-52; 1 Peter 3:18-22 We’re approaching the close of the first part of the Apostles’ Creed...the section that mostly deals with the nature of Jesus’ life and death. As I mentioned in the introductory sermon, there are several very old versions of the Creed, and they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:44-52

Denomination: Methodist

Who's The Judge Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The sixth phrase of the Creed: "From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead."

WHO’S THE JUDGE? TEXT: Luke 6:37-38; Romans 8:1-6 As we continue our travels through the Apostles’ Creed, we come to a rather squirmy line: “From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” Thinking about the judgment passages of Scripture is not an easy way to pass the morning, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The seventh phrase of the Creed: "I believe in the Holy Spirit"

THE HOLY SPIRIT TEXT: John 16:12-15; Acts 2:1-18 This week we move into the second part of the Creed. The first part was almost exclusively about the nature and life of Jesus, but in this second part we branch out to a listing of other Christian beliefs. The difficult piece is that the Creed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-18

Denomination: Methodist