Carlton Landing Community Church Sermons

The Rich Man and Lazarus

The Rich Man and Lazarus is the most unique among Jesus's parables. It's the only one with a named character and the only one that portrays the afterlife. It starts out with a simple reversal, but there's more to it than that. This parable is fundamentally about trust. Who will we trust? That will make all the difference now and in the life to come.

The Wicked Tenants

In one of Jesus's final parables, he warns the religious leaders about their self-reliance. God will demand fruit in his vineyard. This short parable tells the whole story of human history, beginning with creation and fall, highlighting God's patience and long-suffering, and culminating in Christ's death and resurrection. In spite of our rebellion against God, he welcomes us back to his family through the work of his Son.

The Talents

The parable of the talents is often seen as a message about using your gifts. That is true, but there's a lot more to it. Jesus told this parable in the final week of his life, during a sermon on the end times. Like the other parables around it, this one teaches us to live in light of eternity. Our King will return, and we who have been entrusted with the kingdom should be faithful until he arrives.

Preacher: Chris O'Neal

The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son may be the greatest story ever told. In just a few paragraphs, Jesus tells the story of a lost son who goes away and wastes his inheritance, only to be welcomed home by a loving father. But there's so much more to the story than that. There are two sons in the story, and Jesus has a lesson for each. This parable has a lesson for each of us, whether we've heard it once or a thousand times.

The Sower, the Seed, and the Soils

Jesus is the greatest teacher who ever lived. He preached sermons, taught lessons, and told masterful parables. In the well-known story of the sower, seeds, and soils, Jesus gives us a pattern of the parables and reminds us to be careful how we hear the Word. 

We Wish to See Jesus: John 12:20-26

There are stirrings of revival in our world today. People are giving Christianity a chance all over again. What should we do? How can we be ready? A few Greeks came to Jesus after the triumphal entry, asking the question of this rising generation, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus!"

Good News of Great Joy: Luke 2:8-20

The angels came to announce good news of great joy! But why did they come to the shepherds? This startling encounter shows us that God was bringing good news of great joy for all time, for all people, and for all of us.

Waiting, Receiving, Telling: Luke 2:22-38

God's people were praying and longing for the Messiah to come. After a baby was born, it was Jewish custom to bring them into the temple for dedication. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem, Simeon and Anna celebrated his birth as an answer to their prayers. God had come back into the temple! In this story, we see how to wait for God, receive the gift of Christ, and share it with others.

Preacher: Chris O'Neal

A Saved People: Deut. 34

The book of Deuteronomy ends with the death of Moses. There, looking over the Promised Land, God buries one of his most faithful servants. Moses's life shows us the character of God, the hope of salvation, and the plan of God that will only come to completion when we are face-to-face with Christ. 

A Blessed People: Deut. 28:1-14

What does it truly mean to be blessed? In our social media age of humble brags and #blessed posts, we've lost sight of the biblical understanding of blessing. Deuteronomy 28 and the Beatitudes reveal that true blessing isn't found in material prosperity or spiritual poverty alone, but in the fullness of life lived in God's presence. We discover that blessing is both physical and spiritual because it flows from enjoying God Himself.