Sermons & Services

Here are a variety of sermons and services over the last few years. Click on a sermon title to see the manuscript.

“Those Easter Doubts”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on April 27, 2025 (the second Sunday of Easter).

The scripture reading begins at 13:26; the sermon begins at 16:13.

Text: John 20:19-31 || Bulletin here

“An Interpretation of Mercy”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on January 26, 2025, the Sunday following the presidential inauguration.

The scripture reading begins at 20:43 (and continues following the children’s choir). The sermon begins at 26:20.

Text: Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10 || Bulletin here

“Held With Prayer”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on September 29, 2024, the Sunday following Hurricane Helene.

This service was not recorded due to technical issues following storm-related power outages.

Text: Psalm 124; James 5:13-20 || Bulletin here

“The Humble Walk of Faith”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on May 5, 2024.

This was the first sermon in a four-part series using the new PCUSA “Follow Me” curriculum – specifically the “Walk Humbly” unit. It was also Confirmation Sunday. The sermon begins at 17:50. The first scripture reading begins at 15:14.

Text: Micah 6:6-8; Luke 12:13-21 || Bulletin here

“Is Anything Too Wonderful for God?”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on June 18, 2023.

You may watch the worship service here. The sermon begins at 18:25. The first Hebrew Bible lesson begins at 11:20; the second at 17:27.

Text: Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7 || Bulletin here

“Don’t Be Discouraged”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on April 23, 2023.

This was the second sermon in a three-part series using the new PCUSA “Follow Me” curriculum – specifically the “Pray” unit.

You may watch the worship service here. The sermon begins at 15:03 (the Gospel reading starts at 11:56). This service also featured the Sacrament of Baptism – my first as a Minister of Word and Sacrament. It follows the sermon. Finally, there was a congregational meeting following the service that I moderated. This, too, is included in the recording.

Text: Luke 18:1-14 || Bulletin here

“Sing a [Cover] Song”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on January 22, 2023.

This was the third sermon in a four-part series using the new PCUSA “Follow Me” curriculum – specifically the “Sing a New Song” unit.

You may watch the worship service here. The sermon begins at 19:27. The children’s message (called Word and Wonder) with background on the Hebrew Bible story begins at 8:36. The Hebrew Bible lesson begins at 12:20; the Gospel lesson begins at 17:52.

Text: 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Luke 1:46-55 || Bulletin here

“A Good Beginning”

A homily given during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on December 18, 2022.

This was the fourth sermon in a four-part series using the new PCUSA “Follow Me” curriculum – specifically the “Go Tell” unit. I planned this particular service as a lessons and carols-type service, though non-traditional. Rather than using the classic lessons and carols, we walked through the entirety of Luke 1 as a sort of prelude to the classic birth story in Luke 2, which would be read the following week on Christmas Eve. As the music director at the church had already selected the music weeks prior, this service was crafted around those selections.

This service was also live streamed; you may watch it here. The homily begins at 24:32.

Text: Luke 1 || Bulletin here

“Practicing Joy”

A sermon preached during a worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on May 1, 2022.

This was the first sermon in a five-part series using the new PCUSA “Follow Me” curriculum – specifically the “Practice Joy” unit. This was also Confirmation Sunday.

You may watch the worship service here. The sermon begins at 20:03 (and the Hebrew Bible lesson begins at 15:08).

Text: Genesis 28:11-22 || Bulletin here

“Called to Listen”

A sermon preached during a Facebook Live worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on February 28, 2021.

You may watch the worship service here. The sermon begins at 18:56 (and the Gospel lesson begins at 16:15).

Text: Mark 8:31-9:8

“Telling Disruptive Truths”

A sermon preached during a Facebook Live worship service at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on June 21, 2020.

There is no recording of this service due to technical issues.

Text: Matthew 10:24-39

“Repent! And Follow.”

A sermon preached at First Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) on the third Sunday of Epiphany, January 26, 2020.

You may listen to an audio recording here.

Text: Matthew 4:12-23 || Bulletin here

“Remember!”

An Easter sunrise service and message given at Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church (Richmond, VA) on April 21, 2019.

Text: Luke 24:1-12 || Bulletin here

“Gifted for God’s Service (That Includes You)”

A sermon preached at (and worship service planned for) Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church (Richmond, VA) on January 27, 2019.

You may listen to an audio recording here.

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a (and Luke 4:14-21) || Bulletin here

“An (Extra)Ordinary Birth”

A Christmas Eve meditation given at (and worship service planned for) Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church (Richmond, VA) on December 24, 2018.

Text: Luke 2:1-20 || Bulletin here

“Listen: Love!”

A sermon preached at (and worship service planned for) Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church (Richmond, VA) on November 4, 2018.

You may listen to an audio recording here.

Text: Ruth 1:1-18 (and Mark 12:28-34) || Bulletin here

“Jesus Wept”

A meditation preached at Union Presbyterian Seminary on October 17, 2018 as part of a “Faces of Faith” series using pieces from A Sanctified Art. See the watercolor referenced here.

You can watch a recording here. My meditation begins at 8:55.

Text: John 11:20-37

“The Weeds of Our Lives”

A chapel service created and led at the Mindy Ellen Levine Behavioral Health Center in Davidson, NC, on July 23, 2017, as part of my CPE intern responsibilities.

Text: Matthew 13:24-30