St. John's Franklin Podcast

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “The First Fruits of the Kingdom” based on Acts 2:1-21 for the Day of Pentecost on May 26, 2012. With Pentecost, the church was birthed and given its mission—nothing less the regeneration of all mankind. The Holy Spirit enables the Gospel to travel through relationships and to take root in geographies. The Spirit also enables the church to live in th eschatological tension of the cruciform life.

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

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “He Ascended Into Heaven” based on Acts 1:1-11 for Ascension Day on May 19, 2012. Our Scriptures today tell us that after 40 days of appearing to the disciples after the Resurrection, Jesus departed from them as to His physical presence, passed into heaven as a fully human, embodied and yet fully divine person.  He will remain there until His second advent, the second coming. What does this mean for us today?

Having ascended into heaven…he enriched His own people, and daily lavishes spiritual riches upon them. He therefore sits on high, transfusing us with His power, that He may quicken us to spiritual life, sanctify us by His Spirit, adorn His church with diverse gifts of grace, keep it safe from all harm by His protection, restrain the raging enemies of the Cross and of our salvation by the strength of His hand and finally hold all power in heaven and earth.

John Calvin

Direct download: He_Ascended_Into_Heaven.mp3
Category:Sermons -- posted at: 8:10am CDT

The frequent complaint of boredom in the midst of a society with seemingly endless options for entertainment and amusement seems peculiar.  In spite of the beauty and diversity of God’s creation, and in spite of the tragic brokenness surrounding us, many whom we meet are bored with their existence.

In Patricia Spacks’ fascinating book. Boredom: A Literary History of a State of Mind, she finds the word was first used in the English language in the 18th century. Before the 18th century, the word sloth or acedia, one of the seven deadly sins, was used to describe the state of boredom.  The difference?  Boredom says the problem is outside of me; the world outside of me fails to interest me.  Sloth, on the other hand, says the problem is within me; I have a spiritual problem.  Why is my heart not moved by the True, the Good, and the Beautiful that surrounds me?

Join the conversation as we explore the causes, consequences and cure for boredom.

P.S. I recommend downloading the PDF outline, as it has the quotes that are used in the lectures, as well as an extensive bibliography. 

Direct download: The_Spiritual_Roots_of_Boredom.mp3
Category:Lectures -- posted at: 8:44am CDT

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Experiencing the Eternal Kind of Life Now” based on John 17:6-18 for the Sixth Sunday of Easter on May 12, 2012. Eternal life is something that begins now, it involves no less than experiencing personal transformation and the redemption of everyday life. But we must enact counter-measures to overcome one of its chief enemies, the deadly sin of sloth, whose effect on our soul is to deaden it, rendering it difficult to respond to God. We need to cultivate habits of receptivity and obedience to God.

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

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “The Abiding Life That Comes from God” based on John 15:1-8 for the Fifth Sunday of Easter on May 5, 2012. The Triune God has given us a vital union with Himself, call us into a life of dependence, and promised to make us fruitful. We are in the intermediate stage—between the resurrection of Jesus and the renewal of all things that God promises in the future.  In this intermediate stage, God is at work, renewing human beings—you and I—in our own lives, here and now.

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