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As Against a Robber

The recent BART shooting in Oakland where then police officer Johannes Mehserle shot and killed Oscar Grant has caused quite a lot of uproar recently.  There have been a number of protests.  the concern is about injustice.  The concern is that an officer of the law unjustly killed someone.

You see, injustice sparks something inside us, doesn’t it?  Well in our passage for today we find quite an act of injustice.  The innocent Jesus is arrested and treated like a criminal.  And yet Jesus did not fight back.  Listen in to find out why.

Passage: Mark 14:43-52
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/15/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: As Against a Robber

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Eldership and Membership

At this morning service we had the joy to ordain and install a new ruling elder and receive a new member in our church.  This passage deals with both eldership and membership, even while proclaiming a wonderful truth: Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Listen in to this sermon as we consider the Christians’ relationship to the leaders Christ gives his church, and to learn about the role of elders to live and preach Christ.

Passage: Hebrews 13:7-17
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/08/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: Eldership and Membership

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Watch and Pray

Being alert can be very important at times.  If you don’t look both ways before you cross the street, it can be a deadly mistake.  If you fall asleep while driving, it can cost you your life.  If you don’t read the safety precautions before taking certain medications, you can get very sick.  Being alert can be very important.

When the Messiah tells you to be alert about something, it’s probably pretty important.  Jesus in this passage tells three of his disciples to be on guard.  He tells them to “Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.”  This was an important warning.

Passage: Mark 14:32-42
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/01/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: Watch and Pray

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They All Said Likewise

How far are you willing to follow someone?  Are you willing to follow someone, even to your death?  Who you are going to follow, and when it is fool hearty to give up your life, and when it is noble, isn’t always so easy to tell.  This tension is behind our passage for today in Mark.  The disciples will be instantly confronted with a choice.  How far are they willing to follow Jesus?  By this point, Jesus had repeatedly told them that his future held suffering and death.  At this point, that suffering and death is imminent.  It will be that very night that Jesus is betrayed by Judas.  The next day he will be convicted, beaten, and hung on the cross to his death.  That was Jesus’ imminent future.  Would they stand by Jesus at that time?  Would they faithfully follow Jesus all the way to the end?  What the disciples thought isn’t what Jesus knew would happen.  In this sermon we’ll see how the loving Shepherd takes care of his wayward sheep.

Passage: Mark 14:27-31
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 01/25/2009 in Novato, CA.

Manuscript: They All Said Likewise

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