The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from selections in Proverbs on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2013

Bishop Guernsey speaks to The Falls Church from Proverbs 25 and Matthew 5.

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

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.

When all other options are exhausted in the wilderness, God will provide. The wilderness is where miracles happen.

The Christian must learn to wait. God's great work in us has only just begun. We are "washed" in Christ's blood, yet "waiting" for the full blessing of new life that will be ours in New Earth.

When we are anxious and worry about the future, it is good to fortify ourselves with a review of the Bible’s teaching on hope. In Romans 8:24-25, Paul lays out four things to know and do: 1. We were saved in hope (24a). 2. We do not hope for what we see (24b). 3. We hope for what we do not see (25a). 4. We hope with endurance (25b). And beware: the two great enemies of hope, despair and presumption, are lurking around any hope we can manage. But also be consoled: God is at work in us to get us from our first beginning to our last end.

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.

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.

In the face of utter calamity, such as the calamity the world felt when the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, how can we respond? When the foundations are destroyed, when not only physical things are disintegrating, but when a nation's moral, ethical and religious moorings are dissolving, what can the follower of Jesus Christ do? The Psalmist in Psalm 11 teaches us how the righteous can respond. The righteous woman or man is to 1) remain righteous; 2) trust in the Lord; and 3) preach the Gospel.

As we remember the day when the towers fell, the Pentagon burned, and a plane falling from the Pennsylvania sky cut an untimely grave, the Scripture directs us to a vision of a White Horse and its Rider.

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

Solomon’s life is a story of a man who had it, and blew it. How can we finish well?

The God who judges us is the God who weeps over us - we see this in Jesus on Palm Sunday.

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.

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.”

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

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Acts 1:1-11, sharing that God sometimes uses circumstances that seem disadvantageous to actually achieve his purposes.

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. 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. Jim Byrne speaks to the men of The Falls Church about Forgiveness.

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. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 13:7-19. 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 13:1-6. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 12:1-2. 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. Rick Wright speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:29-30. 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. Kathleen Christopher speaks to The Falls Church from Genesis 18:9-15 and Hebrews 11:11. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

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 10:19-30. 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 Right Rev. FitzSimons Allison speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 3:2-6. 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 7:1-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

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. 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. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 3:7-19. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 3:7-19. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

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 Hebrews 1:1-4, in the first message in the church's series on the book of Hebrews. 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. Jim Byrne speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 6:1-4.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 6:10-24 and describes the spiritual battle that Christians have with Satan.

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

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 4:1-16.

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

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 8:22-30, the healing of a blind man at Bethsaida.

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. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:11-20, the parable of The Lost Son.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:11-32, the parable of The Lost Son.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 15:1-10, which includes the two parables which precede The Prodigal Son: The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin.

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. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 about how to overcome discouragement when living out the Christian faith and ministering to others.

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

On Palm Sunday, The Rev. John Yates, III (son of TFC Rector John Yates) speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 19:29-42, about the true peace that comes from trusting in Jesus.

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.

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. 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.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church about the role a mother plays in the development of boys as they grow to become men.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church about the role a father plays in the growth and development of boys and young men.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church about the call of Christ to His Church.

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.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Matthew 1:1-17, Matthew's account of Jesus' genealogy, with particular note of the women listed therein. 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. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 2:1-20, the story of the Nativity.

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