FBC Wilmington Sermons

July 5 | Luke 24:30-35 | When Spaces Become Places: Table From Passover to Emmaus, the table becomes a revelation space. At tables, strangers become friends, forgiveness is offered, and Christ is recognized in the breaking of bread. The table reminds us that ordinary furniture can become holy ground.

June 28 | Luke 6:12 | When Spaces Become Places: Mountains In Luke 6, Jesus retreats to a mountain to pray prior to calling the disciples. Mountains have a way of connecting us to God. Think about the mountains in the Bible: Mount Sinai. Mount Zion. Mount Ararat. Mount Nebo. Mount Tabor. Mount of Olives. Mount of Transfiguration. Mount of Beatitudes. All these mountaintop places shape the story of...

June 21 | Isaiah 43.16-21 | When Spaces Become Places: River (Jayne Preaching) It’s at the river Jesus is baptized. It’s at the river where we go after we die. It’s at the river that God springs up something new . . . even in the wastelands. Rivers are important, for they bring us to God. This is true in Isaiah 43, and it’s still true today.

June 7 | Revelation 22:1-5 | When Spaces Become Places: Garden The Bible begins and ends in a garden. This symmetry matters, for it reminds us that where we are . . . our location . . . says something about our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Nature is one good way that the Holy Spirit uses to speak to us. If we have ears to hear and eyes to see, then we will experience the grace of God in plac...

June 14 | Exodus 35:4-21 | When Spaces Become Places: Temple One of the most holy spaces in all the Bible is the Temple/Tabernacle. In ancient Judaism, there was even a place called “Holy of Holies.” The space where God dwells matters, and this is true in Exodus 35. As a matter of fact, the Israelite’s commitment to such a space still speaks to us today.

May 31 | 2 Corinthians 13:11–13; Matthew 28:18–20 | High and Holy: Trinity The Trinity tells us something stunning: at the center of reality is not solitude, but love. Before creation, there was communion. Before mission, there was relationship. God is not lonely power, but self-giving love bound together in relationship.

May 24 | Acts 2:1-21 | High and Holy: Pentecost If Ascension lifts Christ high, Pentecost brings heaven near. In Acts 2, the disciples are gathered when wind rushes through the house and flames rest upon them. Fire without destruction. Wind without chaos. God’s presence is no longer distant and removed, the Holy Spirit has come near.

May 17 | Acts 1:1-11 | High and Holy: Ascension The Ascension often feels like an epilogue — as though Jesus simply exits stage right. But in truth, it is a coronation. In Acts of the Apostles 1, Jesus speaks of the kingdom, blesses his disciples, and is lifted. A cloud receives him — not a weather event, but a biblical symbol of divine presence. This is enthronement language. Christ does not disa...

May 10 | John 14:15-21 | Life After Death includes the Spirit Jesus promises another Advocate—the Spirit of truth. In the Gospel of John 14:15–21, resurrection life is described as an indwelling presence: “I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” Life after death includes the Spirit who abides, teaches, and empowers. The risen Christ is not distant; through the Spirit, he is nearer than ev...

May 3 | John 14:1-14 | Life After Death Predicted Before the cross, Jesus promises, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” In Gospel of John 14:1–14, he speaks of dwelling places, abiding presence, and works greater still. Resurrection was not an accident but the fulfillment of a promise. Life after death begins with trust in the One who prepares a way through fear into hope.

April 26 Acts 2:42-47 | Life After Death for the Community Resurrection does not create isolated believers; it forms a new community. In Acts of the Apostles 2:42–47, the early church shares meals, prayers, possessions, and praise. Life after death reshapes economics, relationships, and priorities. The risen Christ gathers people into a Spirit-formed fellowship that embodies good news together.

April 19 | Luke 24:13-35 | Life After Death in Emmaus Two disciples walk away from Jerusalem, hearts heavy with disappointment. On the road to Emmaus in Gospel of Luke 24:13–35, the risen Christ draws near, opening scripture and breaking bread. Often, we recognize Jesus only in hindsight, when our hearts burn within us. Life after death is discovered on ordinary roads and around common tables.

April 12 | John 20:19-31 | Life After Death for Thomas When the risen Jesus appears in a locked room, Thomas is absent—and unconvinced. In Gospel of John 20:19–31, doubt becomes the doorway to faith. Jesus does not shame Thomas; he invites him closer. Resurrection life makes room for questions and meets us in our uncertainty, offering peace where fear once ruled.

April 5 | Easter Sunday | John 20:1-18 | From Death to Life  Before sunrise, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb and finds it empty. In Gospel of John 20:1–18, grief turns to recognition as the risen Christ calls her name. Resurrection does not erase the wounds; it transforms them. Easter proclaims that death does not have the final word. Christ is risen—and because he lives, we are invited into a new...

March 29 | Palm Sunday | Matthew 21:1-11 | Marching Towards Death and Life On Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna!” Yet beneath the waving branches lies a harder truth: he is marching toward his own death. In Gospel of Matthew 21:1–11, triumph and tragedy are intertwined. The crowd longs for a conquering king; Jesus comes as a suffering servant. This week begins by asking us...

March 22 | Romans 8:31-39 | Nothing Separates us from the Love of God The Path of Descent leads us to the Spirit of Christ. And as Paul says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord....

March 15 | Romans 7:15-25 | The Inner Conflict It’s hard to go down this Path of Descent. Our flesh wants to hold on to sin. Paul goes as far to say we are enslaved to this pattern. Psychology calls this the ego. As Paul says, “For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.” To truly become more like Christ, we must wrestle with t...

March 8 | Romans 6:1-14 | Crucified with Christ The Path of Descent is best described through the ritual of baptism. When we go through the waters, we descend . . . dying to our old selves . . . crucifying our sin unto Christ . . . and rising in grace. Our ashes become redeemed when we become crucified with Christ.

March 1 | Romans 5:12-21 | Grace Abounds in the Descent When we take the Path of Descent seriously, we see a theological truth that surpasses understanding: Grace. Like Adam who came into the world and introduced sin . . . Jesus came into the world and introduced grace. Scripture says, “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely hav...

February 22 | Romans 5.1-11 | A Path of Descent Scripture says, “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” Jesus takes the Path of Descent to bring us out of our sin . . . and we must do the same. Our path is one that starts with suffering which luckily produces endurance which produces character which produces hope. We get to hope through taking a Path of...

February 15 | Matthew 17:1-9 | Transfiguration Sunday The Transfiguration, like Jesus’ baptism, is another archetypal story. It happens but then also offers new depths for what it could mean today. The story, in and of itself, is a reminder that God is enacting things much deeper than what our day to day lives comprehend. And God’s wisdom is wider than our narrow understandings of faith. Peter mis...

February 8 | 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) | The Spirit Reveals God is Deep and Wide Paul aggressively positions the story of Christianity as one in which the Holy Spirit wants to take us on a journey that is both deep and wide. As a matter of fact, Paul says the Holy Spirit is the only one who can comprehend God but, thankfully, the Spirit takes us deep into God and connects us to the mind and mys...

February 1 | Matthew 5:1-12 | Jesus’ Sermons are Deep and Wide All throughout the gospels, Jesus teaches and preaches. His most famous is the Sermon on the Mount. For three chapters he waxes poetic on the depth and breadth of faith, loving neighbors, being a good person, and living for the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ preaching is one that is both deep and wide.

Matthew 4:12-23 | Being a Disciple is Deep and Wide After Jesus is baptized, he calls his disciples to join him in spreading the gospel message wide. The disciples learn quickly that if they are going to be up to this challenge, they’re going to have to find new depths. The call to discipleship is one that requires our willingness to go deep so we can go wide.

January 11 | Matthew 3:13-17 | The Baptism Waters are Deep and Wide The story of Jesus’ baptism is one of the most archetypal stories in all the gospels. When Jesus emerges from the baptismal waters, God’s voice booms across the cosmos saying, “This is my son, my beloved, in whom I’m well pleased.” This single statement is one of the deepest, most spiritual claims in all the Bible and it propels J...