Small Seed, Big Bloom
Faith Unfiltered
Small Seed, Big Bloom | A Sermon on Hidden Faith and God’s Surprising Work What if the kingdom of heaven is already growing — quietly and invisibly — within us? In Small Seed, Big Bloom, guest preacher Rev. Cecelia D. Armstrong, Co-Moderator of the PC(USA) General Assembly, reflects on Matthew 13:31–33, where Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed: small, easily overlooked, yet capable of transforming everything around it. Preached on February 22, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, this sermon invites us to look beyond expectations of rapid growth or...
info_outline
The Reconciliation of All Things
Faith Unfiltered
The Reconciliation of All Things | A Sermon for an Anxious World When the world feels fractured and uncertain, what does Christian hope look like? In this sermon, The Reconciliation of All Things, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Amos 5:18–24 and Matthew 17:1–9 to explore how justice, glory, and reconciliation belong together. Amos calls God’s people beyond hollow worship toward justice that “rolls down like waters,” while the Transfiguration reveals Christ’s radiant glory — a vision meant not to remove us from the world, but to steady us for life within it. In this message,...
info_outline
Form and Content
Faith Unfiltered
In this sermon, “Form and Content,” Rev. Anna Dickson reflects on how the way we share the gospel must match the heart of the gospel itself. Drawing on Exodus 4:10–16 and 1 Corinthians 2:1–12, this message explores Paul’s decision to proclaim Christ not through polished speech, persuasive technique, or displays of strength, but through humility, vulnerability, and trust in the Spirit. At the center of the sermon is the conviction that the good news of Jesus Christ is the good news of a crucified love—and that only love can truly carry that message. This sermon invites us to...
info_outline
Why Didn't I See That?
Faith Unfiltered
Why Didn’t I See That? | A Sermon on Practicing Love in Plain Sight What if the greatest surprise of faith is not what we believe—but who we fail to notice? In this sermon, Why Didn’t I See That?, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats and the unsettling realization that Christ is already present among us—especially in people who are hungry, forgotten, overlooked, or struggling. Drawing from Ezekiel 34:1–6, 11–16 and Matthew 25:31–46, this message invites us to listen for God’s voice in places we may have learned to pass by. It gently...
info_outline
For Such a Time as This
Faith Unfiltered
For Such a Time as This | A Sermon on Fate, Calling, and Courage In this sermon, we reflect on For Such a Time as This and the enduring human question of how we discover our purpose in a world shaped by forces we did not choose—and what it means to respond when a moment of moral clarity and courage is placed before us. This sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway on January 18, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, on the Second Sunday after Epiphany. The scripture readings for this message are Romans 12:9–21 and Esther 4:1–17. January 18, 2026 Bulletin Drawing from the...
info_outline
Will These Bones Live?
Faith Unfiltered
Will These Bones Live? | A Sermon on Hope in Desolate Places What do you do when a situation—personal, communal, or even global—feels beyond repair? In this sermon, Will These Bones Live?, Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lapsley reflects on Ezekiel’s haunting vision of the valley of dry bones and the deeply human question it asks: Is new life still possible here? Preached on January 11, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, this message draws from Ezekiel 37:1–14 and Ephesians 2:1–10 to explore how God’s Spirit meets us not in mild discouragement, but in places of real loss,...
info_outline
The Rebirth of Wonder
Faith Unfiltered
The Rebirth of Wonder | A Sermon for Epiphany In this sermon, we reflect on The Rebirth of Wonder and the invitation of Epiphany to see the world—and God’s work within it—with renewed awe, curiosity, and openness. This sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway on January 4, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, on the Second Sunday of Christmas and Epiphany. The scripture readings for this message are Isaiah 60:1–6 and Matthew 2:1–12. Drawing from the story of the Magi, this sermon suggests that anxiety often takes root when wonder is lost—and that God does not...
info_outline
Nurturing Jesus
Faith Unfiltered
Nurturing Jesus | Mary, Discipleship, and Faithful Presence In this sermon, we reflect on Nurturing Jesus and what it means to care for, protect, and grow the presence of Christ in our lives and in the world—drawing especially from the faithful witness of Mary, who nurtured Jesus with courage, trust, and love. This sermon was preached by Audrey Webb-Kahrs on December 28, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, on the First Sunday of Christmas. The scripture readings for this message are Isaiah 11:1–6 and Luke 2:22–41. Drawing from these texts, the sermon invites us to reflect on...
info_outline
The Power of Joy
Faith Unfiltered
The Power of Joy | A Sermon on Faith, Strength, and Hope In this sermon, we reflect on The Power of Joy and how joy, rooted in God’s love, becomes a sustaining strength in our lives. This sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway on December 14, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte. The scripture readings for this message are Isaiah 40:1–5 and Luke 1:39–56. Drawing from these texts, the sermon invites us to consider how joy shapes our faith, carries us through seasons of challenge, and opens us to deeper trust in God’s presence at work in the world and in our own lives....
info_outline
The Mystery Made Known
Faith Unfiltered
In this Advent sermon, The Mystery Made Known, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on God’s surprising way of working through ordinary people and unexpected moments. Drawing from 2 Samuel 7:1–16 and Luke 1:26–38, he explores how God’s promises often unfold in ways we could never foresee—and how Mary’s faithful “yes” invites us to trust the mystery of God’s presence in our own lives. Sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway on December 7, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte.
info_outlineIn this compelling message, Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon invites us into a powerful call to live out genuine Christian love in our everyday encounters. Drawing from Scripture, Hebrews 113:1-5, he explores what it truly means to treat folk right—not merely with politeness, but with dignity, compassion, and radical grace.
He challenges us to consider how we respond to those on the margins, how we handle conflict, and how we reflect the character of Jesus in our relationships. Whether with longtime friends or people we barely know, the way we treat “the other” becomes a gospel witness.
Using the simple but profound framework of A-C-T, he invites us to consider what faithful living looks like in real time:
-
Acceptance — seeing every person as created in God’s image, without condition or exclusion
-
Compassion — responding to human need not with judgment, but with presence, empathy, and shared humanity
-
Testimony — allowing our lives to speak, becoming living witnesses to the love of Christ in the world
With warmth, humor, and pastoral wisdom, Rev. Cannon challenges us to move beyond good intentions and practice a faith that shows up—at home, in the church, and in the community. This message calls us not only to believe differently, but to live differently.
Listen and be encouraged to ACT with courage, kindness, and Christ-shaped love.
And yes—he manages to connect The Beverly Hillbillies to the gospel, reminding us that hospitality doesn’t have to be fancy to be holy.