BeerysBit - Pastor's Blog... First Presbyterian Church of Brooksville, FL

2011-04-26T03:44:00.004-04:00

MESSAGE: Something Wonderful Happened on the Way to the Cross

May you place Easter on your hearts. May you surrender your expectations for God and for this Church so that your relationship with both may become what God wants rather than what you want. May you say in your heart 'Jesus, remember me' and in so doing may you answer the only question that has ever mattered 'What does Easter mean to me'

2011-04-13T22:44:00.002-04:00

MESSAGE: Something Wonderful… You Got an “A”

{Note: Audio is rough in beginning... gets better} Easter is a special time of year. It’s that time of year when your final grade is announced early and the wonderful news is you’re getting an “A”. The pressures off… now go do wonderful things in the name of the Lord

MESSAGE: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2011-03-21T15:17:00.001-04:00

Click to Play

Luke 19 - Rather than celebrating the redemption of a sinner the crowds chose to belittle the redeemer. Rather than embracing the restorative message of Christ they sought self-gratification. They seem to see the Glory of God only in terms of what God can do for them rather than reveling in the Glory of what God can -- and is doing for others. As Christians we need to learn that it is not always about us Sometimes the beauty of God is what he does for others.

MESSAGE: Pub Evangelism

2011-03-08T13:24:00.001-05:00

Click to Play

If the only friends you have are committed Christians then quite frankly you need new friends! (Week One of our Reworking Evangelism for the 21st Century)

MESSAGE: Something within the Church

2011-03-01T13:00:00.001-05:00

Click to Play

There is a subtle irony inherent within the makeup of the Christian church It cannot exist without the participation of individuals -- thats what we were talking about last week -- and yet as individuals the church cannot continue to exist this is what we are talking about this week.

MESSAGE: Something within us

2011-03-01T12:59:00.001-05:00

Click to Play

Many of us have worked hard for the things we love including the church only to become tired and refuse to carry on. Weve done our bit for God and Church now its someone elses turn Pastor Andrew Beery

2011-01-19T22:53:00.004-05:00

Roohaa: Everyone Episode 1, Series 1 Released January 2011

The Church was never intended to be a collection of individuals. We all have a part to play and just as they body is composed of many parts so too is God's Church. Many churches have two groups of people... those who try and do too much and those who try and do too little. The key is this... No one can do everything but everyone must do something!

ABOUT ROOHAA: The word comes from the Hebrew and means breath or Spirit. Roohaa (rooh-aa) is a video outreach ministry offered on YouTube, iTunes and various App Stores. It was filmed entirely with an iPhone. The software and video production is part of the non-profit ministry of XPPassion. New Roohaa videos will become available several times a year so watch for them. PLEASE DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY at God-Loves-U.com

2010-01-14T16:24:00.009-05:00

"Seeking Seven to Serve” The Choosing of the Seven passage from Acts 6 is the basis for the position on Deacon in the church. What happens when we become the hands and heart of Christ?

2010-01-14T16:18:00.003-05:00

“The Stone Rejected” Acts 4 - What message does Peter pass on to the religious elite when he quotes Psalm 118 and why do they listen?

Bold in the Spirit

Andrew | MySpace Video

2010-01-14T16:15:00.002-05:00

Christmas is all about second chances... Was this Marley's message to Scrooge?

Christmas Scrooge @ Yahoo! Video

2010-01-14T16:12:00.002-05:00

The meaning of Christmas: A Story of Shepherds, Sheep and Saviors…

You may be the only Bible some people see

2009-09-23T12:06:00.001-04:00

Philippians has been described as a "love letter from jail" -- Paul deeply cares for the Church he founded in Philippi and so he is distressed when he hears about a lack of unity within that Church... we may well be the only Bible some people see and so we must emulate Christ in all we do.

You may be the only Bible some people see @ Yahoo! Video

Reaching Out to Our Neighbors

2009-09-17T16:42:00.001-04:00

This sermon from Acts 16 teaches us how to reach out to our neighbors by following the example of Paul, Timothy, Silas and Luke as they evangelize in Philippi... Note I make a mistake during the sermon... I'm human too... Philippi was founded by Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great... not a Roman General as I misspoke during sermon

Reaching Out to Our Neighbors @ Yahoo! Video

The Need to Take Risks

2009-09-11T11:57:00.002-04:00

This sermon from Matthew 14:22-32 deals with the adversity a Christian faces in life and the need to "Step out of the boat -- in faith" and take some of those risks! Note: We can do what the Lord commands and still face a storm... (and that's OK!)

The Need to Take Risks @ Yahoo! Video

All Things - 2

2009-09-05T15:55:00.002-04:00

This is my second preaching of this passage -- this time to my home congregation in Brooksville Florida. This sermon from 1 Cor 9:19-23 deals with Paul's response to troubles in the church in Corinth. Paul's willingness to step beyond his comfort zone to be "All things to all people" in order that some might be saved is just as important to today's struggling church as it was 2000 years ago.

All Things - 2 @ Yahoo! Video

All Things to All Men

2009-06-14T22:00:00.001-04:00

This sermon from 1 Cor 9:19-23 deals with Paul's response to troubles in the church in Corinth. Paul's willingness to step beyond his comfort zone to be "All things to all people" in order that some might be saved is just as important to today's struggling church as it was 2000 years ago.

All Things to All Men @ Yahoo! Video

The Road to Pentecost: Part 3 - A Walk on the Beach

2009-05-27T08:30:00.006-04:00

In this Biblically-based (but sometimes humorous) sermon, John 21:1-19 is discussed. Feeding sheep is a call to leadership via service just as modeled by Christ in John 13 (washing feet). So if you enjoy fish, chickens and getting your glasses washed -- sit back and let the spirit feed you. Blessings one and all!

Note: The sermon is preceded by a children's message and a reading of John 21

The Road To Pentecost:Part 3 - A Walk On The Beach @ Yahoo! Video

The Road to Emmaus

2009-05-04T17:52:00.006-04:00

This is part one of a Pentecost series... the road to Emmaus... learning to recognize Christ is a very necessary step to accepting the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

The Road to Emmaus @ Yahoo! Video

Acts 16:12 - The Good The Bad and The Ugly

2009-03-05T23:04:00.008-05:00

This was a sermon given in early March, 2009 at a beautiful little church in Bergen New York.

This discussion out of Acts deals with Paul's encounter with three people in Philippi. In deference to "Spaghetti Westerns" I called this sermon... The Good (Lydia), The Bad (demon possessed girl) and the Ugly (jailor).

How we respond to the people in our lives like these three is modeled in this passage from Acts and the results can be transformational!

The Good, The Bad The Ugly @ Yahoo! Video

Coming Soon to an HTC Touch HD Near you...

2009-01-15T14:17:00.005-05:00

This is an application in development for the HTC Touch HD phone. More details to follow :)

Pocket Bible 4 - Quick Review

2008-05-20T10:51:00.001-04:00

Laridian's newest Pocket Bible (version 4) is now available for an amazing $7 upgrade price ($10 new purchase.) This is an "Outstanding" upgrade. The new version supports finger flick scrolling as well as single tap line and page advance, fully user customize-able menus and neat new features like automatic scrolling and maximize windows... the only thing missing from my wish list is built-in inking support for notes... bottom line -- well worth the $7 dollars!!!

Visit Laridian at: http://www.laridiansales.com

[Update... works fantastic with my HTC Touch HD phone at 800x480 resolution... nice to see Laridian wrote their interface to be flexible!]

Happy "Bonnie" Day!

2008-03-23T15:08:00.001-04:00

As a Presbyterian Pastor (in training) I feel compelled to share a Happy Easter with everyone but then I realized many folk exchange chocolate (especially chocolate bunnies here in the States) but do not know how chocolate bunnies relate to the "Risen Christ"

It turns out its a Presbyterian thing... seriously. Many Presbyterians hail from Scotland. One Easter Sunday morning a Scottish pastor was heard to say "He is risen and it’s a 'bonnie' day"... the rest is history -- I'm a Presbyterian Pastor so you know it’s true (Honest!)

Serene Screen Phone Edition for Windows Mobile Coming soon!

2008-03-05T20:31:00.005-05:00

More information to follow but the final code is done and a release date will be forthcoming soon!

Two Gifts Sermon

2008-01-08T18:49:00.002-05:00

Description:
Jesus models two types of gifts (The gifts of Giving and the harder one -- the Gift of Receiving) Several passages from the Gospel of John are referenced to illustrate the importance of being able to allow others to be the gift givers. If we cannot allow Christ to wash our feet how can we accept the gift of the Cross? (Note... the Scripture Reading was mistakenly not videotaped so the text has been inserted in the begining... fear not the sermon will begin after the text!)

SereneScreen Phone Edition - Demo Video

2007-11-03T19:05:00.001-04:00

The SereneScreen Phone Edition RC1!
is a Today Screen enhancement designed to work with whatever your favorite WM5 or WM6 (Windows Mobile/Pocket PC) Today Screen is by providing a beautiful animated background and gesture-based phone control. It can operate by itself or integrate with an existing Today Screen application. Special features include over a dozen animations, simulated tactile feedback and optimizations for "Touch" interfaces. Coming soon from Prolific Publishing!

SereneScreen Phone Beta 2

2007-07-24T01:19:00.000-04:00

This is the latest version of the SereneScreen Phone software for the Windows Mobile platform. It is what hopefully will ship to beta testers on or around July 24th, 2007. If you've viewed the earlier beta video you will see some new animations and additional enhancements to the interface. Enjoy this final sneak-peek...

Good Samaritan

2007-07-16T00:33:00.000-04:00

This sermon was given on July 15th, 2007 in Rochester, NY, USA.

Luke 10:25-37 is perhaps the most famous of the parables in Luke. We are called to love our neighbors. Our Neighbor is defined as anyone we are in a position to help without regard to who they are or how they came to be in distress.

SereneScreen Phone Beta 1

2007-07-02T13:07:00.000-04:00

Luke 13 Sermon

2007-03-25T21:52:00.001-04:00

The following is a sermon given in Rochester, NY March 11th, 2007. Why is it important for us to bear spiritual fruit in our quest to be better followers of Christ.

Ordination Exam - Worship and Sacraments (Passed August 2006) PCUSA

2006-10-24T18:18:00.000-04:00

Section I
References:
The Shorter Catechism (7.089): “Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation? A: The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.”

The Second Helvetic Confession (5.211): “WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE IN MEETINGS OF WORSHIP. Although it is permitted all men to read the Holy Scriptures privately at home, and by instruction to edify one another in the true religion, ywt in order that the Word of God may be properly preached to the people, and prayers and supplication publically made, also that the sacraments may be rightly administered, and that collections may be made for the poor and to pay the cost of all the Church’s expenses, and in order to maintain social intercourse, it is most necessary that religious or Church gatherings be held.”

The Confession of 1967 (9.29-30): “The Bible is to be interpreted in the light of its witness to God’s work of reconciliation in Christ. The Scriptures, given under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are nevertheless the words of men, conditioned by the language, thought forms, and literary fashions of the places and times at which they were written. They reflect views of life, history and the cosmos which were then current. The church, therefore, has an obligation to approach Scriptures with literary and historical understanding. As God has spoken his word in diverse cultural situations, the church is confident that he will continue to speak through the Scriptures in a changing world and in every form of human culture. God’s word is spoken to his church today where the Scriptures are faithfully preached and attentively read in dependence on the illumination of the Holy Spirit and with readiness to receive their truth and direction.”
________________________________________________

Responses

I.1 The Directory of Worship notes that the Word is central to any worship. The Word is expressed in the flesh by Christ, in writing in the Scriptures and in proclamation by preaching. The importance of preaching is reaffirmed in numerous locations in the Book of Confessions. The Directory of Worship also notes that preaching is the responsibility of the pastor including the Scriptures used and content.

The Second Helvetic Confession (5.211) notes that although private study of the Bible is to be encouraged, corporate worship is essential and preaching is an important aspect of this. In the Shorter Catechism (7.089), “… the preaching of the Word” is recognized as “…an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.” The Confession of 1967 [C67] (9.29-30) extends this by noting that Scriptures, even though they are divinely inspired, are written in the words of humanity. As such they are couched in humanities culture and thought modalities. C67 notes that the church has a responsibility to express the Scriptures in a manner that translates the antiquated cultural references into something that is generally more accessible to the current culture. This meshes well with the Directory of Worship’s directive to present the Scriptures in a language that is understood by the congregation.

I.2 a) Eric noted that the previous pastor didn’t preach sermons… that they were too impersonal. In point of fact, a sermon on the Word should be very personal. The proclaimed Word is meaningless if it does not speak to us personally. The Directory of Worship makes it clear that sermons are the expressed responsibility of the Pastor who should prayerfully utilize his or her skills and training to insure a proper proclamation of the Word in a manner that makes it personal and relevant.

b) Sally noted that they had gotten used to not having a sermon and liked having an informal Bible study. Certainly a Bible study is a worthwhile endeavor and should be encouraged. That said, it cannot and should not replace a proclamation of the Word. Sermons are typically (but not always) given by trained individuals. A good sermon is founded in the Scriptures and uses the Scriptures to interpret Scriptures. Sally should be reminded that the body of Christ is made up of many with different gifts and that some were given the gift to be teachers. While I would never discourage a desire to study the Bible it is not a replacement for preaching of the Word.

c) Kang notes that sermons are human words, not God’s Word. This fallibility in the words of humanity is exactly why prayerful preaching is essential. Without a skilled and trained preacher to proclaim the Word there is a much greater risk of damage being done to the Word by unskillful interpretation. A preacher is trained to use Scripture to interpret Scripture and to delve into the linguistic and cultural aspects of the Word in order to bring it into a contemporary relevance. I would point out that piling coals on a person’s head might seem like a mean spirited thing to do unless you knew the cultural equivalent in today’s world was to borrow a match to light your oven. There is a real risk when the Bible is read that people will pull from it what they put in it. In other words if you want the Bible to justify a position you can generally find an isolated passage to support your contention. The key to properly interpreting the Bible however is to allow it to interpret itself. In other words use parallel texts and passages to elucidate the meaning in a different section of text. A Presbyterian pastor is trained to do this.

Finally it should be noted that although a Bible study is no substitute for hearing the preached Word of God, neither is the preached Word of God a substitute for Bible study. As members of Session each of these four people have sworn an oath to uphold the tenants of our faith as defined by the Scriptures, Book of Confessions and Book of Order. Since the Book of Confessions and the Directory of Worship ascribe great significance to the preaching of the Word, and because the Session and the pastor have specific responsibilities outlined in these books pertaining to the preaching of the Word – the Word will be preached. Now how do we sell this to the congregation so they love the idea? I would then solicit their feedback as to how to make this happen.

Section II.
1.a The Directory of Worship recognizes Baptism from any church that baptizes in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The key is baptism with water and in the name of the triune God. That said, the reverse is not always true. Other faith traditions may not recognize a non immersion Baptism.

1.b The Directory of Worship specifically notes that Baptism need only occur once and that having been baptized you are justified. W2.3006 notes that Baptism seals a relationship between the person being baptized and God.

1.c The Directory of Worship specifies that baptism may be by the generous sprinkling of water on the head or by immersion. Thus baptism by immersion is perfectly permissible in the Presbyterian Church.

2 No. ( OK let me expand on that…) As Presbyterians we believe in one baptism. To baptism a second time undermines a fundamental tenant of our faith that baptism enacts and seals a covenant between the person being baptized and God. This covenant is permanent and cannot be broken. I would ask the woman to consider serving this organization in other means or to seek an exemption to this requirement. If this failed I would seek to guide her towards other Christian organizations that might not have the same restrictions. Finally, if all else failed I would explain that a immersion baptism after you have already been baptized would have all the efficacy of a bath but if she wanted to take a bath for the purpose of meeting this other group’s leadership requirements I would not stop her—nor could I in clear conscience help. Knowing that this would likely hurt her I would redouble my efforts to make her feel included, vital and loved in my congregation.

III B.
1. Outline Order of Celebration of Lord’s Supper
a. Scripture
b. Words of Institution
c. Sharing of the Bread and Wine
d. Prayer

The Word in Enactment and the Word in Scripture are indelibly linked. The Directory of Worship specifically calls for the Word to be shared prior to the Lord’s Table and the Words of Institution to be shared somewhere along the line (before or during the Sacrament.) The Lord’s Supper is significant for a number of reasons not the least of which is that it serves to remind us of the sacrifice Christ made for us and it gives us a chance to form a common bond with both Christians and Christ throughout the ages. By proscribing certain essential aspects of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper the Directory of Worship seeks to maintain the Lord’s Supper as a teachable moment in the life of all baptized Christians. All are welcome at the Lord’s Table that have received Christ through baptism.

2. a) Ho-ling likes communion and wishes it could be done more often. The Book of Order (Directory of Worship) notes that the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper can be conducted as often as each Lord’s day. Ho-ling should approach an elder to let them know there is support for more frequent celebrations from at least one person in the pews.

b) Sam notes that communion makes the service too long. I’m suspicious that Sam’s heart is not in the right place for this whole confirmation thing. I would point out that in some faith traditions past and present, services lasting for most of the day are not unheard of. Praise the Lord he was raised Presbyterian! Having elicited a sigh of relief from Sam I would press my advantage and note that the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is just that a Celebration. This is a chance to do and say things that were done and said by our savior over two thousand years ago. How impressive is that! I would try to make Sam understand and appreciate that worship in any form, not just the sacraments, has to be from the heart. After all, God can have and do almost anything. The one thing God cannot give to God is our love. In order for our love to have any meaning and merit it must be given freely. It is the single gift we as a people can give God. Celebrating Christ at the Lord’s Table with a joyful heart is one way we can share this love with God.

c) Lee does not understand the “long prayer” and the breaking of bread and pouring of the wine. I would explain some of the history behind the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine. “Christ was born a Jew and observed Jewish customs. The Lord’s Supper is a reenactment of part of a Jewish celebration called a Seder. This meal celebrated the Jews deliverance from bondage and slavery in Egypt… just as our celebration of the Lord’s Supper celebrates our deliverance from sin. Jesus took two elements of that Seder celebration and gave them new meanings. He took the unleavened bread (called the bread of haste because in fleeing from Egypt the Jews did not have time to allow yeast to make the bread rise) and he broke it. This is in keeping with Jewish tradition but what he did next was different. He told his disciples that this was his body broken for them… You can imagine the confusion the disciples must have felt when he did this. They had been celebrating Seders all their lives and this was the first time anyone had done this. Jesus also poured wine and said this was his blood, shed for the remission of sins. Again, imagine the confusion! Remember Christ has not died yet when he did this. It’s only after his death that the true significance of what Jesus was saying and doing during the Seder became apparent. Lee I hope this helps you understand why we celebrate with the Bread and the Wine. I suppose we could do the entire Messianic Seder from start to finish but I suspect Sam might object to spending an extra couple of hours!”

Andrew Beery’s Statement of Faith: 2006

2006-10-24T00:37:00.000-04:00

I believe there is one God who is triune in nature and manifested in the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. I believe that God loves mankind without regard to our gender, our race or other human characteristics.

I believe Christ lived and died and rose again. I believe that Christ offered himself as the wholly adequate and complete sacrifice for us – that we might be forgiven our sins. I believe that all who accept the sacrifice of Christ share in the gift of grace bought with his blood on our behalf.

I believe Christ lived a sinless life as a model for how we should live our lives. I believe that Christ is the one true head of the universal catholic church. I believe that his life is chronicled in the God inspired words of the Bible and that we should strive prayerfully to live by the examples and lessons contained therein.

I believe in the sacrament of baptism. In baptism we participate in Jesus’ death and resurrection as we die to our sins and are resurrected in the body of Christ. Baptism is the sign of our marriage to Christ – a symbol of our covenant with God for the grace bought with the blood of his son. This marriage is consummated by the Holy Spirit in our lives and need never be renewed.

I believe in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. This meal serves as a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for us and serves as a common bond between Christians of all ages. I believe as often as we eat and drink of the bread and the wine at the Lord’s table we are honoring his command to remember Christ, his teachings and his sacrifice. In doing this we become better neighbors and better Christians.

I believe the Christian church should strive to open its doors to all, without restriction, who accept Christ as their Lord and savior. I believe we have a Christ-given obligation to share the good news of the Bible with all who will listen. I believe we are called to love all regardless of their circumstance, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political affiliation. In loving and caring for all, we model the life Christ modeled for us.

Very importantly, I believe God’s grace and love transcend the words we choose to represent God. I believe we do a disservice to God and our faith when we allow these concerns, whatever the nature, to separate us from our Christian brothers and sisters. I strongly concur with the words of Saint Augustine as written and extended by Hoffmann von Fallersleben:

In necessariis unitas, In dubiis libertas, In omnibus autem caritas.

In the essentials unity, in doubtful things liberty but in all things love.

Yet I say: not only in all things, But before all things…

Ordination Exams.... aaaaaggggrrrrrr

2006-10-24T00:05:00.000-04:00

I find myself in the unusual position of having failed a test! I'm a seminary student (PCUSA) and I'm batting .500 on ordination exams. If I was playing baseball I'd be quite pleased with a .500 but alas I'm not swinging a bat. I'd love any advice people have for passing the Theology exam!