Rev. Dr Sheldon Williams

Sermon for Sunday November 4, 2018

Scripture: Romans 15:14-21

Text: Romans 15:14

Theme: Are We Encouraging One Another?

We are living in a time where there is a lot of negativity in our society. We see it in the political realm as well as in the socio-economic portions of society. Colin Powell has it right when he states, We have come to live in a society based on insults, on lies and on things that aren’t true. It creates an environment where deranged people feel empowered.

The challenge we have in the church is not to let what occurs on the outside effect our worship of God and how we see and value one another.

We must heed to the words of the Apostle Paul and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must not allow the negativity of this society to come into the church. We must encourage each other in all that we do for the Lord.

I pray that you will come worship with us and receive the blessing that the Lord has waiting for you.

May God Bless you richly.

This passage is sermon to be preached on Sunday July 29. 2018

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-9

Text: 1 John 1:9

Theme: You Can’t Do It On Your Own

There are many people who believe that without Christ we are not totally sinful and depraved.
a. This is a deception.
b. The truth is not in us.

2. The truth is found in verse 9, we must confess our sins.
a. Because God is faithful and just.
b. Because God forgives.

We pray that you will come and worship with us. Our services are held on Sunday Mornings at                        8:00 & 11:00 am.

Please come and receive the blessing that God has waiting for you.

Sermon for Sunday April 29, 2018

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Text: 1 Corinthians 7:24

Theme: Abide With Christ

This passage deals with the believer’s lot in life: his status, condition, circumstances, and relationships throughout society. It is a much needed message.

1. Fact 1: God calls people from all lots in life, from all conditions and levels of society (v.17).
2. Fact 2: religious distinctions do not matter (v.18-19).
3. Fact 3: vocations and social conditions do not matter (v.20-23).
4. Fact 4: be faithful in your lot (v.24).

I pray that you will come and worship with us. Sunday Services are 8:00 & 11:00, Sunday School for all ages 9:15.

May God continue to bless you and your family.

Message for Sunday March 18, 2018

Scripture: Psalm 51:8-12

Text: Psalm 51:10

Theme: We Need A Clean Heart

Nowhere in the Bible is the danger of falling into sin more powerfully portrayed than in the life of David. Relaxing on his balcony when he should have been at war, David caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman as she bathed. Tragically, he surrendered to temptation and committed adultery with her while her husband, Uriah, fought Israel’s enemies. This woman, Bathsheba, became pregnant as a result of David’s immoral union with her. The panicked king brought her husband home from the battlefront with the expectation that he would be reunited with his wife. However, Uriah was loyal to his men and refused to enjoy his wife’s company while his fellow soldiers slept on the battlefield. When all David’s attempts to make Uriah appear to be the baby’s father failed, David arranged for Uriah to be placed on the front lines of the fiercest battle. As anticipated, he was slain there.

Adultery and murder … these are the despicable sins of Israel’s king, the sweet psalmist of Israel, the man after God’s own heart. David stole the wife of one of his most faithful warriors a loyal friend who would have gladly died for David and then arranged for his death.

For nearly a year, David persistently refused to deal with his shameful sin. Eventually, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront the king, and he finally repented. Psalm 51 is David’s heartfelt confession to God.

Of all the psalms, the fifty-first is one of the best known and loved because it is so personal: we are all guilty of grievous sin and in frequent need of God’s abundant grace. This deeply intense psalm teaches us several critical lessons about sin and forgiveness:

Even the most godly people can fall into terrible sin.

Sin is serious, causing inescapable consequences. Just one lapse into sin can change our lives and the lives of others forever.

We never sin so grievously that we cannot come to God for forgiveness.

When we confess our sin to God sincerely, He will forgive, cleanse, and restore us regardless how appalling the sin is.
As David confessed his terrible sin to the Lord, he made two promises to God. First, he would use his experience to teach others. Second, he would praise God for His boundless mercy and grace. Along with Psalm 32, Psalm 51 is David’s fulfillment of these vows. In it, he teaches us how to confess our sins, and he exalts the Lord for His faithfulness to forgive and restore us.

1. Cry out for God’s mercy and compassion (vv. 1-3).
2. Confess your sin (vv. 4-7).
3. Pray for restoration and renewal (vv. 8-12).
4. Make a renewed commitment to God (vv. 13-17).
5. Intercede for others, (vv. 18-19).

I pray that you will come and join us for worship on Sunday’s at 8:00 or 11:00 and Wednesday’s at noon.

May God continue to bless you and your family richly.

Sermon for Sunday March 4th, 2018

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-7

Text: Psalm 32:7

Theme: Blessed are those who are protected by God.

Psalm 32 is the first of thirteen maschil psalms, meaning it is instructive in nature. After committing horrendous sin, covering it, and finally confessing it to the Lord, David vowed to use his experience to teach transgressors the ways of the Lord, that they might turn to Him. Psalm 32 is the fulfillment of his oath. It was so important to David to emphasize this instruction that he included three selahs—pauses for meditation and reflection. The psalmist’s instruction is clear and compelling: do not harbor sin in your heart but confess it promptly to the Lord. When you do, you will find that God is waiting to forgive and cleanse you, to remove your guilt and restore you to fellowship with Himself. This is, Why You Should Seek the Lord and His Forgiveness, 32:1-11.

1. God will bless you if you repent (vv. 1-2).
2. God disciplines the unrepentant (vv. 3-4).
3. God will forgive you if you confess your sins (v. 5).
4. God will protect you if you are godly (forgiven) (vv. 6-7).
5. God will instruct and teach you, guide and watch over you (vv. 8-9).
6. God’s love will surround you if you truly trust Him (vv. 10-11).

We pray that you will come and worship with us on Sunday’s at 8:00 or 11:00, Sunday School is at 9:15.

We also have worship service on Wednesday’s at 12:00, followed by Bible Study classes at 1:00 & 7:30.  Every other Wednesday we have a 5:00 Bible Study Class. Prayer Services and a host of other activities are also held throughout the week.

May God richly Bless you and your family.

For the next two Sundays, I will be preaching on how to defeat the temptations that we face on a daily basis.

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Text: Luke 4:13

Theme: Victory Over Temptation

Victory over temptation is essential before we can live and minister for God. No temptation has ever confronted us that Jesus Christ has not confronted. In His confrontation, Jesus reveals what lies behind each temptation and how to conquer it. Once it has been conquered, we can then live a victorious life and serve God effectively.

1. Being prepared to serve God (v.1-2).
2. Temptation 1: to meet the necessities of life by His own power (v.3-4).
3. Temptation 2: to seek His ambition through compromise (v.5-8).
4. Temptation 3: to prove Himself through sensationalism (v.9-12).
5. Conclusion: Satan left Jesus for a while (v. 13-15).

Come worship with us on Sunday mornings at 8:00 or 11:00.

Sunday School begins at 9:15.

May God continue to bless you and your family.

Sunday December 17, 2017

Scripture: Luke 1:67-79

Text: Luke 1:79

Theme: We Are Way-Makers

John the Baptist was never confused with his role, destiny, direction, or duty. John’s humble admission was, “There comes one after me whose sandals I am not worthy to unlatch.” In other words, “There is someone greater than I to come.” John recognized that he was a way-maker for The Way-Maker.

As Christians and church leaders we too are way-makers and prognosticators of the Gospel message. Like John we lift our voices and admonish men and women, boys and girls all in the name of “Preparing the way of the Lord!” The strength of our labor is demonstrated by the power of God’s love. It is a love that enables us and emboldens us to declare with undiminished determination the power of the One who is Heaven’s Way-Maker. We are charged to declare to a dying world that Christ has come and because he has come our path has been blazed and our way has been made.

We pray that you will come and worship with us on this or any Sunday at our 8:00 0r 11:00 am services.

May God richly Bless you and your family.

Sermon for Sunday Dec. 3, 2017,

Observance of the first Sunday of Advent and World Aids Day

Scriptures: Isaiah 60:19-22 & Matthew 22:34-39

Text: Matthew 22:39

Theme: Giving Hope to All

The World Health Organization established the observance of World AIDS Day in 1988 to help government and non-profit organizations increase awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is observed annually on December 1. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are 33.2 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS. In the United States, approximately 38% of the AIDS deaths are among African Americans.

In recent years, African American church leaders have made a more concerted effort to educate their congregations on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the African American community. These efforts involve addressing the general silence within many churches about HIV/AIDS, its transmission, and matters of sex and sexuality more broadly.

Advent marks the season on the Christian calendar for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival,” is a time of hope and anticipation. As Christian churches celebrate the hope embodied in the birth of Jesus Christ, they simultaneously anticipate his return to reconcile the world to God. This dual celebration of past and future reminds us that Christ has already come as our hope of salvation, that he is among us in the world today as our source of comfort and strength, and that he will come again to reign in victory with all power in his hands.

The union of World AIDS Day and the First Sunday of Advent is fitting because it enables clergy leaders to relate the hope of God in Christ to the experience of those living with HIV/AIDS. Observing Advent and World AIDS Day at the same time provides a perfect opportunity for the church to show the depths of God’s love and the breadth of God’s saving grace for all of God’s children.

May God Bless you and your family and we pray that you will come and share in one of our services.

Advent is Almost Here:

What is Coming Through You in Your Interactions With Others?
by The Reverend Brother Jonathan C. Augustine, J.D., MDiv.*

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” [a] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” [b] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born [c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative. Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

—Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)

In the Christian tradition, the four weeks immediately preceding Christmas begin a new liturgical year, with the Season of Advent. Derived from the Latin adventus, for “coming,” Advent is a time of celebratory expectancy with believers anticipating the coming of the messiah, as foretold to David in 2 Samuel 7:1-17. In addition to anticipating Jesus’ birth, Christian believers also celebrate Advent as anticipation of the parousia, a Greek term denoting Jesus’ second coming. In therefore keeping with Advent’s optimism, its four weeks are observed in many faith traditions with the consecutive lighting of candles, symbolizing the four virtues Jesus brings: hope, love, joy, and peace.

In theory, Advent is a time of celebration. In reality, however, it can be a time of distress. People often focus on the financial pressures of gift-giving and acquiring material items, while losing sight of God-given gifts already inside themselves and what can come through them to bless others. Luke’s infancy narrative speaks to contemporary society by providing an alternative perspective to socioeconomic circumstances. It suggests that, by recognizing the gift of God’s favor inside ourselves, we can all carry a joy of optimism that will come through us. We need only open our minds to such, in our personal relationships with God.

Luke’s perspective is arguably different from the other gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John. As a champion of those pushed to the socioeconomic periphery, Luke portrays a dichotomy between two cousins, Elizabeth and Mary, demonstrating that favor is not based on circumstances, but is entirely introspective. Elizabeth is an older and well-to-do woman whose husband, Zechariah, is a respected member of the community. Conversely, Mary is a struggling, unwed teenager, who is engaged to a carpenter named Joseph, making her pregnancy the subject of social castigation. In the midst of her circumstances, however, Mary realizes that inside of herself, she already has the greatest gift that could ever be given. Further, she also realized all her issues could be resolved, based on her perspective. Accordingly, Mary’s Advent blessing came with her focus on that which was inside of her, instead of external circumstances.

In the cited pericope, Luke 1:26-38, Mary receives confirmation that, in the midst of challenging circumstances, she has favor. Moreover, in learning that her older cousin, Elizabeth, is also expecting, Mary realizes that nothing is impossible for God! During the 2017 Advent Season, I pray we all will follow Mary’s example and be open to the realization that regardless of circumstances, our God-given blessings are in the form of the potential that is already inside us. Moreover, similar to Mary’s realization, we can all live-out the meaning of Advent by allowing internal optimism to come through us when we interact with others!

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Text: 1 Peter 2:2

“Crave the Word of God”

This sermon talks about Christians desiring the Word of God. Many of us spend way too much time working, watching television, on our computers, tablets and phones — just to name a few things — and not enough time reading the Bible.

Peter compels us in this text to spend more time reading God’s Word so that we may be strengthened and drawn closer to Christ.

May God Bless,

Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams