Keep a Lid on It

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, September 14, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

This week is not unlike recent weeks as human beings are shot, peoples displaced, and the fabric of our culture ripped. Except the fellow assassinated was young, handsome, charismatic, a husband, a father, a favorite of those in power. His legacy as varied as the intensity of his discourse.

No one should be murdered for their beliefs. What shall we do, the people of God – which God? ...Yahweh? ...Jesus ...opportunity? Or the god of "because I can"?

An organization, Redeeming Babel, was formed to "pursue a biblically faithful approach to politics that offers a hopeful alternative to the polarization currently besetting so many communities." It offers –

  • We grieve. We lament the violence itself and the brokenness it exposes in our common life.

  • We pray. For those who loved Charlie Kirk, for leaders who must act wisely, and for peace in our nation.

  • We resist despair. As David declares, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1). Our ultimate security does not rest in elections, guns, or courts, but in Christ.

Our text this Sunday is from the Book of James,

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

"In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God."

In Christ we trust, we hope, we live.

See you Sunday – invite a friend!

 
 

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Source: sermons

Our Firm Foundation

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, September 7, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

Here’s a note at the end of the week this first week in September with an invitation, no, rather a request – please, come to Homecoming Sunday – come to church. Not an unreasonable request, you may think to yourself. But with the weather holding, last chances at the beach, the mountains, or on the boat…

I know that many, if not most of you, are firmly tethered to this community. You respond when called upon. You love Jesus. But… Jesus calls us to be in community. We are stronger, more effective together, and we have more fun – we are better together and face time is essential.

So this Sunday, come and share a potluck lunch, welcome new members, imagine how you may be involved this coming year, celebrate communion and our call to share the joy and the radical reality of Jesus.  

 With great joy in being your pastor, 

 
 

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Source: sermons

Jesus Worked

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 31, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

Do people need to know that the principles laid down in the Bible do not lessen one’s potential for success in the business world and beyond? You bet! 

In these times, what matters is less transactionalism and more evangelism. We offer the love of Jesus! We’re to be heralds offering the most precious commodity of the cosmos! 

See you Sunday –

 
 

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Source: sermons

The Agitator

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 24, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

“Law helps order our world, but grace is what holds the world together.”

Our scripture this Sunday offers law and grace in context. We see two men faithful to their calling. The leader of the synagogue and the Christ.

Most of us have laws that we think are particularly important and we get nervous if we see people not respecting them. The synagogue leader is doing what he is charged to do.  

And Jesus is doing what the embodiment of compassion and grace has come to do – seek out the needy and the unheralded and offer them healing and hope - The Law of Loving

Jesus the disruptor, Jesus the agitator, Jesus the Messiah brings wholeness.

What we get to do!

 
 

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Source: sermons

I Have Come to Bring Fire

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 17, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

There is fire that is good:

  • The burning bush that appeared to Moses in the wilderness, from which the Lord called him to free His people from Egypt.

  • The pillar of fire that led God’s people safely through the wilderness at night.

  • And at Pentecost, divided tongues as of fire appeared among the apostles, filling them with the promised Holy Spirit, and giving birth to the church.

But then –

  • John the Baptist also warns people that every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

  • Jesus himself says that on the day of judgment some will be told to depart from him into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

So, what kind of fire did Jesus bring to the earth? A refining fire that we may become worthy partners in recovering, redeeming, restoring that which was created good.

What we get to do!

 
 

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Source: sermons

A Culture of Kingdom Witness

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 10, 2025

Our guest preacher this Sunday is Rev. Dr. Marion Platt, the sixth Executive Director and Pastor of Star Gospel Mission’s 121-year history. He also serves on the Faith-Based Advisory Council of the International African American Museum. When he isn’t serving others, Pastor Marion can be found fishing in a local creek, running long distances in the sun, fussing over his vegetable garden, or quietly listening to jazz music.

 

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Source: sermons

Rags, Riches and Reality

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, August 3, 2025

Our guest preacher this Sunday, Rev. Becky Albright, is on staff at Charleston Atlantic Presbytery serving as General Presbyter and Pastor to Pastors. Previously, Becky was an Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Beaufort, SC. She received a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from Winthrop University and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, NC.

 

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Source: sermons

A Prayer for Us All

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, July 27, 2025

The Lord's Prayer is perhaps the most recited prayer in Christian history, but it is so much more. Join us Sunday as we explore both praying and the prayer that Jesus taught us. 

– Ken Carrington


Ken Carrington is a K5 teacher at Second Presbyterian Kindergarten and is Director of Children and Youth for Second Presbyterian. His greatest joy is teaching the Children’s sermon.  Ken is currently a candidate for Commissioned Pastor in the Presbyterian Church.

 

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Source: sermons

The Deputized

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, July 20, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

The story of Jesus healing Simon Peter’s mother-in-law appears in all three synoptic gospels. The three accounts are very short yet offer some interesting differences of detail reflecting the Gospel writer’s attention to constituents.

Here is the story at the beginning of Mark. Nadia Bolz-Weber recaps the first twenty five verses in inimitable fashion:

  • “It starts with the words, 'The Beginning of the Good news of Jesus Christ.'

  • Then John the Baptist appears in the wilderness with his questionable wardrobe and dietary choices and baptizes Jesus.

  • Then the heavens are torn open and God says This is my beloved. For which Jesus is rewarded with 40 days in the wilderness with the wild beasts and angels.

  • Repent and believe the good news of the kingdom.

  • On his way to Capernum he picks up some smelly fishermen.

  • Then on the Sabbath he’s teaching in the synagogue – and everyone’s like 'wow. That Jesus isn’t totally full of it like the other guys'

  • Finally he casts out an unclean spirit after commanding it to shut the heck up.

And that’s pretty much where we pick up the story today.”

Folks, this tale of coming to a friend’s home. finding a loved one in need and an ensuing account of restoration should be simple and sweet enough, but we experience an overlay of contemporary reaction that gums things up!

We’ll look at this together and discover again the simple grace, ubiquitous and dynamic, that we long for these days.

See you in worship –

 
 

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Source: sermons

A New Life Emerges

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, July 13, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

“If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; […]the old life is gone; a new life emerges!” – 2 Corinthians 

What a thought – everything becoming new. But what if we like the ‘old’; we don’t see the reason or the need for something else?

The operative phrase, for us whatever our state or our status, is, “if anyone is in Christ.”  

Dear friends in Jesus, as we are in the service, the presence, the embrace of the power of the cosmos – the love of God. We have purpose and a plan given to and known only by those who are willing.

Come this Sunday and welcome new members. Witness and receive those chosen by the Spirit through you to lead this historic church. 

Come witness and be community –

In anticipation,

 
 

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Source: sermons

According to Your Faith

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, July 6, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

We are wired for fear. This was an evolutionary advantage, that is, to detect threat, real or imaginary. Think about it: there is little lost when you get afraid of a perceived threat that turns out to be harmless, while the consequences of missing an actual threat are disastrous. So while jumping out of your skin because you thought that stick on the ground was a poisonous snake may be embarrassing, missing the snake altogether, or assuming it poses no threat, can be deadly.
 

So fear clearly played an important role in the evolution of our species. But is it of value today? And even if it is – that is, there are still things worth being afraid of – how do we mitigate its devastating affects. How, that is, do we avoid being driven by fear… in terms of opportunities we don’t take, money we spend on security devices, the amount of our national budget that goes to defense, and beyond? I think this is a particularly important question for Christians, as one of the core messages throughout Scripture is, “Do not be afraid.” (Usually offered in a moment when there’s warrant that we are!)
 

In our text this Sunday, two men born blind are intentional. They are fearless. They seek relief from the source that is able, Jesus.
 

Take a few minutes this holiday weekend to join others positioned for grace, strength and healing –
 

See you in worship!

 
 

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Source: sermons

The Pivot

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, June 29, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

Our text this coming Sunday occurs as the Gospel writer Luke turns a narrative corner. Jesus “sets his face toward Jerusalem”. 

Chapter nine is a pivotal chapter in Luke’s story. It is, in a variety of ways, the hinge of the story as Luke tells it. It provides the pivot point between Jesus’ mission of teaching and preaching in Galilee and his inexorable journey to Jerusalem and the cross.

As he strides towards Jerusalem he encounters three people who tell Jesus, “I will follow you but.…”

If we would follow Jesus we must be prepared for some of our primary loyalties to become secondary. If we would follow Jesus we must also be prepared for conflict of good with good and be prepared to have some of our cherished loyalties reconsidered and perhaps rearranged.

It is a fearful thing to find ourselves in the hands of the living God.

In great anticipation –

 
 

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Source: sermons

Through Barriers into Baptismal Waters: Our Path to Unity!

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, June 22, 2025

Stop. Do Not Enter. Detour. No Right Turns. No Left Turns. It seems like there are always barriers to us, especially on the highways. More seriously, every day something, or someone, tells us to do that, don’t do the other; love this one, but not that one. It may seem a bit overwhelming since we sincerely hoped the peace of the resurrected Jesus being enthusiastically shared would bring unity.
 
The Apostle Paul writes to the early followers of Jesus in Galatia that there are many barriers to the good news. God’s promise to Abraham had been blurred by rules, regulations, and burdensome expectations. Paul reminds the Galatians that the baptismal waters they entered leads to a path of Christian unity – no longer free nor slave, Jew nor Greek, male nor female. We are one in Jesus the Christ!
 
Come this Sunday to hear how in times of great national and international turmoil, we truly can be road signs proclaiming, “All May Enter!” 
 
In grateful service,

Steven

Rev. Steven Baines is a Charleston native who currently serves as our church administer after 25 years in our nation’s capital. He served as executive minister at National City Christian Church, the “national cathedral” of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has also held senior leadership positions at national civil rights organizations including Americans United for Separation of Church and State and People for the American Way.

 

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Source: sermons

The One

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, June 15, 2025

Dear Friends in Jesus –

We are a community living into a future enabled by a multi-dimensional presence – the God of creation, redemption and advocacy.

This Sunday we engage a conceptual reality – our God still creating, redeeming and providing.
 
Another chance to gather in obedience, anticipation and joy!

With great joy in being your pastor –

 
 

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Source: sermons

How Bright Is Your Flame?

Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, June 8, 2025

Pentecost is so much more than the beginnings of the Christian church. It was also the day that our commission began.

How do we look at our commission?

Are we a "covert" Christian, or do we let our fire burn brightly for all to see?

See you Sunday! Wear red for Pentecost, to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit in our community and our unity in Christ.

–  Ken Carrington


Ken Carrington is a K5 teacher at Second Presbyterian Kindergarten and is Director of Children and Youth for Second Presbyterian. His greatest joy is teaching the Children’s sermon.  Ken is currently a candidate for Commissioned Pastor in the Presbyterian Church.

 

Click here to view all Second Presbyterian Church videos. Find upcoming events and announcements here.

Source: sermons