May 19 Worship at Fairview Pk Marriott

We celebrate Christ as King on this Sunday, and note how he’s a king who loves us when we fail.

Peter shows us how to be faithful Christians in our times: 1st Century Discipleship in the 21st Century. And Jesus calls all of us “Follow Me”, even in times that make it hard to be Christian.

What are the Ten Commandments for? Just to obey a demanding God? No, they show us how to live in grace - the grace God gave the Israelites by bringing them to Himself out of Egypt on eagles' wings. The Law is a mirror that shows us our hearts and a path for us to walk on.

Mary willingly submitted to God: He changed all of her plans, and in exchange, God gave her eternity of glory. Only as *we* are willing to let God step in and change *our* plans, can we come into His glory.

Whatever you are doing, unless and until you turn to God and give yourself to Him and His way in repentance and faith, you will die without him. God desires us to be with Him, but in His love, leaves the choice up to us.

Jesus never stops loving you, but unless you love him *back*, he will let *you* go.

Life is hard. The Bible knows it. The Bible speaks to it. We have great hope in the redemption of our bodies: our resurrection.

Romans 8 says we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ. What does that mean? And what does it mean for us right now?

Because of Jesus’ death for us on the Cross, we can be adopted by our heavenly Father, made children of God and become inheritors of the immeasurable riches of His Kingdom.

Our relationship with God changes forever when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our life.

The Christian life is lived in, by and through the power of the Spirit. It is a supernatural –and natural – life. Too often we focus on the work of the Spirit at conversion, and at our resurrection, but neglect the Spirit’s work in our present, everyday lives. Paul tells the Roman Christians to “walk according to the Spirit.”

What does it mean to live of the flesh? What does it mean to live of the Spirit? What does it look like to submit to the Spirit?

The example of Naaman the Syrian, healed of his leprosy in the Jordan when he was expecting a more spectacular means of encountering God, leads us to expect to meet God in simple things. This expectation is confirmed by the manger and cross of Jesus Christ.

Don’t believe something about yourself that Jesus refuses to say. Many Christians struggle unnecessarily with feelings of self-condemnation for their ongoing failure to live up to God’s standards. Romans 8 gives us great hope that we can move past self-condemnation into an assurance of our healing for this love and help.

Jesus, the Messiah, is the most amazing man ever to walk the earth. If we want to be like Jesus, we’ll do what he did. One thing he did every day was pray, and he shows us what prayer is.

In today’s culture, intolerance is a vice and tolerance is a virtue. This can create difficulties for the Christian, as following Jesus calls us to really be “intolerant” to certain things; and to not “tolerate” certain things. Under the pressure of not wanting to offend, we can fall into “the temptation of tolerance,” meaning, when being clear about the Truth might be too costly, we tolerate the intolerable. Such was the case in Thyatira.

What’s the secret to being content in all circumstances? Paul tells us, and it’s at the same time comforting and challenging.

How can all Christians live faithfully to God in an oversexed and permissive culture, particularly if they are single?

Just like at the first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes he convicts and the response is to repent.

God wants to fill you with his Holy Spirit. Understand the differences between receiving the Holy Spirit, a baptism in the Spirit, and being filled with the Spirit.

The Rev. Jim Byrne speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Timothy 2:1-3. "Be a Barnabas; find a Paul; disciple a Timothy."

Jesus died to be Living Water for us. A reflection on Jesus’ fifth word from the cross.

An exposition of Jesus washing his disciples' feet that focuses on what this act means to us.

Along our Lenten way, looking ahead to the great drama of our redemption which we will shortly be celebrating at Holy Week and the Easter feast, we pause to sing a song of ascents which paradoxically begins “out of the depths.” How can that be? By waiting for the Lord. Why? Because he is God and we are not. Yes, but how? First, we wait actively, as St. Paul directs us in our capacity to set our minds on the Spirit and not on the flesh. Secondly, in our incapacity, we wait passively, like Lazarus. His contribution? It was twofold: he was dead and he stunk.

In John 15 Jesus calls us to life in the vine, abiding in him and bearing much fruit. This call to bear much fruit is not a demand to a moral checklist, but an invitation to the life that is truly and eternally life.

Bearing fruit for Christ involves our choice to abide in him, and letting him abide in us. We abide in his love as he abides in the Father's love.

God loves me and has designed me to draw life from him as I remain connected to the vine which is Jesus Christ. As a loving Father, he prunes back areas of my life that may potentially become the things from which I draw my ultimate satisfaction, security and fulfillment. And he does this so that we can draw more deeply from Him and be more fruitful, reflecting the character of Jesus Christ.

Jesus loves us the way he’s loved by the Father. Knowing this is harder than it seems, but there are ways we can “abide in his love.”

What is the essential meaning of John 15.1-11? Jesus tells us how the spiritual life works, and says simply “Abide in Me” using an illustration of the vine and branches.

We must remain in Him as a branch remains on a vine in order to have life. Remaining on the vine is symbolic of love. To make us bear more fruit it is necessary that Jesus’ commandment of love gradually express itself more and more in our lives.

In following Christ, he surely will sometimes take us where we don't want to go.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 11:5-13 and Ephesians 5:15-21, giving an introduction to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and what it means to be filled by him.

"The Kingdom of God" is The Age of the Spirit. In this age God pours out His Spirit on the elect and comes to dwell in their hearts in the Person of the Holy Spirit. No one is saved apart from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, the process of sanctification is all about learning to walk in the Spirit, submitting more and more of your life to the Spirit. The key question is not “how much of the Holy Spirit do you have?,” but “how much of you does the Holy Spirit have?” One implication of being filled with the Spirit is worship!

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church. God gives us his Spirit to help us do what he calls us to do.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Matthew 9:35-38, focusing on the outward call of God's people to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of Christ.

When Jesus looked at the crowd he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus tells us that the way to address these needs is to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for the harvest. May we follow Jesus’ example and (1) be people who see and people who care, (2) be people who asks God to send out workers for the harvest, and (3) be the people who uses us to answer our prayer and make us disciples who make disciples!

We live in an age where God is expanding His kingdom one person at a time. Jesus chooses to use us to expand His kingdom by our actions and with our words. Three things to do to effectively tell others about the gospel of heaven: (1) Make time in your life to hang around with people that don’t know Jesus. (2) Think through your testimony and what your life was like before you met Christ, how you met Christ and what’s your life like since you met Christ. (3) Learn a simple illustration to explain the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

In the gospels, when people recognized who Jesus was and came to Him in humility they were transformed. Like them we are called to recognize who Jesus is, to come to Him and to be transformed by Him. And having experienced Him, like those who experienced Him in the gospels we are called to bear witness by telling others what He has done for us.

The Rev. John Yates speaks about how the Wise Men show us how to respond to Jesus by worshipping him, giving gifts to him, becoming changed people, and by being totally truthful.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from John 15:12-17. Being made in the Image of God provides deep dignity to our work, but we must be sure to love first and love well.

The Rev. Jim Byrne speaks to The Falls Church from John 1:1-18. Jesus is the Word of God Incarnate. The same Word of the Lord who spoke creation into existence can speak transformation into your life!

The Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld speaks to The Falls Church from John 1:1-14. “The Christmas Gospel goes behind the event itself and compels us to consider not so much the history as the mystery of the nativity story.” (Frank Colquhoun) How? In old-fashioned language: By the mystery of the incarnation the Son of God became the Son of Man so that by the miracle of regeneration the sons of men might become the sons of God.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from John 14:12-31. The sermon looks at the plight of orphans (& widows) in the ancient world in order to more fully understand the gospel promises for a family and home that Jesus gives to his disciples in John 14.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from John 14:1-7. He shares that Jesus is the lens through which we see God the Father, and the pathway to the Father.

The Christian response to suffering for Christ is to rejoice. How can this be? The Rev. Bill Haley explores four reasons in this sermon given to The Falls Church .

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 4:1-7. Growing up in Christ requires us to learn to think like Jesus - we are to learn to pray with a mind that is anchored in reality (not appearances) and a heart set on discovering and doing the will of God. This is particularly true in praying about how to handle our money.

Why is prayer important in a time of hardship, and, more than that, how do we pray? The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 4:1-7. We need to be self-controlled and think soberly so that we can pray as we ought to pray.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 1:1-9. The foundation for holy living and for trusting God in hard times is the living hope of our imperishable inheritance through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, “kept in heaven for you…the certainty of Heaven assures us of joy.”

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 13:18-25, in the conclusion to the church's eight-month study of the book of Hebrews. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service, the Sunday 9 a.m. service, and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 12:3-17. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Jeremiah 2:11-18, 15:16-21, and 17:13. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Deuteronomy 34:1-8. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:23-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:8-16. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:1-7. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 10:1-18. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 9:27-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Mugford speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 9:1-10. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 8:1-13. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 6:13-20. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 6:1-12. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 5:11-14. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. Dr. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church in a message concluding the church's "Art Music Justice" weekend. Jena Nardella and Shep Owen also speak. Texts include Revelation 21:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 15. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Jim Byrne, Director of TFC Student Ministries, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:11-13. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service, the Sunday 9 a.m. service, and the large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:14-5:10. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Right Rev. David Bena, Suffragan Bishop, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:1-13. This message was given at the large 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Confirmation services.

The Rev. Kristen Yates, Deacon, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:1-13. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 3:1-6. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 2:5-18. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 2:1-8. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from John 20-19-23.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, about the meaning behind our Anglican service of Holy Communion.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 5:21-6:9.

Bob Strain shares lessons from his life on what it means to grow up in Christ. E.g., we are to become like our teacher Jesus (Luke 6:40), we are to recognize that the kingdom of God is not about talk but power (Ephesians 4:20) and extending the reign of God (Luke 17:21), we are to have faith (Hebrews 11:6), and we are to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16).

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 5:3-20.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 4:17-5:2.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 3:14-21.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 2:11-20.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 2:1-10. NOTE: This message followed a reading from John 3:1-8.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 1:15-23.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:17-32, the parable of The Lost Son.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:11-24, the parable of The Lost Son.

The Rev. Bobb Fickley speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:11-24, the parable of The Lost Son. This message was given at the Rite II Holy Eucharist held at 11 a.m. in the Historic Church.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 18:18-29, the encounter between Jesus and The Rich Young Ruler.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 19:1-10, the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus, "The Rich Public Servant".

The Right Rev. Martyn Minns, missionary bishop for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, speaks to The Falls Church on the Sunday of Pentecost, at a service of Confirmation. He speaks from Romans 8, about God's Holy Spirit as an "power source" for living.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. He speaks about what God has in store for the faithful after the resurrection.

The Rev. Justyn Terry speaks to The Falls Church from Romans 6:1-11 about the nature of our renewal in Christ, and our freedom from sin in light of the Resurrection.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Romans 6:1-11 about living in light of being a New Creation in Christ. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. family service.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 about the real-ness of the resurrection and the implications for eternity.

The Rev. Jim Byrne, Director of Student Ministries, speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:12-28 about the reality and essentiality of the resurrection.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 4:1-9, about God's call that we listen to him, and the practical way in which this call is lived out.

Dr. Dennis Hollinger speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 3:13-21 about Jesus' call for his followers to spend quality time with him. Dr. Hollinger is president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 1:16-20, about the call to be and the cost of being a disciple.

The Rev. Patrick Ware speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 1:16-20. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. family service with baptism.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from John 1:35-46. This message was given at both the Saturday 5 p.m. family service and the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Eucharist held in the Historic Church.

What is the difference between good works apart from faith, and living by the Spirit with faith? The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Galatians 5:1-24 in answer to this question. This message was given at both the Saturday 5 p.m. family service and the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Eucharist held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Robert Watkin speaks to The Falls Church about the example of Philip ministering to the Ethiopian, and lessons we can learn about reaching the world with the Gospel.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church about the lesson St. Peter learned in Acts 10 about God's desire to reveal himself to all peoples.