Rob Monti,
Your Favorite MonT-SteR!
Blogs with
MonT-SteR Appeal
Alpha & Omega Min.
Atheism Presupposes Theism
Atheism Sucks!
Christians Behaving Badly
Come Reason Ministries
Facing the Challenge
His Hand is On the Door
Let's Try Freedom
ProLifeBlogs
The Thinklings
World Magazine Blog
Sunday, February 10, 2008
A question of questionable focus
Our senior pastor preached a very stimulating message today about bearing one another's burdens (see Galatians 6:2).
In a nutshell, he talked about how Christians often pride themselves on how they don't "drink, smoke, chew, or hang out with those who do." There's an indignation we sometimes feel at the more flagrant sorts of sin that are, shall we say, more colloquial in nature.
Our pastor then posed the following questions:
As I read the Gospels, Jesus reserved the most stinging rebuke not for the likes of prostitutes or even swindlers like Zaccheus, but the self-righteous prigs of the religious establishment who were high on their own asceticism.
Pharasaism is no substitute for Christlikeness.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Our senior pastor preached a very stimulating message today about bearing one another's burdens (see Galatians 6:2).
In a nutshell, he talked about how Christians often pride themselves on how they don't "drink, smoke, chew, or hang out with those who do." There's an indignation we sometimes feel at the more flagrant sorts of sin that are, shall we say, more colloquial in nature.
Our pastor then posed the following questions:
- How often do those of us who are so very proud of our abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, movies, etc. "fulfill the law of Christ" by bearing the burdens of others?
- If the answer is infrequently, then why is that sin of omission somehow less execrable or more tolerable than more banal forms of carnality?
As I read the Gospels, Jesus reserved the most stinging rebuke not for the likes of prostitutes or even swindlers like Zaccheus, but the self-righteous prigs of the religious establishment who were high on their own asceticism.
Pharasaism is no substitute for Christlikeness.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: Christianity, discipleship, faithfulness, fellowship, sermon, theology
Monday, July 23, 2007
Living Stones
Here's the 2nd sermon I've preached at New Life Virginia Beach, this time as a recently installed, volunteer associate pastor. :)
I had a wickedly crazy week leading up to Sunday, so sermon prep was a challenge. I felt that this message was substandard -- I didn't really have a cohesive theme other than explaining what Peter meant when he expressed Christian living in terms of being "living stones" who are to come to Jesus as "a living stone." So I felt that I meandered a bit, my sermon wasn't truly expository in nature, and that my close was abrupt and unpolished.
In spite of all that, some members of the congregation gave me very encouraging feedback. I welcome input from anybody who visits tMR as well. And I hope at least some of the content of my message is a blessing to you!
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Here's the 2nd sermon I've preached at New Life Virginia Beach, this time as a recently installed, volunteer associate pastor. :)
I had a wickedly crazy week leading up to Sunday, so sermon prep was a challenge. I felt that this message was substandard -- I didn't really have a cohesive theme other than explaining what Peter meant when he expressed Christian living in terms of being "living stones" who are to come to Jesus as "a living stone." So I felt that I meandered a bit, my sermon wasn't truly expository in nature, and that my close was abrupt and unpolished.
In spite of all that, some members of the congregation gave me very encouraging feedback. I welcome input from anybody who visits tMR as well. And I hope at least some of the content of my message is a blessing to you!
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: bible study, preaching, sermon
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Preach it, brutha!
I've been conspicuously absent from my blog for awhile because of two events that recently transpired:
In case you're interested, you can hear my sermon at the NLVB's site. They have a nifty little Flash player that allows you to listen to recent sermons. Take a listen to more than just mine -- there's been some good preaching going on at our church!
Up next, MORE global warming ranting (I see you rolling your eyes...) and a review of Spider-Man 3.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
I've been conspicuously absent from my blog for awhile because of two events that recently transpired:
- My son turned 3 on Saturday, and we had a birthday bash for him.
- I have been diligently preparing to preach on Ephesians 4 at my church, New Life of Virginia Beach (NLVB), this past Sunday.
In case you're interested, you can hear my sermon at the NLVB's site. They have a nifty little Flash player that allows you to listen to recent sermons. Take a listen to more than just mine -- there's been some good preaching going on at our church!
Up next, MORE global warming ranting (I see you rolling your eyes...) and a review of Spider-Man 3.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Sunday, January 07, 2007
What's the big deal about idolatry?
I'm finally getting around to posting a sermon I preached back in August. My good friend, Nathan Sanders, is doing a fabulous job as pastor of the Lighthouse Community Church in Federalsburg, MD. Nathan and I were colleagues at Regent University's School of Divinity, and he has been kind enough to invite me to his church each summer to share a message with the congregation. Each visit I've made to Lighthouse has been a time full of fun and blessing.
This past August was no different, and I felt that this was probably the finest sermon I've preached so far. Take a listen -- I hope it instructs, encourages, and challenges you.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
I'm finally getting around to posting a sermon I preached back in August. My good friend, Nathan Sanders, is doing a fabulous job as pastor of the Lighthouse Community Church in Federalsburg, MD. Nathan and I were colleagues at Regent University's School of Divinity, and he has been kind enough to invite me to his church each summer to share a message with the congregation. Each visit I've made to Lighthouse has been a time full of fun and blessing.
This past August was no different, and I felt that this was probably the finest sermon I've preached so far. Take a listen -- I hope it instructs, encourages, and challenges you.
Blessings,
Rob
aka The MonT-SteR
Labels: Christianity, idolatry, preaching, sermon
