In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 18

How Much Does Christmas Really Cost

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 17, 2012

A sermon about how much it cost Jesus to be in a redemptive relationship with us and how we should pay the same costs to be in quality relationships with others.

Each year PNC Wealth Management calculates the cost of buying all 364 items repeated in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The financial services company tracks the items - including gold rings (up big), swans (more expensive than you think) and maids a-milking (at minimum wage) ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Partner Of Parenthood

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Jun 12, 2012

Ways the church can partner with parents in the responsibility of raising children.

THE PARTNER OF PARENTHOOD Some names are interesting because we easily recognize them without knowing anything about them except the name. Some such names are of places. For example, everyone has heard of “Timbuktu.” But do you realize that is the name of an actual town in the West ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:13

Denomination: Baptist

Knowin' Where You Are Goin'

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on May 2, 2012

This sermon begins with an affirmation of absolute truth then focuses on three absolute promises Jesus shared in in John 14

KNOWNIN’ WHERE YOU ARE GOIN’ (I began this sermon by flipping a coin several times asking folks to guess if the result would be heads or tails. After several tosses, only a few people had been right ever time.) There is much in this world that is uncertain and unpredictable. Will ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

A Soldiers Story

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Mar 19, 2012

A narrative story from the perspective of the Centurion at the Cross of Jesus

"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39 NIV Some days are just so ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:37-39

Denomination: Baptist

Simon Of Cyrene - The Unexpected Cross

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Mar 12, 2012

This is a narrative sermon that shares a story about Simon of Cyrene. Several points of observation are at the end of the message. Rightfully utilized, the "story telling" methodology is an effective format for communication.

THE UNEXPECTED CROSS (Sermons2012: Simon of Cyrene Narrative) 3/11/2012 a.m. Mark 15:21 A theologian said the cross of Jesus is like a diamond because the more angles you can look at it the greater your appreciation. Over the next two weeks we are going to look at the cross from different ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21

Denomination: Baptist

Principles Of Multiplication

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 31, 2011

A sermon based on the story of the fishes and the loaves, noting principles about the way Jesus multiplies things in our world.

PRINCIPLES OF MULTIPLICATION School days, school days. Dear old golden rule days Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic. Taught to the tune of the hickory stick We do not use hickory sticks in schools today. But school was not that way when Gus Edwards and Will D. Cobb composed that little tune in ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

"Why Are We Here?

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 31, 2011

Jesus wants Christians to be together like a shepherd wants his sheep to reside in flocks. This message reflects on why Christians should share in community with one another.

WHY ARE WE HERE? Luke 15:1-7 • A chaplain accompanied a volunteer militia led by Benjamin Franklin back in 1756. To defend the Pennsylvania colony against Indian attacks, Franklin led his recruits in the building of a fort in the Blue Mountain region. Once established inside the wall, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus What A Friend For Sinners

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 31, 2011

A narrative about the calling of Matthew. At the end of the narrative several observations are made about Jesus' calling to our lives

JESUS WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS Matthew 9:9-13 Who would have thought it? Anybody but him. He's the last to come to mind.3 Who is the least likely person you can imagine who would become a Christian? Or who would be one among the least likely to follow Jesus. Can you see him? There he sits ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Occupying Bethlehem (With Love)

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 31, 2011

A sermon about the significance of simple occupation by Jesus into our world.

OCCUPYING BETHLEHEM (WITH LOVE) Matthew 1:22-23 One of the things for which this year will be remembered is the power of occupation. The power of letting your presence be known and your existence be felt. Beginning last January, Time magazine details 27 different points of occupation around ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

Many Happy Returns

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 30, 2011

A monologue of one of the magi making the point that how you approach Jesus determines how you return.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS Matthew 2:1-12 It starts today: The return season. Gifts of wrong size, color, and taste return. Some returning from vacations or visits to family. But other things return too. Somewhere in the next week to ten days we will face returning to a lifestyle more or less like ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Are There Weeds In Your Garden?

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 30, 2011

This sermon features truths from Jesus’ Parable of the Weeds

ARE THERE WEEDS IN YOUR GARDEN? Anyone who has ever gardened or landscaped knows the battle with weeds. You don’t plant them. You don’t encourage them. You don’t want them. But there they are. But, literally, they go with the territory And you have to deal with them. Weed and Feed product ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Baptist

A Royal Wedding

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 30, 2011

This is a narrative sermon that tells the story of Ruth and Boaz.

A ROYAL WEDDING Mother’s Day is typically a time to emphasize and celebrate not just motherhood, but home and family. And the surrounding weeks are also popular seasons for weddings. With the storms of last week, the Royal Wedding of William and Kate did not get as much local attention ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Things Disease Cannot Touch

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 30, 2011

A sermon preached for "Pink in the Pew Sunday" recognizing Cancer Awareness

THINGS DISEASE CANNOT TOUCH (Sermons2011/Things Disease Cannot Touch) NCBC 5/1/2011 Mark 5;24b-34 Pink in the Pew Sunday Storms left us with lots of stories this week. Cancer leaves everyone with a story. Introduce you to my Aunt Millie. She was full of life and laughter. We spent every ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:24-34

Denomination: Baptist

Friending Jesus

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 30, 2011

Qualities in the Unique Names of Jesus described in Isaiah 9:6

FRIENDING JESUS Caitlin Shaw wanted to do what a lot of us have done: set up a profile on the Facebook social network. But since Shaw was her married name, the thought some old friends might not recognize her without her married name. So she decided to include it. Therein began the problem. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons From Ground Zero

Contributed by Jay Mccluskey on Dec 30, 2011

Delivered on September 11, 2011 the Tenth Anniversary of the 911 attacks.

LESSONS FROM GROUND ZERO It is a common observation for events that are sudden, shocking, and heavy events that we not only remember the event, we remember where we were when we heard about the event. Senior adults who were alive during the 1940’s not only remember the attack on Pearl ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-3

Denomination: Baptist