Rev. Dr Sheldon Williams
Rev. Dr Sheldon Williams

- Title
- Reverend
- Department
- Co-op City Baptist Church
- Telephone
- (718) 320-3774
- Pastor@coopcitybaptistchurch.org
- Favorite Bible Passage
- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams was born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, New York. He graduated from Evander Childs High School in the Bronx. After graduation, he attended C.W. Post College in Greenvale, New York, and received the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Academic Scholarship in 1974. In 1978, he graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Secondary Education. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Rev. Dr. Williams was brought up in the Co-op City Baptist Church. He attended Sunday School and was baptized int he Church. As he grew more mature in the Lord, he taught Sunday School and became a walking deacon.
Rev. Dr. Williams was licensed to preach the gospel in October 1984. He received his Masters of Divinity from the New York Theological Seminary in May 1988, and became an ordained Baptist Minister in November 1988.
He was the recipient of Who’s Who Outstanding Young Men of America in 1988.
From June 1989 until June 1992, he was an Associate Minister at Community Baptist Church in Jessup, Maryland. While there, he worked with the prison ministry, headed Vacation Bible School and worked with the youth ministries. It was a period of growth and preparation as the Lord continued to prepare him for the pastoral ministry.
On October 4, 1992, Rev. Dr. Williams became the Pastor of the Co-op City Baptist Church in the Bronx, New York. Under his leadership, the Church has grown spiritually, financially and in membership. His goal is to lead God’s people through the guidance of the Holy Spirit during the 21st century. The Church has purchased property and plans to build a new edifice in the near future.
Dr. Williams has been blessed to minister in Africa and the West Indies.
Rev. Dr. Williams received his Doctorate of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio in May 1995. He was elected to the Executive Board of Directors of the NAACP Co-op City Branch, on December 22, 1996.
In January of 1998, Rev. Dr. Williams was elected to the Executive Board of the Coalition of African American Churches and Community Organizations of Co-op City.
Dr. Williams has received various prestigious awards from organizations such as the NAACP, the Retirees of Co-op City, Town & Country Family Center, just to name a few. He has also received awards from political leaders Councilman Larry Seabrook and Congressman Joseph Crowley. Dr. Williams has been selected as a member of Who’s Who In Executives and Professionals for the year 2002-2003.
In September of 2005, Dr. Williams started the Co-op City Inter-generational Outreach Center, Inc., where he serves as the Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Williams is the author of Principle Centered Living: 9 Reasons To Maintain Your Values In A Pressure Filled World. He is also the President and CEO of SEW Universal, LLC. Dr. Williams also co-hosted the radio show Principle Centered Living Radio on WMCA 570 in New York for several years. Dr. Williams serves as the Northeast Faith Commander for the National Black Church Initiative and also serves as the President of the National Black Religious Broadcasters Online.
Rev. Dr. Williams is married to the former Marilyn Cecelia Townes and they have one son,
Sheldon Emery Williams, Jr. The family resides in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Sermons

Fathers lead by the example set by God
In this sermon, Rev. Williams uses the story of the children of Israel's 40-year journey out of Egypt -- a trip that should have taken 40 days -- to underscore the importance of faithfulness. Let us not make their mistake, as we strengthen our faith in Christ.

Cleansing the temple
Taken from Mark 11:17, Rev. Williams talks about reverence for God's house.

Thank God in prayer for the church
Referencing 1 Thessalonians 1:2, Rev. Williams speaks about the elements of God's church and how we each play a role in it.
Events
Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church – Pastor’s Aide Anniversary
Venue - Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church
17 Woodhull Rd, Huntington, NY 11743
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church – Christian Education Annual Day
Venue - Mt Carmel Baptist Church
175177 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, NY, USA
Inspirational Choir Anniversary
Venue - Coop City Baptist Church
Co-Op City Baptist Church, Einstein Loop South, Bronx, NY, United States
“The Miseducation of Our Kids” (Principle Centered Living Radio)
Venue - Principle Centered Living Radio (redeemradiofm.com)
Principle Centered Living Radio (redeemradiofm.com)
Blog posts
Be Thankful Unto God
Sunday November 23, 2019
Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5; Text: Psalm 100:4
The Psalmist is letting us know in this passage of scripture that we must be thankful unto God, for everything that we have. We must be thankful unto God, for the very life that we live. We must be thankful unto God, for all things.
Psalm 100 is the last in a series of psalms that emphasize the Lord as King. It describes God’s people going into His house to worship Him, and it spells out what their attitude should be as they go. It also calls out to all the people of the earth, urging them to recognize that the Lord is God and inviting them to receive Him.
In a very practical sense, this psalm teaches us the actual purpose of the church: to joyfully express praise and thanksgiving to God, to present ourselves for God’s service, and to urge all people of the earth to come into a relationship with God through His Son.
Psalm 100 teaches us what our attitude should be when we go to God’s house. Not only should we come before the Lord with gladness and joy, but we should enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise. God is good to us every day. He is ever faithful to us, and His love never fails. As we walk or ride to church, we should prepare our hearts to give thanks by reflecting on all He has done for us in the past week. As we walk through the doors, our hearts should be filled with praise. When we enter the sanctuary, and the service begins, we should lift our voices and wholeheartedly sing the praises of our good, loving, and faithful God.
We pray that you will come and worship with us. Our services are held Sundays at 8:00 and 11:00 am; Sunday School at 9:15am. Wednesdays noon day worship. Bibles Study classes Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:30 pm. Plus every other Wednesday at 5:00 pm.
May God continue to Bless you and your family.
Are You Cheating On God?
Text: Hosea 3:3
Scripture: Hosea 3:1-15
Sermon for Sunday February 3, 2019
When we look at this passage of scripture it is symbolic to our relationship with God. Each one of us male and female need to picture ourselves and our walk with God as we look at this text.
The heart and love of God is now being pictured in one of the most dramatic ways possible. Hosea’s adulterous wife had forsaken him and the children to live with another man. The couple were as estranged and alienated from one another as two people can be. Yet Hosea was instructed by God to demonstrate an unlimited love for his wife. Despite all the pain and suffering Gomer had caused, Hosea was to seek reconciliation with her. This suspenseful drama is played out in Scripture.
We all must take time to look at our relationship with God and see how we are engaged in activities that take us away from being faithful to God and His Word. We need to look at how we are cheating on God and take the corrective measures to reconcile with God.
I pray that you will come and worship with us on Sunday mornings at our 8:00 or 11:00 am services or on Wednesdays at our 12:00 service. Sunday School is held at 9:15 on Sunday mornings and we have Christian Education classes being held on Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:30 pm and every other Wednesday at 5:00 pm.
I pray that you will come and worship or study God’s Word with us. May God bless you and your family.
Are You A Witness?
Sermon for Sunday December 16, 2018
Scripture: John 1:6-8
Text: John 1:7
Theme: Are You A Witness?
1. A man sent from God (v.6)
2. A man with a mission (v.7)
3. A man who was great, but was not the Light (v.8)
John the Baptist, was a true witness for Jesus the Christ. John’s sole purpose on earth was to witness and bear testimony to the Light of the world. His purpose stands as an example for every believer. The purpose of the believer is to bear the same witness as John: Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.
Are you a witness for Jesus the Christ? Letting others know in Word and Deed that Jesus saves?
We pray that you will come and worship with us when you have the opportunity. Our Sunday services are held at 8:00 and 11:00, with Sunday School at 9:15. We also have a noon day service on Wednesdays with Bible Study Classes at 1:00 & 7:30. Every other week there is a 5:00 class on Wednesdays.
May God continue to bless you and your family.
Let the Peace of Christ Rule Your Hearts
Sermon for Sunday November 25, 2018
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17
Text: Colossians 3:15
Theme: Let the Peace of Christ Rule Your Hearts
As the body of believers in Christ, we must allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts. We can not have believers fighting with each other and no one willing to compromise in the church and expect to function in the manner that the Church is called to function. We must be willing to work together and overcome our differences to achieve the common goal through Christ.
We pray that you will come join in worship on Sundays at 8:00 & 11:00 or on Wednesdays at 12:00.
May God continue to bless you and your family richly.
Give God the Glory
Sunday November 11, 2018
Scripture: Psalm 29:1-11
Text: Psalm 29:2
Theme: Give God the Glory
1. Call on both angels and people to worship the Lord and Him alone (vv. 1-2).
2. Praise the Lord for His commanding authority over nature: He set up the laws that control nature (vv. 3-9).
3. Proclaim this one truth: The Lord is the eternal King (vv. 10-11).
We often look at the storms that we face in life, when we are going through them, we don’t know how we are going to make. But by the grace of God, when we come through them, we often realize that we are better for having experienced the storm.
We must give God the the glory in all that we do and all that we experience. For the Bible teaches us that all things work together for them that love God and are called according to His purpose.
We pray that you will come and worship with us on Sunday mornings at 8:00 or 11:00, to receive the blessings that God has here for you.
May God continue to bless you and your family richly.
Are We Encouraging One Another?
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.
Love Breeds Forgiveness
Sermon for October 28, 2018
Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48
Text: Matthew 5:44-45
Theme: Love Breeds Forgiveness
In verses 44 and 45, Jesus seeks to break the cycle of violence by advancing the characteristics of a new love ethic; a love ethic that captures an essence of righteousness that embraces the personhood of “the other” amidst strife and hatred. The type of radical love Jesus describes in verses 44 and 45 requires an evolved interpretation of the Law. In verse 44, Jesus commissions his audience, comprised of his disciples first, and then the larger crowd, to not only love your enemies, but to also pray for those who persecute you.
That appears difficult even in this age of political unrest, this age of youth violence and blatant prejudice, but we as believers must oppose the oppression and the violence, yet stay true to the Word of God. Love conquers hate.
We pray that you will come and worship with us at either our 8:00 or 11:00 service on Sunday mornings. Sunday School is also held at 9:30.
May God continue to bless you richly.
Prayer, Praise and Trust in the Lord (Prayer)
Sermon for Sunday September 23, 20018
Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-2
Text Habakkuk 3:2
Theme: Prayer, Praise and Trust in the Lord (Prayer)
1. Pray to the Lord (vv. 1-2).
2. Praise the Lord for His coming and for His mighty works (vv. 3-15).
3. Trust in the Lord, He who is the God of salvation (vv. 16-19).
The final chapter of Habakkuk assures us that God will indeed work all things out for the good of those who truly love Him. The example of the prophet teaches us that we must seek answers to the questions that trouble and burden us directly from the Lord. We must seek Him in prayer and in His written Word. Regardless of the answers we receive, whether we fully understand them or not, we must respond to the Lord with thanksgiving and praise. And we must trust Him to complete His work at its appointed time. In prayer and in songs of praise, we need to acknowledge the work of the Lord, even as we stand in fear and awe of Him. The Lord and His works are truly awesome, majestic, and holy beyond measure. God is worthy of our praise and worthy of our trust.
I will be preaching this message in three parts as outlined above. On Sept. 23rd, the emphasis will be on Prayer. On Oct. 14th, the emphasis will be on Praise and on Oct. 21st, the emphasis will be Trust.
We pray that you will come to join us in worship. May God Bless you and your family richly.
Be Consistent In Your Faith
Sermon outline for Sunday September 16, 2018
Scripture: Colossians 2:1-7
Text: Colossians 2:6
Theme: Be Consistent In Your Faith
1. Mark 1: a minister who struggles in prayer and concern for the church (v.1).
2. Mark 2: possessing confidence and assurance (v.2-3).
3. Mark 3: resisting seductive teaching (v.4).
4. Mark 4: maintaining military discipline—order and stedfastness (v.5).
5. Mark 5: walking in the Lord (v.6-7).
One of the needs of today’s church is for mature people, a people who are consistently growing in the Lord. The word consistent is to be noted: a mature people are consistent in all they do. They are consistently growing in the Lord. One of the great tragedies of today’s society is the lack of consistency. Few people are consistent in their daily walk with the Lord.
I pray that you will come and worship with us Sundays. Our worship services are held at 8:00 and 11:00 am. Sunday School is held at 9:15.
On Wednesday’s we have worship service at 12:00. Weekly Bible Study Classes at 1:00 & 7:30 pm. Every other week we have a Bible Study Class at 5:00 pm.
We welcome you to come worship and study God’s Word with us.
May God Bless you and your family richly.
Justified By Faith
Sermon for Sunday September 2, 2018
Scripture: Romans 5:1-5
Text: Romans 5:1
Theme: Justified By Faith
Outline of Scripture Passage:
1. Justification is by faith (v.1).
2. There is peace with God (v.1).
3. There is access into the grace, the favor and the presence of God (v.2).
4. There is hope for the glory of God (v.2).
5. There is glory in trials and sufferings (v.3-5).
6. There is the continuous experience of God’s love through the indwelling Spirit (v.5).
This Sunday we will speak about being justified by faith. We will show how God justifies a person because of His Son Jesus Christ. When a person believes in Jesus Christ, God takes that person’s faith and counts it as righteousness. The person is not righteous, but God considers and credits the person’s faith as righteousness.
We welcome you to come and worship with us this Sunday morning. We still have our summer hours, there is only one worship service at 9:00. We urge you to come and receive the blessing that God has waiting for you.
We Need Jesus
Sermon for Sunday August 5, 2018
Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2
Text: 1 John 2:2
Theme: We Need Jesus
This sermon speaks about our need for an Advocate before God. It tells us how Jesus is the the only one who is qualified to go before God on our behalf. How Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. (sacrifice, covering, a satisfaction, a payment, an appeasement for sin)
We invite you to come and worship with us. We begin our summer hours this Sunday. We will only have one service which will begin at 9:00am.
Come and worship with us and receive the blessing that God has waiting for you.
You Can’t Do It On Your Own
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.
A Message to the Males Young & Old
Sunday June 17, 2018, Fathers Day
Scripture: 1 John 2:12-17
Text: 1 John 2:14
Theme: A Message to the Males, Young & Old
This message speaks about spiritual growth and spiritual maturity. We remind our men and women, that we must continue to grow spiritually. We can not become complacent once we are saved. We must continually study God’s Word, attend Sunday School and Bible Study Classes, attend Prayer Services, Fellowship with the Saints, Work in the Churches Ministries and tell others about Jesus.
We must continually grow into the person God desires for us to be.
I pray that you will come and worship with us on Sunday mornings at our 8:00 or 11:00 service. Sunday School is a 9:15.
May God continue to bless you richly.
Is there evidence of your time with Jesus?
Sermon for Sunday June 10, 2018
Scripture: Acts 4:5-14
Text: Acts 4:13
Theme: Is there evidence of your time with Jesus?
This passage of scripture speaks of the first persecution of the church. There are several challenging lessons for Christian service clearly seen in the experience.
1. Peter and John arrested and tried (v.1).
2. They suffered abuse because they preached the resurrection (v.2-4).
3. They credited Christ with the power to heal and to change lives (v.5-10).
4. They proclaimed salvation in Christ alone (v.11-12).
5. They gave evidence that they had been with Jesus (v.13-14).
6. They suffered threats (v.15-18).
7. They refused to compromise their message (v.19-20).
8. The result: all men glorified God (v.21-22).
We pray that you will come and worship with us. Sunday Morning Services are held 8:00 and 11:00. Sunday School is 9:15. We look forward to worshipping together.
May God Bless you and your family richly.
Jesus Our Heavenly Priest
Sunday May 6, 2018
Scripture: Hebrews 8:1-5
Text: Hebrews 8:1
Theme: Jesus Our Heavenly Father
1. Jesus Christ is the Minister of a heavenly, spiritual priesthood, v.1-5.
2. He is the exalted High Priest: at the right hand of God’s throne (v.1).
3. He is the exalted Minister: of the true tabernacle (v.2).
4. He is the exalted minister who offers the gifts and sacrifices of men to God (v.3).
5. He is the exalted minister of the real, heavenly world (v.4-5).
I pray that you will come and worship with us on Sunday mornings. Worship Services are 8:00 & 11:00. Sunday School for all ages is held at 9:15.
May God continue to bless you and your family richly.
Abide With Christ
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.
We Need A Clean Heart
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.
Blessed are those who are protected by God
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.
God Reveals Things Through Fasting and Prayer
Sunday February 4, 2018
Scripture: Daniel 10:1-9
Text: Daniel 10:7
Theme: God Reveals Things Through Fasting and Prayer
This passage describes a vision that Daniel had in response to his fervent prayer for the Jews who had returned to the promised land. It shows how demonic forces were trying to prevent his prayer from being answered so the Jews could not fulfill their God-given purpose: to be the channel through whom God would send His Holy Word and the Messiah into the world.
This is the first of three chapters that deal with Daniel’s final vision. The present chapter takes readers behind the scenes of world history to reveal the cosmic spiritual forces that seek to wreak havoc on the people of the earth, particularly believers.
1. Daniel’s prayer and mourning prior to the vision: stresses the need to pray and fast (10:1-3).
2. Daniel’s encounter with an awesome being: stresses the need to be humble and surrendered to Christ (10:4-9)
I pray that you will come and visit with us this Sunday to hear how God can move in your life.
May God continue to bless you richly.
Victory Over Temptation
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.
We Are Way-Makers
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.
Giving Hope to All
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.
An Advent Meditation
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!
Let Us Sing Unto The Lord
Sunday Nov.12, 2017
Inspirational Choir Anniversary
Scripture: Psalm 95:1-6
Text: Psalm 95:2
Theme: Let Us Sing Unto The Lord
The ninety-fifth psalm is a call to worship. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the unknown author celebrated God as our King, our Creator, and our Shepherd. The Lord had a message for the people who were gathered in His name, and the psalmist delivered that message.
Psalm 95 teaches us how to worship, demonstrating that worship is praising God, worship is submitting to God, and worship is obeying God.
Verses 1-5 tell us to: Invite everyone to enter God’s presence: Praise and sing to Him. Verses 6-7b, Invite everyone to humble themselves: Bow and submit to God.
Verses 7c-11, Warn everyone to listen to God’s voice and to obey His Word TODAY.
We invite you top come and worship with us this Sunday and every Sunday.
May God Continue to Bless You Richly
Celebrating God’s Messengers
Sunday October 29, 2017
Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-12
Text: Isaiah 52:7
Theme: Celebrating God’s Messengers
This is the last Sunday of Clergy Appreciation Month, the Lord led me to bring a message celebration for the work of Associate Clergy persons (ministers).
Associate Ministers are often overlooked, but in many cases they are the lifeblood of the church. They work tirelessly teaching, visiting the sick, praying, doing workshops and seminars, preaching and filling in for the pastor, just to name a few things. But they do not receive the recognition from the church or the community.
Our text reminds us that they are God’s Messengers, they also bring the message of peace, good news and salvation to the people. They give hope, to those who believe things are hopeless. They teach the people not to look at their circumstances, but look to the God, who can change their circumstances for the better.
I urge you to celebrate your Associate Ministers and acknowledge them for the work they do and the blessing that they are to the church and the community.
Hope to see you on Sunday. May God continue to bless you and your family.
A Living Hope
Sunday October 15, 2017
Care and Comfort Ministries Anniversary
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Text: 1 Peter 1:5
Theme: A Living Hope
1. The source of the hope: the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.3).
2. The inheritance of the hope (v.4).
3. The assurance of the hope (v.5).
One of the things that we as Believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ must realize is that no matter what adversities that we face on this earth, we have the hope of spending eternity with God.
This passage teaches us that in eternity we have more waiting for us than we could ever imagine here on earth. Even if you are poor on earth, you will be rich in heaven. If you were sick on earth, you will be well in heaven. If you were unemployed on earth, you will have a job in heaven. If you were homeless on earth, you will have a home in heaven.
I pray that you will come worship with us this Sunday and come to realize that once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, Goodness and Mercy will follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Secret to Lasting Peace
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9
Text: Philippians 4:6
Theme: The Secret to Lasting Peace
Throughout this month we offer a Prayer for Domestic Violence Prevention. There are many people in and out of our congregation who suffer from the abuse of others and live their lives in fear, anxiety and constant worry. There are people who live in constant fear of bullying, both physical, emotional, through the internet and social media. We have people who have lost everything they have, because of the recent natural disasters, (hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes). People who fear acts of terrorism, both domestic and foreign. People who fear leaving their homes, due to the violence in their communities.
Yet through this passage of scripture, the Apostle Paul lets us know that that we can receive God’s peace in two ways.
- Peace comes through Prayer (Phil. 4:6-7)
- Peace comes through Positive thinking (Phil. 4:7-8)
On Sunday, October 8th, we will show how peace comes through prayer.
We pray that you will join us at either our 8:00 or 11:00 am services.
May God continue to Bless you
Crave the Word of God
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
Strip off some things
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3
Text: 1 Peter 2:1
“Strip off some things”
This powerful passage of scripture uses some descriptive, active words. The imperative “laying aside” means to strip off.
It tells us believers that we must remove from our lives things such as malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy and speaking evil of others, just to name a few.
I pray that I will see you at service every Sunday.
God bless you,
Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams
Blessed are they that dwell in God’s house
Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 (Family and Friends Day)
Scripture: Psalm 84:1-12
Text: Psalm 84:4
“Blessed are they that dwell in God’s House”
1. Tell God that you love Him—love being in His presence (vv. 1-3).
2. Thank God for the blessings of His presence (vv. 4-7).
3. Ask God to hear your prayer (vv. 8-12).
God Bless,
Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams
Christ is the example
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Scripture: Romans 15:7-13
“Christ is the example”
During this time of social, economic, ethnic, sexual identity and religious unrest in our country, we must concentrate on becoming unified through our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
We must stop concentrating on our differences and begin to see the things that we have in common through Christ. Christ came to bring us together, not to allow our differences to keep us apart.
Through Christ we can all become unified, not only in this world, but for eternity.
May God bless you,
Rev. Dr. Sheldon E. Williams
“Stop the 1001-Applications-Sent-But-Still-No-Job Madness” (Principle Centered Living Radio)
Guest: Mr. Carlton Daniels, former HR executive, Columbia University
No more running around like a chicken with its head cut off looking for a job.
The job search … and FIND is on with our human resources expert.
Join our show, Principle Centered Living Radio, every Saturday at 4 p.m. on RedeemRadioFM.com