Sermons on Ann Douglas Vaughan:

Lord Of Second Chances

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Sep 9, 2008

Throughout the Bible, God offers person after person a second chance. He’s offering you a second chance. Use it faithfully.

As people came into the sanctuary they were asked to take a stone from pails of stones. Immediately following the sermon, they were invited to come forward to place the stone representing their sin at the foot of the cross. I also took 8-1/2 by 11 sheets with a name for each Biblical person, taped ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Deep In Our Hearts

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jun 9, 2009

Only God is permanent: our covenant with God becomes real when it moves from our brains to our hearts.

Deep in our Hearts Jeremiah 31:31-34 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, March 29, 2009 Introduction: Beginning in 598 BCE (Before Common Era), King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah and exiled many of its leading citizens to Babylon. The fall of Judah was complete in ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When Memory Fails

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 15, 2009

When we can’t remember who we are, our baptism connects us to Jesus and each other, gives us our identity, and gives us a vision of eternity in difficult times.

When Memory Fails Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11 Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, January 11, 1009 Introduction: The baptism of Jesus is a text read and proclaimed every year. The account from Mark is simple and powerful. Mark 1:4-11 John the Baptizer appeared in the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Want Me To Follow You Where?

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 19, 2009

Jesus wants us to follow Him to the places where we need to grow. It won’t be easy, but the reward is great.

You Want Me to Follow You Where? Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; John 1:43-51 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, January 18, 2009 Introduction: Our scripture lesson today is found in the end of the first chapter of the gospel of John. You may remember that John’s Gospel begins with ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51, 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Called To Worship; Equipped To Serve

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 29, 2009

The work of a believer begins with worship of God. Although we benefit from worship, worship is for God.

Called to Worship, Equipped to Serve Psalm 62:5-12; Mark 1:14-20 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, January 25, 2009 Introduction: Mark’s gospel begins abruptly. In the first thirteen verses, we learn that John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Messiah, and that John ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Who's The Authority?

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 4, 2009

We live in a culture where vacuous celebrities are given amazing amount of authority. We need to look to the real authority, Jesus, who will lead us to right decisions.

Who’s the Authority? Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Mark 1:21-28 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, February 1, 2009 Introduction: Before I read the story, I’d like to explain a few things that will make the passage clearer. We’re still in the first chapter of Mark and we will stay ...read more

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

The Holy Catholic Church Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The eighth phrase of the Creed: "The holy catholic church."

THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH TEXT: John 17:20-23; Ephesians 4:1-6 Line by line we are making it through the Apostle’s Creed, and the line we are looking at this week is easily the most misunderstood line in the whole thing. “I believe in the holy catholic church. I remember when I first learned ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Methodist