“We Have A High Priest” FBC Sermon (3/18/18)
There’s a song in Gershwin’s opera, Porgy and Bess, called “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” Old Jonah he lived in a whale Old Jonah he lived in a whale he made his home in that fish’s abdomen, Old Jonah he lived in a whale. Methuselah lived nine hundred years Methuselah lived nine hundred years but what’s good a’livin when […]
Snake on A Stick; Savior on A Cross – FBC Sermon (3/11/18)
Rev. Dr. Rodney Kennedy Numbers 21:4-9 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21 There are snakes in the camp. In the kitchen sink. In the bathtub. In the beds. Under the blankets. Snakes! What a story. This is no bedtime story for children. This is even more awful than your mother teaching you to pray, “And if […]
Commandments and a Temple – FBC Sermon (3/4/18)
By Rev. Dr. Rodney Kennedy Exodus 20:1-17; John 2: 15-22 The Ten Commandments and Jesus chasing the moneychangers from the Temple – the odd couple? What gives? The Ten Commandments suffer from bad reviews: Judgmental, moralistic, old-fogey rules, a huge burden. It’s like a film getting a horrible review but wins the Oscar. The Ten […]
How Not to Be Satan – FBC Sermon 2/25/18
Mark 8:31-38 Legend says that as Shoeless Joe Jackson was leaving the courthouse during the trial of the Chicago Black Sox, as they were known, a young boy begged of him, “Say it ain’t so, Joe.” Well, Jesus 31began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, be killed, and […]
Once Upon a Flood – FBC Sermon 2/18/18
Genesis 7:1-5; Genesis 9:8-17; I Peter 3:18-22 I have found Noah’s Ark. Strangely it’s in Williamstown, Kentucky. I’m sure this is a surprise to Noah and to you. Who knew that Noah’s Ark had come to rest in Williamstown Kentucky? You know, of course, that I’m pulling your leg, and I am referring to […]
We Preach – FBC Sermon 2-11-18
Rev. Dr. Rodney Kennedy 2 Kings 2:1-12; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9 Start with the story of Elijah transported to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by fiery chariots and a military escort. Elijah passes the prophetic office to his student, Elisha. It’s like Master Yoda training Luke Skywalker. As difficult as it is for Elijah to “pass […]
“A Troubled Preacher!” FBC Sermon 2-4-18
Rev. Dr. Rodney Kennedy Sometimes I am troubled that there doesn’t seem to be anything that happens at church that causes people to talk about it. There are times when something so remarkable happens that everybody is talking about it. If an elderly couple here in Peoria won a $500 million lottery, everybody would be […]
As I See It #10
Tomorrow night Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address. Notice I wrote “Donald Trump” not President Trump. I am simply unable to call him President. As far as I am concerned he has debased the office of President to such an extent that I cannot dignify him with the title “President.” […]
As I See It #9
Today my column is about my favorite sport, baseball, not baseball in general but one particular player in particular. I am referring to Jim Thome. In Peoria we proudly claim him as our own. On Wednesday, in his first year of eligibility he was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. It couldn’t have happened […]
As I See It #8
Currently I am reading the book Prayer by Philip Yancey. I had read it when it first was published in 2006 and found it to be very helpful. In reading it again it becomes even more helpful. I want to begin my column today with a quote from the book: “Why pray? Evidently God likes […]
