Faith Speaks — Reverend Neil Taylor — Sermon Podcast

Read John 20:19-23 The Second Sunday of Easter As we examine Jesus’ first appearance to all his frightened disciples after the resurrection, let us ask how the risen Jesus acted and what he said.  

Read Luke 24:1-12 Easter Sunday The tomb is empty, and as the angels told the women, “He is not here, but has risen.”

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday A Question of Greater Significance Read Luke 22:39 - 23:56 We are close to the end. For the last five weeks, we have traced Jesus’ steps toward the cross, and this Sunday, we reach the sobering and even brutal conclusion to Luke’s account of our Lord’s Passion.  

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday Read Luke 19:29-40 "Hosanna" is a Hebrew word that translates as "Save us" or "Grant salvation." Hosanna is a plea for help and a declaration of the need for salvation. We see this in Psalm 118:25, which says, "Save us, (Hosanna) we pray, O LORD!"

Fifth Week of Lent Read Luke 20:9-19 Traditionally, this parable from Luke’s Gospel is called “the parable of the wicked tenants.” However, considering the context, the vineyard owner is the story’s hero because he exhibits restraint. This teaching from Jesus follows on the heels of His confrontation with the temple leadership. They asked Him a loaded question intended to trap Him. He answered the...

Third Week of Lent Read Luke 13:1-5 Jesus's words in verses 1-5 have astonishing implications about the true nature of the world, which differ significantly from what people often think. I aim to deeply impress upon our consciences the reality that people are perishing and to be the kind of witnesses for Christ that we should be. We must come to know and feel the gravity of what is truly at stake:...

Second Week of Lent Read Luke 13:22-30 v. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” In other words, Jesus, how many will be saved? I can think of only four ways to answer that question: Everyone will be saved. No one will be saved. Some will be saved; some will be lost. There is no way to know.

First Week of Lent Read Luke 4:1-14 This morning, we will explore the Holy Spirit's role in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the events surrounding Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. As we study the story, keep in mind that Luke, our Gospel writer, presents Jesus as the perfect man and the model we should follow. This one thing we learned very clearly during Epiphany now has a laser focus a...

Read Luke 6:17-26 Blessings & Woes I don’t know about you, but today’s gospel is hard to hear. I’d rather be rich than poor; I’d rather be full than hungry; I’d rather laugh than weep and be spoken well of than hated, excluded, reviled, and defamed. Does anybody find today’s gospel hard to hear? Today’s gospel doesn’t align well with the values of a capitalist society. It doesn’t align with ou...

Read Luke 5:1-11 Jesus Addresses the Issue of Limited Vision   Our Gospel text is the story of how Christ called Peter to be his disciple. At the beginning of the story, he is fishing for fish by the end of the story, he is fishing for men. It is fascinating to consider the men Jesus chose as his first disciples. He didn’t go to an executive search consultant or visit the placement office at the l...

Read Luke 2:22-40 The Presentation of Christ in the Temple Today's Gospel reading is a story full of joy—the joy of parents faithfully fulfilling their faith practices, especially the joy of two older people who see the baby's identity and testify to his world-historical significance.

Read Luke 4:14-21 Good News is Bad News is Good News This morning's gospel reading is undoubtedly about the good news in connection with Jesus as he preaches his first hometown sermon in Nazareth. But like a lot of good news, there is often a little bad news lurking quietly. Perhaps Martin Luther was not too far off when he famously said, "The gospel is bad news before it's good news."

Read John 2:1-11 Jesus' Glory and a Wedding   After the story of the Cana wedding, John adds his narration in v. 11. "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." John focuses on seeing Christ's glory: "His disciples saw his glory, and they believed in him." That's why John is writing this Gospel. He wants to reveal the g...

A More Meaningful Baptism Read Luke 3:15-22 1. Baptism is about identity 2. Baptism is about God’s work

Read Matthew 2:1-6 Six Miles From Jesus How long would it take to walk six miles? If you’re fit and the terrain is relatively flat, you can walk it in a couple of hours. The most important event in the Bible—and in all of human history—took place six miles from Jerusalem.

Read John 1:1-18 When Did Christmas Begin? When did Jesus Christ's earthly life really begin? John 1:14 tells us that "the Word (referring to Jesus Christ) became flesh and lived among us." That takes us back before Bethlehem to the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb. Christmas began not in Bethlehem but nine months earlier when the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and implanted the divine-human Pers...

Read Luke 2:15-20 CHRISTMAS DAY  | THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF CHRISTMAS Our text is the second part of the Christmas Gospel we heard last night. It shows that Christmas has a ripple effect. The good news radiates outward, just like when a pebble is thrown into the still waters of a pond. To catch up with Christmas Eve, preached by Bishop Mark Engel, go to https://youtu.be/kb3Bg5fI7zghttps://youtu.be/Knl...

Read Luke 1:48-55 ADVENT 4  | JESUS, THE REVOLUTIONARY: MARY'S SONG   THE SEASON OF ADVENT We anticipate and celebrate the arrival, work, and person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in this world. Daily Advent devotions will be posted at   www.facebook.com/HolySpiritAkron To catch up with Advent 3, preached by Rev'd Mark Hottel, go to https://youtu.be/kb3Bg5fI7zg

Read Luke 3:1-6 ADVENT 2  | PREPARING THE WAY   THE SEASON OF ADVENT We anticipate and celebrate the arrival, work, and person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in this world. Daily Advent devotions will be posted at   www.facebook.com/HolySpiritAkron

Read Luke 21:25-36 ADVENT 1  | CHRIST'S COMING BRINGS HOPE   THE SEASON OF ADVENT We anticipate and celebrate the arrival, work, and person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in this world. Daily Advent devotions will be posted at   www.facebook.com/HolySpiritAkron

Read Genesis 2:4-17, 3:1-7, 22-24;  Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5 I BELIEVE... in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting | Part Seventeen Saying the Creed is one of the most radical things you could ever do. So, join us in this final message as we explore what the Apostles' Creed says.

Read 2 Kings 6:15-17;  Psalm 16; Hebrews 12:1-4; John 1:9-13 I BELIEVE... In the Communion of Saints | Part Sixteen Saying the Creed is one of the most radical things you could ever do. So, join us over the next several weeks as we explore what the Apostles' Creed says.

Read Isaiah 28:14-17;  Psalm 118:14-24; Ephesians 4:4-6; Matthew 16:13-20 I BELIEVE... In the Church | Part Fifteen Saying the Creed is one of the most radical things you could ever do. So, join us over the next several weeks as we explore what the Apostles' Creed says.

Read Numbers 20:2-13;  Psalm 72:1-7; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; John 7:37-39 I BELIEVE... In the Holy Spirit | Part Fourteen Saying the Creed is one of the most radical things you could ever do. So, join us over the next several weeks as we explore what the Apostles' Creed says.

Read Daniel 7:13-15;  Psalm 98; 2 Peter 3:3-10; Mark 13:32-37. I BELIEVE... He Will Come Again | Part Thirteen Saying the Creed is one of the most radical things you could ever do. So, join us over the next several weeks as we explore what the Apostles' Creed says.