St. John's Franklin Podcast

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Sabbath: Our Need for Rhythms of Work and Rest” based on Exodus 16:13-30 on September 24, 2011. There is a lot of baggage around the word Sabbath—in Jesus day many had reduced Sabbath observance to a task—a work to be performed, but the rhythms of work and rest were established by God at Creation, and they are fundamental to human flourishing.  To practice a Sabbath is to honor the body’s need for rest, the spirit’s need for replenishment, and the soul’s need to delight itself in God and His creation for their own sake

Direct download: Sabbath.mp3
Category:Sermons -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Jonathan Warren preached a sermon entitled “The Red Sea and the Church's Baptism” based on Exodus 14:19-31 on September 17, 2011. In Ex. 14, God parts the Red Sea, allowing Israel to pass through but destroying the Egyptians. This story is generally, and correctly, read as a narrative about God's destruction of the oppressor. But it has a deeper meaning, given to us by the apostles - it is about the meaning of Jesus' baptism, and by implication, our baptism as well.

Direct download: The_Red_Sea_and_the_Churchs_Baptism.mp3
Category:Sermons -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “The New Creation Has Begun” based on John 1:1-18 on September 10, 2011. On the 1st anniversary of St. John's, we celebrated the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist.  We want a robust understanding of Jesus' Incarnation and Resurrection to be at the heart of what we do as a church.

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light, that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Direct download: The_New_Creation_Has_Begun.mp3
Category:Sermons -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “The Supper of the Lamb” based on Exodus 12:1-14 on September 3, 2011. Exodus give us the basic pattern of God’s saving activity for all ages.  What place does the Bible give to feasts or meals in the pattern of God’s saving activity?  Meals and feasts are central to God's saving activity, whether as sacramental reminders of who God is, such as the Passover and Psalm 23, Jesus' practice of table fellowship (Luke 15), Jesus' Easter meals with his followers (John 21) and ultimately in the reframing and transformation of Passover by Jesus in the institution of the Lord's Supper.

Direct download: The_Supper_of_the_Lamb.mp3
Category:Sermons -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT