The Thinking Christian

What makes a person qualified to serve in the Church? In this message we take a look at how the Apostles determined how a person can be qualified. Text: Acts: 6:1-7 This message was delivered on Aug 16, 2026, at First Christian Church in Somerset, PA.

In this lesson we learn how Sapphira was made a widow, and we seek to discover what attitudes may put us in danger with God. Text: Acts 4:32-5:11 This message was delivered on Aug 09, 2026 at First Christian Church in Somerset, PA.

Have you ever tried to find time alone but couldn’t seem to manage it? In today’s text we find Jesus doing that very thing. Listen in on today’s message as we find how He responds to that challenge. Text: Matthew 14:13-21 This message was delivered on Aug 02, 2026 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA.

In Acts 2 we see a picture of a Church that most of us long to be like. In this message we examine some of the qualities of that church and are challenged to become like it.

The account of the raising of Lazarus challenges our understanding of who God is and how He acts among His people. This message was delivered on July 19, 2026 at First Christian Church in Somerset, PA. Text: John 11:1-6, 20-44

Surrounded by His antagonists, Jesus points out that the Jewish leadership are not His sheep. In this message we will examine what it means to be Jesus' sheep.

Every so often the New Testament takes us to a place where the Life Flow of God meets a strict religious system that demands an allegiance to a set of rules. John Chapter 9 is one of those places. This was preached on July 05, 2026 at First Christian Church in Somerset PA. Text: John […]

"Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?" is an oft-asked question. In today's text we find this very question seemingly asked by Jesus' own disciples.

In this text, Jesus begins to highlight the resistance that the Apostle’s may encounter as He sends them out. It is a good reminder that Christianity comes with a cost. Text: Matthew 10:24-39

In today’s text we notice a shift in Jesus’ ministry. Not a change in what He was doing – but a change in how He would do it. Text: Matthew 9:35 – 10:23 This message was delivered on June 14, 2026 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA.

How can Jesus’ suffering and death glorify God? What does this tell us about God? What does this prayer mean for us? This message was delivered on May 17, 2026 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: John 17:1-11

John 7 offers a challenge - not just to Jesus' first-century listeners - but to us as well. So, what's it going to take?

This message was delivered on Oct 19, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Jeremiah 31:27-44

This teaching was presented on Oct 18, 2025 at Somerset First Christian Church during a one-day Renewal Conference. Scripture Notes

This message was delivered on October 12, 2025 at Milford Church in Somerset, PA. Text: Luke 12:13-21

Planning for the future involves more than just a savings account. This message was delivered on Sept 21, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 16:1-13

This message was delivered on September 14, 2025 at Calvary Church of Somerset. Text: John 6:1-14

This message was delivered Aug 31, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 14:1, 7-14

This message was delivered on July 06, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text Luke 10:1-11; 16-29

As Jesus prepares to leave His disciples, His final words point to the coming of the Holy Spirit. This message was delivered on June 15, 2025 at Amity UCC Church in Meyersdale, PA. Text: John 16:12-15

This message was delivered on June 01, 2025 at Amity Reformed UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Acts 16:16-34

This message was given as an impromptu sermon on May 18, 2025 at Mt Olivet Country Church of Fairhope, PA. I had planned to preach from a different text but changed when I sensed a call to preach on a different subject just minutes before stepping up to the pulpit. Text: Matt 25:31-26

This message was delivered on May 11, 2025, at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: John 10:22-30

This message was delivered May 04, 2025 at Amity Reformed UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: John 21:1-19

This message was preached on April 13, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 19:28-40

This message was delivered on April 06, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: John 12:1-8

This message was delivered March 30, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 15:1-3; 11b -32

This message was delivered March 23, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA Text: Luke 13:1-9

This message was delivered on March 09, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 4:1-3

This message was delivered on Feb 23, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 6:27-38 (see also Matt 5:38-48) See also Dirk Willems.

This message was delivered on Feb 16, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 6:17-26

This message was delivered on Jan 26, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 4:14-21

This message was delivered on Jan 12, 2025 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Acts 8:14-17

This message is dedicated to anyone who is struggling with Christmas. It was presented on Dec 22, 2024 at Mt Olivet Country Church Christmas Candlelight Service. Text: various

This message was delivered on Dec 15, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Luke 3:7-18

This message was delivered on Dec 01, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA Text: Luke 21:25-36

This message was delivered Nov. 24, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: John 18:33-27

This message was delivered on Nov 10, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Mark 12:28-44

This message was delivered on Nov 03, 2024 at Mt. Olivet Community Church. Text Mark 12:13-17

This message was delivered on Oct 27, 2024, at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Notes: Reference Notes

This message was delivered Oct 13, 2024 at Garrett Community Christian Church in Garrett, PA. Text: Mark 10:17-31

This message was delivered Sept 29, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Mark 9:28-50

This message was delivered on Sept. 22, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Mark 9:30-37

Preached August 18, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: John 6:51-58

This message was delivered Aug 04, 2024 at Mt. Olivet Community Church in Fairhope, PA. Text: Luke 16:1-10

This sermon was delivered on July 14, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Note: during this sermon I wrongly recognized Dirk Willems as being martyred. Willems was martyred, but the person I described was Michael Sattler. I am very sorry for making this mistake.

Preached July 7, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale PA. Text: Mark 6:1-13

This message was delivered June 16, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale, PA. Text: Mark 4:26-34

This message was delivered on March 31, 2024 at Amity UCC in Meyersdale PA. Text: John 20:1-18

In 2013, I was interviewed by the editor of our local newspaper  – The Somerset Daily American – about the Resurrection of Jesus. This is the audio portion of that interview.