A Faith That Lives In You
Faith Unfiltered
A Faith That Lives in You | 2 Timothy 1:1–7 In this special installation service sermon, Rev. Dr. Millie Snyder reflects on Paul's words to Timothy and the faith that was nurtured in him through family, community, and the care of those who walked alongside him. Whether we inherit faith from those who came before us or discover it later in life, this message reminds us that faith is rarely formed alone. It grows through relationships, belonging, encouragement, mentorship, and the steady presence of people who help us recognize God's work in our lives. Drawing on memories of Sunday School...
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Tax Collectors and Sinners
Faith Unfiltered
Tax Collectors and Sinners | Matthew 9:9–13 In this sermon, Rev. Lucy Baum reflects on one of the most surprising moments in Jesus’ ministry: the calling of Matthew the tax collector. When Jesus invites Matthew to become one of his disciples and then shares a meal with tax collectors and sinners, those around him are scandalized. Why would a teacher who speaks about the righteousness of God choose to spend time with people who seem so clearly in the wrong? As the story unfolds, we discover that Jesus is asking a deeper question than we might expect—not simply who belongs, but what mercy...
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What Do We Mean by “Apocalypse”?
Faith Unfiltered
Why are we so fascinated by the end of the world? In this Moment with a Minister, Rev. Rob Spach reflects on apocalyptic thinking, the stories we tell about the future, and how faith can help us move from fear toward wonder, hope, and deeper trust. Here's Rev. Rob.
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The One and the Many
Faith Unfiltered
The One and the Many | Ephesians 4:1–7, 11–16 & John 17:1–11 In this Trinity Sunday sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on one of Jesus’ final prayers for the church: that his followers “may be one.” Drawing from Ephesians 4 and John 17, this message explores the mystery of Christian unity and the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing diverse people together as one body in Christ. Using images of Earth seen from space, stories from history, and reflections on contemporary culture, Rev. Galloway invites us to consider the difference between unity and uniformity. Christian...
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Heart Surgery
Faith Unfiltered
Heart Surgery | Joel 2 & Acts 2 In this Pentecost sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the story of Pentecost and the radical transformation that takes place when the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart. Drawing from Joel 2 and Acts 2, this message explores repentance not as guilt or shame, but as a turning — a reorientation of the heart toward God and toward one another. Through baptism, community, worship, and the power of the Spirit, ordinary people are invited into a new way of living together. From stories of literal heart surgery to young people inspired to change the world,...
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The Stranger At The Table
Faith Unfiltered
The Stranger at the Table | Genesis 18:1–15 & Philemon 1–25 In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on the deeply Christian practice of hospitality — not simply welcoming friends or familiar faces, but extending love to the stranger, the outsider, and the forgotten. Through the story of Abraham and Sarah welcoming mysterious visitors beneath the trees of Mamre and Paul’s appeal for Philemon to receive the runaway slave Onesimus “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother,” we are invited to see how the gospel reshapes human relationships and creates...
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Hidden Treasure
Faith Unfiltered
In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway reflects on Paul’s image of the gospel as a treasure carried in “clay jars.” Through scripture, storytelling, and deeply human examples, we are reminded that God has always chosen ordinary, imperfect people to bear extraordinary grace. Again and again, God works through those who feel unprepared, wounded, weak, or unsure—from Moses and Isaiah to the disciples and the early church. The power of the gospel does not come from polished appearances or human strength, but from the presence of Christ shining through fragile human lives. This message...
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Rooted in the Right Place and Space
Faith Unfiltered
What if faith isn’t something you have to manage… but something that grows? In this week’s sermon, Rev. Lucy Crain reflects on the familiar words about the fruit of the Spirit and invites us to hear them not as a checklist to achieve, but as a gift to receive. Through a personal story about stepping into something that felt overwhelming, we are reminded how easy it is to believe we have to get everything right—to keep everything thriving on our own. But fruit isn’t forced. It’s grown. Drawing on Galatians 5 and Psalm 1, and the image of a tree planted by living water, this message...
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Tough Love
Faith Unfiltered
Tough Love | Youth Sunday Sermon | Matthew 5:43–48 On Youth Sunday, the youth of First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte lead us in a powerful reflection on what it means to practice “tough love.”
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Reborn to the Ordinary
Faith Unfiltered
Reborn to the Ordinary | Sermon | Luke 24:13–35 In this Easter season, we turn to the story of the road to Emmaus, where two disciples walk alongside the risen Jesus without recognizing him. In Reborn to the Ordinary, Rev. Anna Dickson reflects on this familiar and mysterious story, inviting us to consider how Christ meets us not only in moments of clarity and joy, but in the ordinary rhythms of our lives—on the road, at the table, and in the midst of confusion and uncertainty. Faith is not always constant or easy to see. Sometimes we recognize God’s presence clearly, and sometimes we...
info_outlineThe 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 always relieve our fear by giving us certainty, but by giving us light enough for the next faithful step.
Epiphany invites us to follow that light, even when the path leads beyond what we can control or fully understand. Wonder widens our vision, restores imagination, and opens us again to trust that God is still at work in the world and in our lives.
In this message, we explore:
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How wonder expands faith when anxiety narrows it
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The Magi as models of curiosity, courage, and attentiveness
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Following God’s light without needing certainty or control
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Epiphany as an invitation to ongoing discovery and trust
Whether you are joining us from Charlotte or beyond, this sermon offers a thoughtful and hope-filled reflection on how God’s light restores wonder—and how wonder, in turn, helps steady anxious hearts and reorient us toward hope.
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Topics: Epiphany sermon, wonder and anxiety, rebirth of wonder, Matthew 2 sermon, following the star, Christian hope, light of Christ