St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church

He leads us for his purposes.

Even the demons believe.

When we are weak, then He is strong.

Palm Sunday confronts a lie most Christians still believe.From the Garden of Eden to today, humanity has been running—hiding, shrinking back, standing at a distance. But why?Adam and Eve were not expelled simply because of “sin” as we commonly define it. Scripture tells us something deeper: they had become like God, knowing good and evil, and could not remain in God’s presence with that condition and access to eternal life.But everything has changed.In this sermon, we walk through: Genesis 3 and the true reason for exileHebrews 10 and the cleansing of the conscienceMatthew 27:51 and the tearing of the veilPsalm 16:11 and life in God’s presenceThe message of Scripture is not that you must stay away—it is that you can now draw near. Shame. Guilt. Fear. Condemnation. These are not from God. Jesus has made a way—not just for forgiveness, but for access. Not partial access. Not hesitant access. Full, unhindered entrance into the presence of Yahweh.So the question is simple: Why are you still running?Key Scriptures:Genesis 3, Hebrews 10:19–22, Matthew 27:51, Psalm 16:11, Romans 7, Revelation 3:18.

What if God intentionally waits until everything is dead?In this Lent 5 sermon, we explore the raising of Lazarus in John 11 alongside Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37), Psalm 130’s cry “out of the depths,” and Paul’s teaching in Romans 6.Scripture reveals a consistent pattern:God allows death, decay, and impossibility—so that resurrection power is unmistakable.Jesus delayed going to Lazarus on purpose.Israel was raised from a valley of bones.God brings life where there is no life left.This sermon speaks directly to seasons of:Waiting on GodLoss and despairFinancial struggleBroken relationshipsLong prayers that seem unansweredIf you feel like you're in a grave, this message is for you.“My ear had heard of you, but now my eye has seen you” (Job 42:5).God is not late.He is preparing resurrection.Scripture Readings:Ezekiel 37:1–14Psalm 130Romans 6:15–23John 11:18–44

Do you really want to hear God’s voice?In today’s sermon from St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church in Denver, we explore what Scripture actually shows about hearing God clearly. Many Christians long to hear God’s voice with certainty—but the Bible reveals that hearing Him perfectly often leads to difficult obedience.In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel risks his life to obey God’s command to anoint David as king. In John 9, Jesus heals a blind man and reveals the works of God. And earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus “had to go through Samaria,” taking an unexpected path because the Father had work for Him to do.When God speaks, obedience may take you the long way around. It may place you in uncomfortable situations. But when we ignore His voice, others may miss the miracle God intended to bring through us.This sermon explores:• What the Bible actually teaches about hearing God’s voice• Why obedience to God often leads to difficult or dangerous situations• How Samuel, David, and Jesus model faithful obedience• Why Christians must prioritize prayer, Scripture, and God’s presence to discern His voice• How God still works through His people to reconcile the worldIf you truly want to hear God speak, Scripture teaches that you must draw close to Him—daily seeking wisdom, prayer, and discernment.St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church, Denver, Colorado. Sunday Mass at 2:00 PM. 2019 Book of Common Prayer.Subscribe for sermons, Anglican theology, and teaching on Scripture and worship.

So we are often told that there is no such thing as a stupid question.But the Bible seems to say otherwise.In Exodus 17:1–7, after everything God had already done—delivering Israel from 400 years of slavery, parting the Red Sea, and leading them through the wilderness—the people asked a shocking question:“Is the LORD among us or not?”Scripture presents this as a test of God.Why?Because God had already proven that He was leading them.In this sermon for Lent III, we look at the journey of Israel from Exodus 13–17 and why God intentionally did not lead them the short route to the Promised Land. The Lord knew something the people did not:They were not ready for war.When Israel finally faced giants in Numbers 13, they did exactly what God knew they would do—they wanted to return to Egypt.The same thing often happens in our own lives.We imagine the blessings we want—new opportunities, new callings, new stages of life—but we forget that every promise comes with responsibility, struggle, and conflict.God sometimes leads us the long way because He knows what we are not yet ready to face.In this message we explore:• Why God avoided the Philistine road (Exodus 13)• Why Israel tested God at Massah and Meribah (Exodus 17)• Why complaining in the wilderness is more serious than we think• What it means to recognize the voice of God in the midst of chaos• Why focusing on the “wind and waves” causes us to sink like Peter (Matthew 14)• How the Scriptures give us hope in the wilderness (Romans 15)The question Israel asked—“Is the LORD among us or not?”—is the same question many people ask today when life becomes difficult.But Scripture insists that the real problem is not whether God is present.The real question is whether we are listening.Readings for Lent IIIExodus 17:1–7Psalm 95Romans 1:16–32John 4:5–42

Did humanity ruin the world?Or were we dragged into something far older and far darker?Genesis tells us that rebellion did not begin with man. The serpent introduced corruption in Eden. The “sons of God” in Genesis 6 deepened it. The world fell under hostile powers long before humanity understood what was happening.So what does God do?He does not abandon humanity.He does not take on the form of angels.He does not redeem rebels.He becomes human.In this sermon we explore:The rebellion of the WatchersWhy hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41)Why the cross is deliverance, not punishmentWhy redemption applies to the form God assumed — humanityWhy John 3:16 says God loved the cosmosWhy the resurrection nullifies death itselfLent is often framed as obsessing over personal sin.But Scripture reveals something bigger:We were led astray.And God came among us to rescue us from our enemies.This is not a story about God punishing humanity.It is the story of God reclaiming His creation.God with us—not with them.

Ash Wednesday 2026 sermon.

Last Sunday of Epiphany (Transfiguration )