Chuck Warnock Podcasts

Everything Is Made New

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 02:34:36 +0000

In 2 Corinthians 5:6-17, the Apostle Paul encourages the church in Corinth to live a life pleasing to Christ because one day all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. On that day, each of us will have to give account of how we lived our lives. How we live does matter, and Paul affirms that fact to the troubled church in Corinth.

Life in the Spirit

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:51:00 +0000

Trinity Sunday offers an opportunity to examine Paul's idea of life in the Spirit. According to Romans 8:12-17, living in the Spirit means that we don't live by the "flesh" -- which is a word Paul uses to identify that which is dying and passing away, that lifestyle to which we were slaves prior to coming to Christ. Life in the Spirit means we are God's children, and as God's children we form habits as we are led by the Spirit of God. Those habits will bring us into conflict with the world that lives by the "flesh" and we will suffer as Christ suffered because we are living by the Spirit. But, Paul reminds us that if we suffer with Christ, we will also be glorified with Christ, too.

Living in the Power of Pentecost

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:34:47 +0000

Pentecost Sunday is the last big Sunday in the liturgical year, but often churches that celebrate Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter fail to give equal emphasis to Pentecost. Pentecost is the culmination of the Christian Year, and has been called the "birthday of the church." Without Pentecost, the Christian Year is incomplete because it is at Pentecost that Jesus fulfills his promise to send the Holy Spirit to empower, equip, enthuse, and embolden the apostles. It is also on Pentecost that the church launches it mission of taking the Gospel to the whole world. Pentecost carries great significance for those early followers of Christ, and for us today. Here's the sermon I preached on Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2012, titled Living in the Power of Pentecost.

A Mother's Sacrifice

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:07:18 +0000

The Bible features several accounts of mothers, but my favorite Old Testament story about mothers is the story of Hannah and Samuel. Found in 1 Samuel 1, Hannah's story recounts her wilingness to give her son, Samuel, back to the Lord. Samuel, in turn, heard the voice of God calling him. As a result Samuel became the spiritual leader of Israel, speaking to the people on behalf of God. Samuel would be used of God to anoint Saul as king. Then, when Saul failed to serve God, Samuel anointed David as king of all Israel.

Worshipping and Doubting

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:03:36 +0000

In Matthew 28:16-20, we usually miss verse 17: "They worshipped him, but some doubted." What did the 11 disciples doubt during this post-resurrection appearance of Jesus? Did they doubt that he had been resurrected? Or that he was the Messiah, the Son of God? Or did they doubt themselves and their ability to carry on after Jesus left them? The interesting point in this is that some of the same disciples who worshipped him, also doubted. What can we learn from the disciples' struggle in the aftermath of the resurrection?

If You Love Jesus

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:15:12 +0000

In John 21:15-19, Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Most Bible scholars agree that Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to atone for his betrayal of Jesus three times during Jesus' arrest. But what does this mean for us today? How do we know if we love Jesus. In this passage we find the simple evidence of love for Jesus.

Living in Light of Easter

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:40:12 +0000

Now that Easter Sunday is behind us, what do we do next? How do we as followers of Jesus live in light of Easter's message of hope and joy? In John 20:19-31 we read the story of Jesus' first encounter with his disciples after his resurrection. This account is unique to John's gospel and gives us insight into what Jesus intended for his disciples to do in light of his resurrection. The words of Jesus to his followers have implications for us who live in light of Easter, too.

Easter: The God We've Been Waiting For

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:18:38 +0000

On this Easter Sunday we hear the words of Isaiah 25:6-9, written over 600 years before the birth of Jesus. In Isaiah's day, the nation of Judah believes that God has left them. Isaiah reminds them what will happen when the God they are waiting for returns. That promise is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, and in his death and resurrection. Isaiah says that when God returns God will remove the shroud of death from over the nation, swallow up death itself, wipe every tear from their eyes, and throw a big banquet in celebration. All of these images foreshadow the coming of Christ, the kingdom of God, and the great banquet God is preparing.

Palm Sunday: Sharing In the Suffering of Jesus

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 23:17:02 +0000

In Mark 15:1-39 we read the story of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. The descriptions of the suffering of Jesus remind us that we should not trivialize the sacrifice of Christ. The apostle Paul reminds Christians that we share in the suffering of Christ. This passage provides us the background for both understanding and living a life of sharing Christ's suffering by sharing the suffering of others.

The Days Are Coming

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:32:58 +0000

On the final Sunday of Lent we are looking at Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God says that "the days are coming" when those in captivity in Babylon will have a new covenant with God. That new covenant was unimaginable to the people of Jeremiah's day because the Temple had been destroyed, Jerusalem lay in ruins, and the nation of Judah has seen its king led away in chains. But Jeremiah prophesies a new day where God will again be their God, when God's law will be in their minds and on their hearts, and when God will forgive their sins. This new day begins in the sixth century BC, but finds its fulfillment in the incarnation of Christ. But God is still at work today, and during this Lenten season our task is to imagine the new work that God continues to do in all of creation.

The Problem with Snakes

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:30:15 +0000

In Numbers 21:4-9, the nation of Israel rebels against God on their Exodus pilgrimage, so God sends poisonous snakes into their camp. Recognizing their sin, the people repent and ask Moses to ask God to remove the snakes. Instead of removing the snakes, God sends a remedy for snakebite. Moses makes a bronze serpent, and places it on a pole so all who are bitten can "look and live." Jesus recalls this story in John 3:14 when he says, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." During Lent, this is a story that captures our imagination, reminds us of the persistence of sin, and focuses us on God as the only one who can save us.

Called By A New Name

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:18:16 +0000

When God changes the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah, we are reminded of the importance of names. Our new name in the family of God is eternally linked to God's plan and purpose for God's creation, just as Abraham and Sarah's were. But God's naming doesn't stop with Abraham, Sarah, or us. God's naming sets in motion his eternal purpose realized finally and fully in the name above every name -- the name given to Jesus.

Creation Care Isn't All Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:06:56 +0000

In the story of God's promise never to destroy the earth with a flood again, God sets a rainbow in the sky as a reminder that God cares for his creation. The promise God makes -- the Noahic covenant -- is a promise to Noah, his descendants, and to every living creature with Noah, and ultimately to the earth itself. This covenant reminds us that God has plans for his creation and that we have a responsibility to care for it until God makes "all things new."

If You're Going Down to the River, Choose the Right One

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:30:39 +0000

When Naaman is told by the prophet Elisha to go and wash himself in the River Jordan seven times to heal his leprosy, Naaman is outraged. He prefers the "rivers of Damascus," his home town. But if Naaman had not obeyed Elisha, he would have missed out on something wonderful. Just a reminder that not any old river will do, and 2 Kings 5:1-14 tells us why.

What Real Authority Looks Like

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:30:03 +0000

The people gathered in the old synagogue at Capernaum were amazed that Jesus taught "as one who had authority" and not like the teachers they were used to hearing. What did Jesus say and do that amazed those who heard him? And how was Jesus' authority different from the religious leaders of his day? Understanding the answers to those questions will help us know what real authority looks like today.

A Proclamation and an Invitation

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:58:50 +0000

In Mark 1:14-20, Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of God is near. He then invites those who hear his proclamation to change their way of thinking and living, and believe the good news of the Kingdom's presence. Jesus then invites Peter and Andrew, and James and John to follow him, with the promise that he will make them fishers of people. The invitation to follow Jesus is an invitation to Kingdom living, and means more than just believing facts or doctrine.

When God Finds You

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:38:33 +0000

Taken from John 1:43-51, this story of Jesus caling Philip and Nathanael gives us a glimpse in how and why God calls us to follow Jesus. When God Finds You explores the role of scripture, experience, and community that are present in the call of God in the lives of followers of Jesus.

Heaven and Earth Meet in the Waters of Baptism

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:38:37 +0000

Jesus' baptism was the central, but not only time, that heaven and earth met with extraordinary result. This meeting of heaven and earth is what Jesus taught us to pray for, and heaven and earth will ultimately meet again finally and forever when all things are made new. Because of the unique experience of Jesus, our own baptisms become the meeting place of heaven and earth, too.

A Story of Wonder

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:57:36 +0000

What is it about the Christmas story that captures the imagination of not only Christians, but of the entire world? I believe that the Christmas story is a story of love. It is the story of God's love for this world and all those in it, and that love spreads from person to person especially at this season of the year.

God of the Impossible

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:02:39 +0000

Some people have difficulty believing that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary because that seems impossible. But when we realize that the virgin birth of Christ is one in a long series of impossible things that God has done, then it's not so impossible.

Getting Ready For The Glory

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:37:34 +0000

On the second Sunday in Advent, Isaiah 40:1-11 says that "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all mankind will see it together." What is that glory? Is it the flash-and-fire of Mount Sinai; or, is the glory of God something else, something no one expected?

When God Comes Down

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:48:51 +0000

In the first Sunday of Advent we read from Isaiah 64:1-9. Isaiah wanted God to come down, but Isaiah wanted God to come down big. Instead God comes in the form of a baby. Not big by first century standards, but life-changing in ways no one could imagine. That’s what Advent is about — anticipating God’s coming in love and power.

Our Responsibility For Managing God's Gifts

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:34:42 +0000

The Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:13-40 is often interpreted to mean that each of us should use our individual abilities, our talents, to serve God. But this is a parable about the kingdom of God, and Jesus is saying much more than what we usually have understood.

Preparing For The Kingdom Then and Now

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:55:40 +0000

What if the parable of the 10 bridesmaids from Matthew 25:1-13 isn’t about just the second-coming of Christ? What if it was about the coming of the kingdom of God in the first century, and how some were prepared then, and some were not? Does the warning of Jesus to watch and wait mean anything before he comes again? I think so, and this is the sermon I preached on Sunday, November 6, 2011.

The Kingdom and Your 15 Minutes of Fame

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:59:00 +0000

In Matthew 23:1-12, Jesus reminds us to do as the Pharisees say, not as they do because they do not practice what they preach. In a world where we value fame, Jesus reminds us that in the Kingdom of God humility and service is more important than position and fame.

The Two Greatest Commandments in the Kingdom

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:45:12 +0000

Jesus summarized all the commandments in two simple phrases -- love God, and love your neighbor. But while these phrases may be simple, doing them requires a lot from the followers of Jesus.

Clothes Do Make The Difference

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:00:36 +0000

From Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus tells the story of a wedding guest who was not properly dressed. What should we wear to the wedding feast of the King, and how do we get that special wedding garment?

Finding Your Place in the Kingdom

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:50:17 +0000

There are two ways to find your place in the Kingdom of God. Some people, like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, put themselves in the center of the story of God and shaped the story to their advantage. However, Jesus encourages us put God at the center of the story, with us as God's servants.

Changing Your Mind About the Kingdom

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:35:52 +0000

This sermon from Matthew 21:23-32 tells the story of the two choices we have when it comes to participation in the Kingdom of God.

After 9/11 Forgiveness Cancels A Debt

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 03:10:20 +0000

This is the sermon I preached on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The text is from the revised common lectionary for Sunday, September 11, 2011, Matthew 18:21-35. Appropriately Jesus reminds the disciples of both the first century and the 21st century that forgiveness and mercy are the essential practices of Jesus' followers.

The Reconciling Community

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:30:00 +0000

The Reconciling Community is the sermon I preached on September 4, 2011, based on Matthew 18:15-20. As followers of Jesus, we are given the ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation in our relationships with God, with others, and especially within the community of faith.

To Save The World

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:54:00 +0000

To Save The World is the sermon I preached on September 18, 2011. Based on John 3:13-17, the sermon deals with the issue of religion in public life based on an incident here in my own community.