Cokesbury Memorial United Methodist Church

While some traditions lead you to faith in Christ, many simply bring you to the foot of the cross and leave you there. For John Wesley, he believed it is as important to live as a Christian as it is to become a Christian. His theology provides a model...

While some traditions lead you to faith in Christ, many simply bring you to the foot of the cross and leave you there. For John Wesley, he believed it is as important to live as a Christian as it is to become a Christian. His theology provides a model for a vital and passionate practice of Christian living, rooted in an active waiting upon God's transforming grace. In doing so he provides for us a model for how the live of faith is nurtured. In this sermon Rev. Frankie expounds on these concepts.

In this sermon we examine Martin Luther's insight that it is God's mercy in Jesus Christ and not human attempts to satisfy God that makes reconciliation between God and humanity possible. In this picture of Christianity--rooted in gratitude...

In this sermon we examine Martin Luther's insight that it is God's mercy in Jesus Christ and not human attempts to satisfy God that makes reconciliation between God and humanity possible. In this picture of Christianity--rooted in gratitude rather than obligation we can enjoy freedom and "faith made active through love." We behave as Christians not so that God will love us, but because God loves us. This calls us to a higher moral existence so that we are discouraged from abusing God's great love and grace.

In this sermon we turn to one of the great minds of the church's history, St. Augustine. From him we learn a way of thinking about our loves or desires. We learn as well the nature of sin which uses these very desires to turn us away from God...

In this sermon we turn to one of the great minds of the church's history, St. Augustine. From him we learn a way of thinking about our loves or desires. We learn as well the nature of sin which uses these very desires to turn us away from God and towards self-destruction. Augustine finds the answer, not in denying loves or desires but in loving them "in God." Only by ordering our lives in this way can we enjoy all that God has made for us.

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Is Christianity more about what we believe or how we act? What does Christian faith have to do with my everyday behavior? What tools do I need to form a Christian ethic? How can I live a life worthy of the gospel? Most of us don't do enough bad...

Is Christianity more about what we believe or how we act? What does Christian faith have to do with my everyday behavior? What tools do I need to form a Christian ethic? How can I live a life worthy of the gospel? Most of us don't do enough bad things to feel guilty and not enough good things to feel righteous. Where is the middle ground? Rev. Frankie explores these topics and others in this first of five sermons in a series on "Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel."

(Go here if you'd like to listen to or download more of the service.)

(Go here if you'd like to listen to or download more of the service.)

"It's OK to judge. It's OK to condemn. It's OK to write off, avoid, criticize, dislike, and even hate people whose lifestyle repulses you. The more sinful they are, the more it's permissible to bash them." Sadly...

"It's OK to judge. It's OK to condemn. It's OK to write off, avoid, criticize, dislike, and even hate people whose lifestyle repulses you. The more sinful they are, the more it's permissible to bash them." Sadly many who claim to follow Christ have this philosophy. In this sermon Rev. Frankie takes on the difficult topic of how to love those that you love to hate.

“If you really loved God, you’d be good. Obviously, you don’t love God. Why do you keep falling into the same sin over and over again? Why do you keep failing like you do? You must not be a very serious Christian." We have all told ourselves...

“If you really loved God, you’d be good. Obviously, you don’t love God. Why do you keep falling into the same sin over and over again? Why do you keep failing like you do? You must not be a very serious Christian." We have all told ourselves this at one time or another. In this sermon Rev. Frankie exponds on the difference between guilt and genuine conviction that leads to repentance.

God cannot forgive me.” “I’ve gone too far and God doesn’t want anything to do with me.” In an age of zero tolerance and no room for error, we often struggle with the notion of forgiveness and free grace. In this sermon based on the book, “10 Things...

God cannot forgive me.” “I’ve gone too far and God doesn’t want anything to do with me.” In an age of zero tolerance and no room for error, we often struggle with the notion of forgiveness and free grace. In this sermon based on the book, “10 Things Jesus Never Said and Why you Should Stop Believing Them” by Will Davis, Jr., Pastor Frankie illustrates that God doesn’t run away from sinners, God runs towards them.

When a young King Josiah found the book of the law in the temple he became passionate about teaching people what God's laws were and how to follow them. After studying the book of the law King Josiah led the people of Judah in a "covenant...

We don’t have much authoritative information on Jesus life before he reached the age of 30 which was solidly middle-aged for his time. What was the boy Jesus like? What did he know about his identity as the Son of God? Was Jesus shown favoritism or...

Micah promised that one was coming into the world to shepherd the people, bring an end to evil, and to usher in an era of peace. Whereas we do apply this scripture to Jesus, God has sent and empowered many individuals throughout history to stand in...

(Go here if you'd like to listen to or download more of the service.)

(Go here if you'd like to listen to or download more of the service.)

(Go here if you'd like to listen to or download more of the service.)

In an All Saints Day message, Rev. Frankie explores the history and meaning of Saints in the Church.

Preaching on the Book of Job, Rev. Frankie calls Job, "42 chapters of extended argument against the idea that the righteous are rewarded and the wicked are punished." At the end, Job comes to the spiritual way. Rev. Frankie paraphrases...

Pastor Frankie tells us stories from the New Testament and how, as Christians, we have not come to be served but to serve.

Jeanne Calment of France lived to 122 years old despite smoking and eating lots of chocolate. That doesn't make her a bad person but it makes her longevity surprising. Preachers of the "prosperity gospel" often tell us that God rewards...

Pastor Frankie tells us a traditional story of John bringing a boy to a bishop. After baptizing the boy, the bishop becomes more relaxed in his protectiveness and the boy eventually turns to crime -- and away from God. The story illustrates that...

People often ask for a list of sins so they can avoid committing any. Guest preacher Art Justice explains that while sin can be many things, sin is really a singular word and there is no comprehensive list of sins. "It is whatever causes you to...

Guest preacher Art Justice preaches from the passage in Mark in which Jesus responds to the Disciples' argument about who among them is the greatest and best able to continue Jesus' teaching. Interpreting Jesus' metaphor of the little...

In his previous sermon, guest preacher Art Justice said teachers are his favorite people in the world. This week, he tempered that message with a caution based on the epistle of James. Teachers have to be incredibly careful with the power they have to...

Guest preacher Art Justice sheds light on the confusing passage from the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus honors the faith of the woman born in Syrian Phoenicia. In addition to providing critical context for understanding Jesus' words -- and the...

Guest preacher Art Justice discusses Jesus' view of laws. The sermon is based on the rebuke of the Pharisees who criticized Jesus and his disciples for eating with unwashed hands.

Guest preacher Art Justice talks about the choices we make to come to church or not, to read the Bible or not, to take Communion or not. Of Communion, Art compares it to a check engine light in a car: "Think of it as that light that's going...

When God sets us a task, He also provides the tools needed to get the job done.

As a church, what opportunities are we not seizing because acting upon them would be inconvenient.

Pastor Frankie returns to the theme of the vision for the church. He tackles the idea that to attract more people you need to do more things. "We're not doing this to manage programs. We're doing this to change lives," Frankie...

Pastor Frankie preaches from 2 Samuel, when David seeks to build a house for God.

Pastor Frankie recounts the Old Testament story of King David moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, with a special emphasis on Uzzah's fatal mistake.

Usually when a preacher starts out in a new town, there's a honeymoon period. The congregation is open to hearing new messages and the preacher gets a warm reception. That wasn't Jesus experience when he returned to Galilee and began...

Preaching on verses between the lectionary readings, Pastor Frankie examines Saul's death and David's response.

In a sermon marking the confirmation of four teens from the congregation, Pastor Frankie draws parallels between the challenges they will face and the story of David versus Goliath.

Lay Leader Brian Donley offers a Father's Day sermon. "We can do no better thing for our children than to personally walk in the way that we should go."

In the Methodist tradition, baptism is something that is done once. The sacrament brings responsibilities for the parents, the sponsors and the congregation at large. Most of the work, as usual, is done by God.

A recent tragedy on the grounds of Cokesbury Memorial provides a stark reminder of the need in the community for our congregation to reach out.

One of the most fantastic episodes in the New Testament is when the resurrected Jesus in his resurrected body ascended into Heaven. Lay Leader Marianne Potter explores the meaning of this event.

In this Mother's Day message, Pastor Frankie looks at the original Christian "vision team." Of all his thousands of followers, Jesus chose to concentrate on the 12 who would become the disciples.