Talbot Davis's Blog, page 25

Take Out

No sermon rewind today. No sermon yesterday. Instead, Julie and I were interviewed by Devin Tharp on how we have managed and enjoyed a 35 year marriage. At the conclusion we distributed hundreds of Take Out cartons. Instead there was NO sweet & sour chicken. Instead, there was a “menu” for a date night involving

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First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Week 3 — “Take Out”

A first of its kind this Sunday. OK, two firsts of its/their kind this Sunday. For the message, my wife Julie and I will be interviewed by Devin Tharp on the highs and lows, ins and outs, and ups and downs of a 35 year marriage. We’ll talk about how as single people we prepared

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What Happens When Faith “Starts At Home”

One of our great goals for a living relationship with Jesus Christ is that faith will “start at home.” Regardless of family configuration, we believe that faith begins in the home and not at the church. And it’s a beautiful things to see when it comes to pass. Here’s an essay written by one of

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The Intersection Of A Future Sermon Series And A Former Senior Thesis

Here’s a window into November at Good Shepherd: we are calling the sermon series that month The Trust Factor and it will spend four weeks plumbing the depths of two bible verses. Huh? When those two verses are Proverbs 3:5-6, you see why so few words are worthy of so much attention: Trust in the

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Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Reasons To Prepare And Not Use A Sermon Manuscript

As a lot of you know, I write a sermon manuscript virtually every week. I am able to work several weeks ahead, so while I write one almost every week, it’s not the one I’ll deliver that coming Sunday. That one, of course, has been written several weeks earlier. But what’s the purpose of a

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First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Week 2 — The “Back To The Drawing Board” Sermon Rewind

Yesterday’s message … Talked about Jack & Rose on the Titanic, Johnny & Maria in West Side Story, and me and Brooke Shields in college. Really. Gave this bit of free advice: some people ask questions not because they want answers but because they want an advantage. Stated that gender is a) binary; b) God’s

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From Occupation To Pre-Occupation

I have lived through seasons of life where Jesus was an occupation. I read the bible only to search for sermon material.  I prayed because that’s what preachers are supposed to do.  I served so that others in the church could see me serving.  Maybe worst of all, when Jesus was little more than occupation in my

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Presbyterians, Hymnody, And Substitutionary Atonement

Several years ago, the new-ish hymn In Christ Alone found itself sitting in a seat of controversy.  Now: “In Christ Alone” is really a glorious piece of music that bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary styles and contains some of the most powerful, provocative lyrics Christians have sung anywhere, anytime. Here it is: Yet

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RIP, Brad Stoffel

Two weeks ago, in the middle of the workday, I received a call from Brad Stoffel’s mother, Evelyn, conveying the sad news that Brad had died of natural causes at the age of 57. Who was Brad Stoffel and why did the news of his death make me so melancholy? Well, as I told Evelyn

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Top Five Tuesday — Top Five Reflections From A Sunday Night Leader Gathering

This past Sunday evening something unprecedented happened in the life of Good Shepherd: 400 leaders gathered together to eat, play, laugh, sing (in English and Spanish), pray, listen, and weep as we unveiled a new seven year focus for our church. Here’s what the closing worship looked like: Here are five reflections from the evening:

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