Senior Pastor's Blog

Sermon Manuscript | The Noble Soldier

kevin — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:53:19 +0000

With Memorial Day observances in view, Pastor Kevin Labby preached on God's blessing of soldiers and our military. What does the Bible say about war? Can Christians serve in our nation's military in good conscience? How can Christians and the church help our nation justly defend itself?

Related Resources

Sermon Manuscript | The Noble Soldier

This Sunday's Message | The Noble Soldier

kevin — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:27:40 +0000

Let's all toast the Buffalo Bills!

kevin — Fri, 25 May 2012 02:57:13 +0000

As many of you know, we've been slowly updating our kitchen. In the process of sanding dry wall, I inadvertantly filled our toaster with enough gypsum dust to choke a goat. We had to pitch it.

Advance! New Sermon Series Starts June 3, 2012

kevin — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:02:42 +0000

God has accomplished a lot at Murrysville Community Church over its years. Even with the ebbs and flows of ministry, not to mention some tragedies of almost soul-crushing dimensions, he’s proved faithful time and time and time again to advance this ministry.

Sermon Manuscript | The Marks of Jesus

kevin — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:09:09 +0000

What produces an assurance of salvation? How can we identify the true evidences of spiritual renewal in our neighbors, communities, and culture? How can we discern false teachers from true ministers of the gospel?

Our Approach to Culture

kevin — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:32:25 +0000

When it comes to the world and culture, Christians can adopt a variety of stances. Theologians and social philosophers have described these in a variety of ways (Tim Keller perhaps being especially helpful in this regard). However, we have four basic options. For our purposes, we'll call them incorporation, isolation, insulation, and integration.

Sermon Manuscript | Boasting in the Cross

kevin — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:05:48 +0000

For the manuscript to "Boasting in the Cross," click here.

Sermon Manuscript | The Gospel of Dorian Gray

kevin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:27:40 +0000

For the manuscript to "The Gospel of Dorian Gray," click here.

The Trustworthiness of Christ

kevin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:46:04 +0000

This morning, I preached a message on "Doubting Thomas." If you would like to seek answers about Christ, here are some good resources to get you started:

Ultimate Answers, by John Blanchard

The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel

Related Resources

Tommy Boy

Letter to the Editor

kevin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:06:43 +0000

I sent the following note to our local paper regarding the recent meeting of the KKK in nearby Export, PA. I imagine many other members of the clergy wrote similar things, but wanted to make sure there was some voice from the churches. Thankfully, there will be a Dignity and Respect event to counter this sad presence in our community.

Dear Editor:

The Jeannette "Pray" Hawks are coming!

kevin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:40:16 +0000

This month, we will begin a prayer team specifically devoted to upholding the City of Jeannette and our plan to plant a new congregation in that community. Would you consider joining us? Would you want to become a Jeannette "Pray" Hawk? If so, watch for more information here, on the Jeannette Community Church Facebook page, and in our church bulletin. More soon!

Winter 2012 Visit to Moose Factory

kevin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:33:15 +0000

Dear Murrysville Community Church Family:

We wanted to write, and pass along a report about our recent time in Moose Factory and Moosonee, ON.

Why did we go?

Churches and Religious Liberty

kevin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:52:46 +0000

Dear Members and Friends of MCC:

As a signer of the Manhattan Declaration, I received the following email today from Chuck Colson, Robert George, and Timothy George concerning recent and alarming events concerning the future of religious liberty in the United States of America:

Why do we baptize infants?

kevin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:01:37 +0000

God's blessed our congregation with lots and lots of children! Last night, I brought two of my own up to the church for PoweredUP, our midweek children's ministry for those kids in K-5th grade. They were greeted by many friends. It's exciting to see so many young souls growing in the love of God and each other.

Are you coming to the "family reunion?"

kevin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:53:02 +0000

We try to make family meals a priority in our house. Trust me: it doesn’t always work, and sometimes it’s a hilarious disaster, but it remains a priority. When we can make it happen, we do.

The ritual is pretty simple. After corralling the kids through a day of school, Molly summons the strength to prepare a meal while the punks do homework or play. God bless her. Yikes. It ain’t easy, but she somehow gets it done.

Youth Membership Class

kevin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:32:31 +0000

This Saturday, our youth leader, Patrick, and I will start walking our youth through a membership class specifically designed for them. Meeting over three scheduled Saturday mornings (see our church calendar or bulletin for more information), we will explore three things:

Perspective

Note from PK | Why do we "March for Life?"

kevin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:13:44 +0000

In just a few short days, a bus from Murrysville Community Church will be heading down to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life. If history is any indicator, there will be empty seats on that bus.

Related Resources

March for Life in Washington, DC

Bible and the Basics | Session Two Resources

kevin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:02:52 +0000

Here are the resources from our second session of The Bible and the Basics.

These cover the books of history: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.

Related Resources

Sermon Note | Lean on God's wisdom, not your own

kevin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:39:34 +0000

"Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

- Proverbs 3:5-6

Sermon Note | Ordering your priorities

kevin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:27:43 +0000

Many if not most Americans are very time conscious people. We keep track of time on watches, cell phones, wall clocks, table clocks, business signage, television sets, and computer screens. We set alarms to wake us up and remind us of approaching meetings. We not only notice, but sometimes even take offense, when our friends and associates are late to get-togethers and meetings. If we wait too long in the ATM or fast-food line, we get edgy and irritable.

Sermon Note | Shaping your perspective

kevin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:24:38 +0000

I still remember the day. We were driving home, passing by the local Dodge dealership. Through squinting eyes, I could barely make out the large letters advertising the newest deal on a quality Dodge vehicle. My dad asked me to read it; I couldn’t. Within a week or two, I was wearing glasses – plastic rim, brown, ugly, early 1980’s glasses. Can anyone say chick magnet?

Sermon Note | This Sunday: "When Silence Isn't Golden"

kevin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:08:03 +0000

Growing up, I (maybe like you) enjoyed playing street hockey in the winter. After school, my buddies and I would meet at our friend Jimmy's house. He lived on an almost dead-end street. With only a few cars passing by each hour, it was the perfect setting for a bunch of wannabe Wayne Gretzkys, Gilbert Perraults, and Mario Lemieuxs to battle for an imaginary Stanley Cup.

Sermon Note | Enjoying more, worrying less

kevin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:56:53 +0000

Consider your average day. Maybe today. Maybe yesterday. How much of it did you spend worrying?

Did you worry about finances? Did you worry about juggling the demands of a busy schedule? Did you worry about the results of a medical test, yours or a loved one’s? Did you worry about your job? Did you worry about the well-being of your friends and family members? Did you worry about others’ perception of you?

Sermon Note | Re-evaluating the shape of your life

kevin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:25:47 +0000

We spend our lives doing so many things. I dare say that most of us try to do way too many things. We Americans are often portrayed as a nation of couch-loving, beer-swilling Homer Simpsons, but that’s not what I see as a pastor. I see people burning the candle at both ends almost constantly.

Sermon Note | The Promise of a Fresh Start

kevin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:50:14 +0000

I dare say that we all like fresh starts. We like a clean slate, a limitless horizon of possibilities.

It starts early, too. I see it in my kids. We have crayons scattered all over our house. They’re old, sometimes broken, and scattered. I find them in the couch, under the carpet, behind the bookcase, and sometimes even in the shower! By the way, who “colors” in the shower?

Related Resources

Are You Revolving or Resolving?