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Worshiping The Lord
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 30, 2017
Part 4 of a 6 part series on spiritual disciplines. This week we look at the spiritual discipline of worship. | By Rev. Matthew L. Genzlinger | West Concord, MA
See Event (30m 28s)
Process of New Life
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - July 23, 2017
The Lord calls us into a spiritual process of becoming mature. This process is compared to the from of birth, from conception to adult maturity. This process is called being born again because we leave behind an old life and take on a new one. This process is described by the days of creation, but we cannot know in detail where we are while in this world. The whole process is something the Lord does, when we learn and live His truth. | By Rev. Derrick Lumsden | Sarver, PA
See Event (34m 21s)
The Middling Goodness of Laban
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 23, 2017
In the middle of the story of Jacob, he spends a significant amount of time in Haran with his uncle Laban. Was it a good thing or a bad thing that Jacob lived with Laban for so long? “Laban” symbolizes “mediate good” or “middling goodness” in the middle of our own spiritual journeys. He represents our mixed motivations; the times when we do good things for selfish reasons. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for us? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (57m 05s)
The Call of Samuel - Hearing God's Voice
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 16, 2017
In 1st Samuel chapter 3 the Lord called to Samuel, but neither Samuel nor Eli knew that it was the Lord calling at first. The Lord kept calling, and the 3rd time Eli understood, and the 4th time Samuel answered. What does this represent in our lives? How do we hear the Lord's voice in our hearts and minds? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (59m 55s)
Pushing Over the Pillars of Self-Love
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 09, 2017
This message shows that the two pillars of the temple of the Philistines that Samson pushed over at the end of his life, represent problematic things that a person's life might be based on that cannot stand up to the Lord and His teachings. Our life, instead, should be supported by the pillars of His message, which teaches us that we need faith and charity together in our hearts, minds and actions. | By Rev. Garry B. Walsh | Phoenix, AZ
See Event (16m 51s)
Inviting the Poor, the Maimed, the Lame and Blind to Dinner
Worship Service: Informal Family - July 09, 2017
"When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid." (Luke 14:12). Taken literally, these words seem to say that much of our social life is not appropriate. New Church theology gives these words a different meaning. The emphasis is not that meals with family & friends are wrong, but rather that the good things that we do should not have our own reward as their goal. | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (41m 00s)
Self Examination: Spiritual Disciplines Part 2
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 09, 2017
This is part two of our six part series on spiritual disciplines. Here we explore the spiritual discipline of self-examination. | By Rev. Matthew L. Genzlinger | West Concord, MA
See Event (30m 08s)
The Symbolism of Samson - or: The Lord has all the answers
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 02, 2017
The biblical story of Samson is a metaphor describing the Lord's incredible strength. That strength can give us the answer to any question in life, so long as we are actively looking for those answers in the stories of His Word. The answer might not be obvious in the literal text, but it can flow from the Lord Himself, through that text. | By Rev. Garry B. Walsh | Phoenix, AZ
See Event (27m 30s)
Meditating On The Lord's Word: Spiritual Disciplines Part 1
Worship Service: Sermon only - July 02, 2017
This summer we are having a six part series on spiritual disciplines. Part 1 looks at the spiritual discipline of meditating on the Lord's Word. | By Rev. Matthew L. Genzlinger | West Concord, MA
See Event (09m 16s)
An Open Invitation - Part 4 - An Open Door
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 18, 2017
This Sunday we conclude our series on the letters to the seven churches. We have explored how each church stands for some quality that the Lord wants us to work on so that we can enter His kingdom. The last two churches are Philadelphia and Laodicea, which stands for the best and worst of humanity. In both cases the Lord uses the imagery of a door: for the first, an open door that no one can shut; for the second, a closed door that He is eager to enter through. The lesson for us is that no matter where we are spiritually, the Lord is putting before us a path that leads to heaven. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (25m 24s)
An Open Invitation, Part 3, Empty Words and Empty Worship
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 11, 2017
Over the past couple of weeks we have been looking at the letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Each one describes a group of people that the Lord wants to bring into His church. This week we will look at Thyatira and Sardis. Thyatira represents us when we find excuses to not live our faith. Sardis represents us when we act spiritual but don't back it up with actual charity. In both cases the Lord offers a way out for us so that we can become part of His kingdom. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (27m 36s)
Messenger of the Lord
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - June 04, 2017
The Lord's goal for you is that you become a messenger (angel) of His Kingdom. To become a messenger you move from crowd, to disciple, to apostle, to angel. Your message is the lessons and benefit you get from the process, the places where His Kingdom touches your heart and mind. | By Rev. Derrick Lumsden | Sarver, PA
See Event (18m 49s)
An Open Invitation - Part 2: The Misled and the Willfully Ignorant
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - June 04, 2017
The letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation reveal seven different kinds of people that the Lord calls to be part of His church - their good qualities and their potentially fatal flaws. This Sunday evening, in Part 2 of this series, we're talking about people who do good things but lack a true understanding, either because they're in false thinking or because they can't be bothered to think about what's true. Come and see what the Lord has to say to people like this. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSA
See Event (21m 49s)
An Open Invitation, Part 1: Goodness vs. Rightness
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 28, 2017
What does it take to be part of the New Church? Being part of the New Church takes many forms but at heart it is all about looking to the Lord and repenting of evils. As we approach the celebration of the New Church's birth in June, we will explore how we look to the Lord and repent, and so become part of His Church. Specifically we will explore the letters to the seven churches, each of which reveals some new quality of the Lord and some new evil that we can work on. This Sunday we will look at the letter to the Church in Ephesus, which urges those who put great weight in being right to focus more on doing good. | By Rev. Joel C Glenn | Westville, RSA
See Event (31m 54s)
The Writing is on the Wall
Worship Service: Informal Family - May 28, 2017
In Daniel chapter 5 there is a story about a mysterious hand which writes a message on king Belshazzar’s wall: "Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin." Daniel interprets the message for the king. What are the times when we see the “writing on the wall” in our own lives? What does it mean? And what should we do? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (47m 11s)
Laying Down Your Soul For Your Friends
Worship Service: Sermon only - May 28, 2017
"Greater love has no one than this, than one lay down his soul for his friends." (John 15:13) In this sermon I focus on two words that help us gain a new appreciation for this familiar adage: "soul" and "friends." What would you be willing to lay down your soul for? | By Rev. Matthew L. Genzlinger | West Concord, MA
See Event (15m 59s)
Rest in the Lord
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - May 07, 2017
| By Rev. Michael D. Gladish | Mitchellville, MD
See Event (33m 23s)
The Hazards and Blessings of Comparing our Spiritual Lives with Others
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - April 23, 2017
One of the ways we evaluate how we are doing spiritually is by comparing ourselves to how other people seem to be doing. This can be a positive thing: being in community with other people who are striving to uphold the same values as us can inspire and encourage us to do better. And it can be a negative thing: comparing ourselves with other people can lead us to be envious or judgmental or it can even lead us to the absurd situation of trying to prove that we're more spiritual than other people. Let's talk about how the Lord can help us to deal with these challenging dynamics. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith | Westville, RSA
See Event (24m 52s)
Learning to See the Lord
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 26, 2017
The Lord healed a man who had been blind from birth by putting clay on his eyes and sending him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did as the Lord told him, even though he didn't know who the Lord was, and was able to see. How can we learn from this blind man's example and learn to see clearly? | By Rev. Coleman S. Glenn | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (24m 58s)
Becoming Whole and Clean
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 19, 2017
The Lord washed His disciples' feet as a symbolic way of showing us that we need to focus on avoiding any areas of filth in the way we live our conscious lives. In other words, we need to work on being an outwardly cleaner person so that the Lord can subsequently cleanse us on the level of our spirit. | By Rev. Garry B. Walsh | Phoenix, AZ
See Event (21m 12s)
Abram & Lot (Part 2) -Lot is Separated
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - March 19, 2017
Today is part two of a two part series on Abram and Lot. In Genesis chapter twelve, Jehovah tells Abram to get out of his country and to leave his father's house. As Abram begins his journey to a new land Lot (his nephew) comes with him. Last week we learned that Lot represents the more sensual/external part of us - The part of us that learns various facts and experiences various affections based on the input we receive through our physical senses. Lot lived with Abram and began this journey with him, showing us that this sensual/external part of us is useful and important! The Lord wants us to use our physical senses to gather in much information and good experiences. These external ideas and affections we receive early in life act as vessels for the more spiritual truths and affections the Lord is leading us towards. In today's story both Abram and Lot have enlarged their possessions. The land can no longer support them both, and strife is arising between their herdsmen. Abram asks Lot to separate from him. This separation between Abram and Lot wonderfully represents a time in our own regeneration when we must separate ourselves from two kinds of external things: 1. Empty memory knowledges we learned in childhood. 2. Pleasures from the selfish and worldly loves we favor. While it is important to separate ourselves form certain unhelpful things in our sensual/external self, we will also see that our sensual/external self (Lot) can grow into something beautiful! This happens only if we allow our sensual/external self to serve and come into harmony with our more spiritual/internal self; ridding ourselves of this things that prevent this from happening. This week reflect on things in your more external self that the Lord may be asking you to separate from. Separating from Lot can be difficult, but it allows us to experience the true blessings the Lord created us for! | By Rev. Matthew L. Genzlinger | West Concord, MA
See Event (37m 18s)
Being Born Again - Spiritual Pregnancy and Birth
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 19, 2017
Becoming a better person - and eventually an angel - is a process called “regeneration,” meaning: “re-birth.” In John chapter 3, Nicodemus was surprised and incredulous when Jesus told him this. Sometimes we can be surprised and incredulous about this process too. What do pregnancy, morning sickness, braxton hicks, transition, labor pains, contractions, and birth have to do with our spiritual growth? What does it mean to take our first spiritual breath as a spiritual newborn? | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (40m 00s)
Becoming More Christ-Like
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 12, 2017
Christianity, at the organizational or individual level, suffers when there is no genuine charity. Therefore, to be more Christian, or to be more Christ-like, requires a transformation that sees a growing focus on loving the Lord and loving others. When true charity is combined with a true understanding of the Lord's message, the church and the individual, rather than facing destruction, grows into what the Lord and other people need the church and the individual to be. | By Rev. Garry B. Walsh | Phoenix, AZ
See Event (23m 35s)
Carried Away, Rescued, and Blessed
Worship Service: Informal Family - March 12, 2017
In Genesis chapter 14, in a battle of 5 kings against 4 kings, Lot gets captured and carried away by Chedorlaomer, and Abram comes to his rescue. When they return, Melchizedek offers bread and wine and blessings. This confusing chapter describes the confusing nature of our spiritual struggles, and the blessings that the Lord brings on the other side of struggle. | By Rev. Solomon J. Keal | Bryn Athyn Heilman Hall
See Event (36m 52s)
Salvation by Means of a New Heart and a New Mind
Worship Service: Sermon only - March 12, 2017
"Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac'" (Genesis 21:9-10) | By Rev. Eric H. Carswell | Bryn Athyn Cathedral
See Event (30m 00s)