A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on 17 December 2023, by Hope Antone. The scripture readings that day were Luke 1: 43-55, 59-79.
Reasons for Rejoicing
This is the third Sunday in Advent and it is often set aside as the Advent Sunday of Joy. And so what are our reasons for being joyful? Is it because it is just one week away from Christmas? All the decorations are up. Christmas music is in the air. Parties have started. Yet, we know that none of these can cover or drown the news of war, calamities, terrorism, genocide, that are happening in different parts of the world.
We also know that there are those who face uncertainties in life as they await decisions on their status in Hong Kong – is it to leave the city or to stay? There are those who are waiting for signs and openings of better jobs or suitable careers. There are also those who are waiting for news that illnesses have been cleared or are now under control...
But our Advent theme, “How does a weary world rejoice?”, seems to affirm that it is still possible to rejoice despite the weariness around us. So, today let us look into the stories (and songs) of Mary and Zechariah – to learn from them how they could still rejoice despite the weariness of the world in their time.
In the first place, we can learn from the songs of Mary and Zechariah that rejoicing meaningfully begins with acknowledging our own and the weariness of the world.
In the Magnificat, Mary acknowledged her “lowly state” as a servant, which is a mark of her humility. Her rejoicing may have come later. I would imagine that when the angel told her that she would conceive a child outside of marriage, she would have been shocked, surprised, even afraid. Only later could she really sing this song, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Being joyful does not necessarily happen so quickly. It can happen after sometime, when we have reflected on an experience, even a negative event. The Magnificat seems to show that Mary had already come to terms with her being an ordinary young woman, called to do an extraordinary mission – i.e., to be the Theotokos or God-bearer, as the Rev. Judy Chan preached last Sunday.
More than just singing about her own blessedness, Mary sang about the Mighty One fulfilling his promise to Israel – showing strength with his arm; scattering the proud in their imagination; bringing down the powerful from their thrones, and lifting up the lowly; filling the hungry and sending the rich away empty. In a way, this is a description of what happened to her.
In the Benedictus, Zechariah rejoiced by blessing God for looking favorably on his people, raising up a mighty savior who would bring their liberation. Not mentioned in the song, but which we can glean from the preceding verses, is that after Zechariah had confirmed the name of their son, John, he was able to speak again, after having been muted for nine months.
If you remember, on the first Sunday in Advent, the Rev. Phyllis Wong preached on the angel’s visit to Zechariah, informing him that his wife would conceive. While they had been praying for a child during their marital life, they now have advanced in age and have probably accepted their childless state. Thus, he asked the angel, “How will I know that this is so?”, but the angel Gabriel muted him for not believing his words. As Pastor Phyllis said, his time of silence was probably a time for deep listening to God’s Word and world; and for a serious reflection on his own life, now transformed with the forthcoming baby.
Similar to the Magnificat, the Benedictus spoke of God’s acts of liberation. In addition, the Benedictus includes some words addressed to his son, John, highlighting his role as a herald who would prepare the way before the Lord.
So rejoicing meaningfully therefore begins with acknowledging our own and the weariness of the world. It is when we come to terms with our need, not only personal but also communal need, in our situations of gloom and despair, that our longing for hope, peace, joy and love becomes clearer.
In the second place, we can learn from the songs of Mary and Zechariah that rejoicing meaningfully happens through connection with one another. In many agrarian and communal cultures, pregnancy is a shared expectation of a happy event. And happiness is something that is shared by the community. Yet pregnancy and childbirth could also be quite dangerous in their time and even now. While a time of isolation was important, especially as the pregnant woman would need to adjust to changes in her body, visits by affirming and supportive friends and relatives would be quite helpful.
It is said that Mary traveled for three days to visit her cousin Elizabeth. It was with Elizabeth that Mary shared her song, the Magnificat. Two women shared similar and also different stories about bearing a child – one in her advanced age and having been in a state of barrenness; and another in her prime age but even before her marriage. One child is to be a herald, preparing the way for the other child. Both births were foretold by an angel; and both were related to the bringing about of salvation and liberation to a people who have been in a state of oppression.
In Elizabeth’s case, her neighbors and relatives shared the extraordinary events that accompanied the birth of their son, John. Since news traveled fast even in their non-digital world, they were aware of Elizabeth getting pregnant in her old age, and of Zechariah becoming muted for his unbelief in the angel’s words. They must have offered help – whether through material help or practical advice from their experience of having conceived and raised their own children; sharing stories of what to do and what worked – as when you have some cravings or when you have certain health issues to deal with while pregnant … They must have been there to offer psychological help not only to Elizabeth but also to Zechariah who now had to learn to communicate differently during his state of mutedness. And that is why they were there on the eighth day since the baby’s birth – for the naming of the baby and/or for his circumcision, which were rituals in their faith community.
There is another level of connection that is happening here as well. Circumcision of the flesh was their common ritual – but John as the herald before the Christ – was to live out the circumcision of his heart, which later led to his life in the wilderness and his ministry of calling people to repentance.
So, rejoicing meaningfully happens through making connections, not only with one another as a community, but also to the deeper meanings of shared rituals, beliefs and history.
In the third place, rejoicing meaningfully involves allowing ourselves to be amazed … to be surprised, to marvel, and to wonder … to experience unexpected delight even from simple things. That must have been Elizabeth’s experience when she felt the baby leaping for joy in her womb at the sound of Mary’s greeting during Mary’s visit.
During Zechariah’s stage of mutedness for nine months, he must have been able to observe and even experience those moments of delight – at the development of the child in the womb; the preparations that the whole household must do for the coming of the child. He must have continued to study God’s word, and to marvel at how God’s promise was being realized...
It is said that when one loses a sense, the other senses become even more sensitive and sharper to receive and process incoming stimuli and messages.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Zechariah regaining his ability to speak. He could speak again, after writing on the tablet, confirming what Elizabeth had already told the community: that their son would be called John. When he came out of mutism, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, that he burst into song …
Some authors/theologians think that what happened to Zechariah was a reflection of what was going on in Israel at that time. That his having been muted signified the silencing of the prophetic voice for centuries; and that his regaining his power of speech signified that prophecy had begun to sound forth again. For centuries, the Jewish people thought that God had rebuked them, punished or disciplined them – allowing them to fall into the hands of Rome. So perhaps, that was the bigger surprise, meant for a bigger scale and not just in Zechariah’s life: the silence of prophecy is being lifted and God is doing a new thing with them and in the world.
And then Zechariah turns to his child and addresses him: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (vss. 76-79)
Now I just want to add that the darkness that is usually associated with the time of weariness of the world is not always bad or sad. For not all darkness is of despair or sin. The darkness of the night is needed for our bodies to sleep well. The darkness of the womb is needed for new life to grow, develop, and simply wait for the fullness of time…
And that is what Advent is like entering into the darkest part of the year and waiting for the coming light…
So now, there are really many reasons for rejoicing. And I think our church, as we celebrate not only the Christmas season but also our centenary, calls us to choose from a hundred ways or acts of service. Such acts of service can be our reasons for rejoicing despite the weariness of the world we are in right now. May it be so. Amen.
Good morning. Some of you know that in my previous life, I was producer for the ecumenical
radio at Hong Kong Christian Council. Our speakers were from Protestant, Anglican and
Catholic Churches. It is a wonderful ministry that is still going on today by the grace of God.
There are less programs and churches on air than before, so I’m very grateful to KUC for your
ongoing commitment to this very special outreach.
One program that has continued is called “Reflections”. It’s on Monday through Friday, 3 minutes
to midnight on RTHK Radio 4 just before the 12 o’clock news. I want to tell you about one of the
Catholic speakers during my time. She is a lovely layperson, very devoted to the Church, and
very devoted to the Virgin Mary. In fact, once the topic of her Reflections for the whole week was
Marian devotion through praying the “Hail Mary”. I think some of you know that prayer. It comes
in part from today’s story in Luke 1 in what’s known as the Annunciation and the Visitation.
Now the version of the Hail Mary prayer I know goes like this:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death.
The speaker said if you earnestly pray the Hail Mary, rain or shine, God will help you! She gave
examples of times this happened in her own life. Now my being Protestant, this seemed just a
little too “Catholic” and too much about “Mary” for ecumenical radio. It didn’t seem quite
appropriate since not all Christians pray to Mary as the Mother of God. We honor and admire
her, but we only pray to God, or maybe to God through Jesus. But the speaker’s script had been
approved by the Catholic radio representative, and she insisted that’s what she wanted to say.
So, in the end, what did I do? I let her say it.
Well, wouldn’t you know, a few years later I took her advice? I was going through a difficult
dilemma as a mother, and I didn’t know what to do. But I know I needed to pray! And the words
that automatically came out of my mouth were “Hail Mary, full of grace…”
So, I just kept going. I recited the Hail Mary over and over until my spirit was calmed and I felt
God’s peace. And frankly, praying the Hail Mary still comes to my lips in tough moments – like
when I’m arguing with someone and trying to control my temper. Or when I want to pray for
someone else who’s going through a hard time, and I just don’t know what to say.
Now, to be clear. I am still Protestant. The Hail Mary is not my only prayer. And I’m not saying
you should pray the Hail Mary (unless it’s already a part of your spiritual practice).
What I am asking you to do this morning though is to put yourself in Mary’s shoes. Try to
understand just how remarkable and difficult this whole experience would have been for her.
Now what did the angel say? “The Lord is with you!” That’s what God said to Moses when he
was called to lead the people out of Egypt. That’s what God said to Jeremiah when he was
called to be a prophet to the nations. And that’s what God says here to Mary – a young Jewish
girl just sitting at home minding her own business.
We assume that Mary then must somehow have been very special and devout. Otherwise, why
would God choose her for this role? But think again. As N.T. scholar Luke Johnson says:
Mary holds no official position among the people, she is not described as "righteous" in terms of
observing [the] Torah… her experience does not take place in a [religious] setting. She is among
the most powerless people in her society: she is young in a world that values age; female in a
world ruled by men; poor in a stratified economy. Furthermore, she has neither husband nor child to validate her existence.[1]
Johnson concludes: That Mary should have found "favor with God" is surprising and makes
absolutely no sense. But then again, that’s the way God often works – by defying and reversing
our human expectations.
But that raises another issue. Did Mary have a choice? Could she have said No? Or at least,
“Can you give me a few days to think about it?” A Jewish girl, legally bound to be married to a
man named Joseph. Who would believe her story about a message from an angel, being
overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and a virgin birth to the Messiah? This would be a scandal – a
scandal that could sabotage her marriage prospects. Ruin her family’s reputation. It could even
put her own life at risk.
And yet, despite everything, what was her final answer? “Let it be.” The way this story’s told, it
seems she had no hesitation. But do we know that? Could there have been some tears and
anguish and doubt along the way? We don’t know for sure, the Bible doesn’t tell us. But, let’s
give Mary credit here, it could not have been so easy. Her whole world had just been turned
upside down.
Fortunately, no providentially, the angel knew Mary was going to need support. She needed
reassurance that everything was going to be OK. That she didn’t just dream all this, that she
wasn’t having hallucinations or even visions of grandeur. So, Gabriel gave her a hint: Go see
your cousin Elizabeth!
And go she did! As Luke puts it, in those crucial days she fled quickly to the home of Zechariah
and Elizabeth. For where else could she go? Even then, she couldn’t be sure of a warm
welcome. But lo and behold, the minute Mary bursts in to tell her cousin everything, Baby John
leaps in Elizabeth’s womb and his Spirit-filled mum bursts out with joy: “How is it that the Mother
of my Lord comes to me?”
If Mary had come in search of reassurance and support, she’d certainly come to the right place!
For here she learned not only that Elizabeth was indeed six months pregnant, but that her
cousin could confirm everything the Angel Gabriel said. She didn’t need to be afraid, she had
found favor with God, and therefore nothing was impossible. In fact, Elizabeth did more than
confirm the Angel’s words. She declared Mary to be blessed, even doubly blessed – blessed by
the fruit of her womb Jesus the Christ and blessed by her faith that God would fulfill everything
that was promised. Wow.
So, what then do we learn from Mary’s experience? What do we learn about how a weary world
can rejoice? There are three things.
First, we learn God uses ordinary people (like you and me) to do extraordinary things for Him.
The late Harvard chaplain Peter Gomes said,
Any god can make something good out of the exceptional… It is our God who makes out of
nothing, something; who takes nowhere and makes it somewhere; who takes nobody and
makes [them] somebody. It is this power of transformation that made apostles and martyrs of
ordinary followers of Jesus; it is this power that makes things out of things that are not… and it is
this power that enables us, like Mary, to take action and do and be what God would have us do and become.[2] In short, God chooses to work with us and through us. Isn’t that amazing?
Second, when we let God work with us and through us, we too are blessed. We may not literally
carry the Christ child in our womb. But we can provide a space for God to enter this world. Like
Mary, we can become the space where God births good news. Like Mary, we can open our lives to bring Jesus Christ into the world.[3] It’s been said, “God can arrive in the story of your own
body. This is the power of the story at Christmas. Every word of God is possible. [We too can] be a home for the God who desires to dwell with us.”[4] Emmanuel.
Finally, we are also blessed when we have faith in God’s promises. If you think it’s hard to keep
believing that, imagine what Mary must have felt. She was promised her child would be given
the throne of David, and there wasn’t even room for him in the inn. She was promised he would
be called the Son of God, and she had to watch him be beaten, mocked and crucified as a
criminal on the cross. Yet, she still believed. She whose Yes took her from Bethlehem all the way
to Golgotha. She whose “Let it be” foreshadowed the prayer of her Son thirty years later, “Not
my will but Yours be done.” If we have faith that God’s promises will be fulfilled, we always have
hope even when all hope seems gone. Faith doesn’t protect us from suffering, but faith knows
where to turn and who to turn to for help. God never leaves us alone. Praise the Lord!
On this 2nd Sunday in Advent, I close with words from the Anglican priest and poet Malcolm
Guite. He reminds us that Mary’s earliest title in the church was “Theotokos”. It’s a Greek word
meaning God-Bearer. He says, “Mary was the one who bore for us in time the One who was
begotten in eternity. [May Christ be] made alive and fruitful in this world today through our flesh
and our daily lives.”
Hear now “Theotokos” a sonnet by Malcolm Guite.
You bore for me the One who came to bless
And bear for all and make the broken whole.
You heard His call and in your open ‘yes’
You spoke aloud for every living soul.
Oh gracious Lady, child of your own child,
Whose mother-love still calls the child in me,
Call me again, for I am lost, and wild
Waves surround me now. On this dark sea
Shine as a star and call me to the shore.
Open the door that all my sins would close
And hold me in your garden. Let me share
The prayer that folds the petals of the Rose.
Enfold me too in Love’s last mystery
And bring me to the One you bore for me.[5]
Amen
[1] Luke T. Johnson, The Gospel of Luke, p.39
[2] Peter Gomes, Sermons: Biblical Wisdom for Daily Living, p.11
[3] Isaac Villegas, “Pregnant with God,” https://anabaptistworld.org/pregnant-god/
[4]Devo Kritzinger, “Who (Really) Wants to Be Mary?” https://lasierra.church/christmas-who-really-wants-to-be-mary/
[5] https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/tag/mary/
A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on 3 December 2023 by Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19 and Luke 1: 1-23.
Today is the 1st Sunday of Advent. It marks the beginning of a new church year.
The word “advent” means “coming” or “arrival”. The Latin translation of the Greek word parousia, meaning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, the season of Advent serves as a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah, as well as the waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ byChristians today.
In the season of Advent, the most important part is to prepare our heart for Jesus as we are celebrating his birth and waiting for his coming.
When we are preparing our heart, what do we have to do?
Every year, the church has a tradition to arrange clean up days on Friday and Saturday to clean the church and decorate it as we are preparing for the 1st Sunday of Advent, the new church year.
The significance of clean up days is not just physical cleansing of the building and making it bright and clean, so that people coming to church will feel refreshed and good. Clean up days also have their spiritual meaning. That is to cleanse our hearts to prepare space for God, to welcome the savour of the world to entering in.
The world we are living in is full of worries. Senseless killings in the wars in Middle East between Israel and Hamas. Some young people from our church who joined the Solidarity Trip last month reminded us the unjust and oppressive situation in the Philippines are still prevalent. The unjust imprisonment for human rights activists near and far in the world. People are forced to leave their homeland to seek asylum or work to overseas to sustain lives. Some friends are suffering from health challenges – cancers, deteriorating walking ability, some are mourning for the death of family members and friends. Some friends who have paid jobs are under stress with long working hours, huge work demands and job insecurity. The list is endless!
All these worries may have occupied our hearts and made us disconnected to God. All these worries may have taken away our hope and joy.
When our hearts are occupied by worries of different kinds, we are doomed to failure. On the first Sunday of Advent, the new year of the church, we are reminded to refocus our life and direction.
The Psalm 80 we heard this morning is a communal lament, it is a response to the destruction of the Northern kingdom of ancient Israel. The nation had been going through ongoing oppression. The people of Psalm 80 were chronically downcast and suffering constant aggression from hostile forces. With the invasion of other powers, many Israelites were forced to exile and leave their homes.
The hope offered by the Psalmist is to keep making petition to God who is the King and the God of sovereignty.
In verses 3, 7, 19, the Psalmist has repeatedly seek God to save their nation and to restore their lives.
For three times, the Psalmist proclaims : Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 3,7,19)
The word “Restore” – meaning ‘a Cause to turn’ – from physical return from exile to spiritual rebirth!
Psalm 80 reminds us the spiritual rebirth – the return to God, to recognize God’s sovereignty with God’s face shine upon us, we will be saved.
Today, the first Advent candle is “Hope”
There is no hope without God! Turn to God and by keeping God at the centre of our heart and our life is the foundation of Hope in the weary world we are living in!
The second reading for today is taken from Luke 1:1-20.
It is a familiar gospel account. It tells us about Zechariah’s encounter with the angel Gabriel who came to bring him good news – God will give him a son, named him John. John is known as John the Baptiser. He is Jesus’ cousin, coming to prepare the path for Jesus the Saviour.
Zechariah is a priest, a religious person. In God’s eyes, he is righteous. But he did not have a child because his wife was barren. Not having a child at his time was a shame to the couple and family. When the angel tells him the good news about God will give him a baby, he was puzzled and asked question for clarification. Angel Gabriel replied by saying, “because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
In this gospel account, I would like to share with you my inspirations that are related to the theme of Advent – to turn to God by preparing our heart and waiting for the Lord.
Advent is a time of waiting. Remember this my beloved sisters and brothers in Christ. While we are waiting, God is waiting for us too!
God is present at all times and in all places. God is formless and timeless. With this understanding of God. God is here. God lives in our heart and in our world right now. It is us who have wandered away or too pre-occupied by other things like our own worries or our personal interests & desires, that have taken away our attention to God. When the eyes of our heart are blind, we do not see God. We are not aware of God’s presence. We are not aware that Christ is here and living within us.
In the gospel account of Zechariah, I have seen one possibility that may have made him not able to see God and understand God’s blessing to give him and his wife Elizabeth the gift of a child, sign of joy and hope to them and the nation.
What was it? It was his fixed belief.
When Angel Gabriel told Zechariah God would grant him a son. Zechariah responded by saying he and his wife were too old to have a baby. Zechariah used his normal thinking from a human point of view to respond to God’s grace
Dear sisters and brothers, are there any fixed belief within you that may have hindered you to receive God’s amazing grace through his sovereign power? Are there any fixed belief and pattern of life that have hindered you to develop closer relationship with God?
In the season of Advent, I would invite you to pray and meditate about it, and to seek the power of the holy spirit to make a change. You may use the devotional materials the Church has prepared for your spiritual rebirth exercise during this time.
Another inspiration that I received from this gospel account is this.
When Zachariah expressed his puzzle on the angel’s message. Angel Gabriel replied “because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
When I think about this reaction from the Angel, is it a punishment to Zechariah from God for his unbelief and little faith? Is God that narrow minded. At the end of the day, Zechariah’s question is very normal for a human being.
When I am contemplating the text and trying to seek God’s wisdom to understand, I realize this: When Zechariah is not able to speak, he is given more time and space to listen to God more deeply.
God has given us two ears, but only one mouth. So we should listen more speak less. When we listen, we need to listen attentively and with our hearts fully present.
Christmas is coming. In December many of us would be very busy to prepare many celebrations and events for Christmas. Before we do that, let us remember the essence of Advent: waiting and preparing our hearts to receive the Lord. Our turn to God for spiritual rebirth is the key.
Advent is a time for us to prepare our heart for God, and to graciously to receive God with hope, peace, joy and love. By receiving it wholeheartedly, we will become hope, peace, joy and love, to share with others in the world! The essence of Christmas love, to receive God’s love and share it with others.
KUC 100th Anniversary, today is the kick off
Next year KUC would be celebrating her 100th anniversary. The Centenary Committee would like to do a kick off today to invite the congregation to pay attention to this remarkable year.
Yes, there would be a series of programs and activities for the celebration. But when we are planning and doing all that, the most fundamental one is to turn to God by reviving our soul – our spiritual rebirth!
When we are connecting to God, we will truly become a Community of Christ that is able to reveal God, the light and life .
The season of Advent reminds us and invites us for spiritual rebirth. In doing this, we need to begin with and continue this spiritual discipline - be still and know that I am God. We have to set time to be with God through stillness, through silence – listen to the Holy Spirit with our hearts, speak less and do less on those unnecessary things.
To close my sermon, I would like to invite you all to pray in silence, to meditate with a pure heart to see and feel the presence of God within you. If your mind is too active, you may focus on your breathing as breath is an obvious sign of God’s presence.
I will finish the moment of silence by the sound of the singing bowl.
May 2004|July 2004|September 2004|November 2004|December 2004|April 2005|July 2005|August 2005|September 2005|October 2006|November 2006|December 2006|January 2007|February 2007|March 2007|April 2007|May 2007|July 2007|August 2007|September 2007|October 2007|November 2007|December 2007|January 2008|February 2008|March 2008|April 2008|May 2008|June 2008|July 2008|August 2008|September 2008|October 2008|November 2008|December 2008|January 2009|February 2009|March 2009|April 2009|May 2009|June 2009|July 2009|August 2009|September 2009|October 2009|November 2009|December 2009|January 2010|February 2010|March 2010|April 2010|May 2010|June 2010|July 2010|September 2010|October 2010|November 2010|December 2010|January 2011|February 2011|April 2011|May 2011|June 2011|July 2011|October 2011|November 2011|December 2011|January 2012|February 2012|March 2012|August 2012|September 2012|November 2012|December 2012|January 2013|February 2013|March 2013|April 2013|May 2013|June 2013|September 2013|October 2013|November 2013|December 2013|February 2014|March 2014|April 2014|May 2014|June 2014|July 2014|August 2014|September 2014|October 2014|November 2014|December 2014|January 2015|February 2015|March 2015|April 2015|July 2015|August 2015|October 2015|November 2015|December 2015|January 2016|February 2016|March 2016|April 2016|May 2016|June 2016|July 2016|August 2016|September 2016|October 2016|November 2016|December 2016|January 2017|February 2017|March 2017|April 2017|May 2017|June 2017|July 2017|August 2017|September 2017|October 2017|November 2017|December 2017|January 2018|February 2018|March 2018|April 2018|June 2018|July 2018|August 2018|September 2018|October 2018|November 2018|December 2018|January 2019|February 2019|March 2019|May 2019|June 2019|July 2019|August 2019|September 2019|October 2019|November 2019|December 2019|January 2020|February 2020|March 2020|April 2020|May 2020|June 2020|July 2020|August 2020|September 2020|October 2020|November 2020|December 2020|January 2021|February 2021|March 2021|April 2021|May 2021|June 2021|July 2021|August 2021|September 2021|October 2021|November 2021|December 2021|January 2022|February 2022|March 2022|April 2022|May 2022|June 2022|July 2022|August 2022|September 2022|October 2022|November 2022|December 2022|January 2023|February 2023|March 2023|April 2023|May 2023|June 2023|July 2023|August 2023|September 2023|October 2023|November 2023|December 2023|January 2024|February 2024|March 2024|April 2024|
Archived sermons by the Barksdales