Podcasts about 20sermon

Passages: Isaiah 56:7 & Matthew 28:18-20Sermon in a Sentence: The church is called to be the steward of the Great Vision and Great Commission given by the Great King, so go make disciples. 1. God's great Vision (Isaiah 56:7) 2. God's great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) a. The command is to make disciples i. By going ii. By baptizing iii. By teaching iv. By living v. Until the end b. The church is where disciples are made 3. The great King Himself (Matthew 28:18-20) a. All authority has been given to Him, all authority comes from Him b. He is the one we proclaim c. He is with us d. How is the great commission possible? i. The resurrected lord who has defeated death ii. Immanuel To give please visit: wearetruelove.com/give Join TLC on our social media for updates!YouTube @truelovecommunity Facebook @truelovecommunityministry Instagram @truelovecommunity

Date:Sunday, April 20, 2025 [Easter Sunday]Title:Just As He SaidScripture:Matthew 28:1-20Sermon by:Mark DavisSermon Series:Holy Week 2025—The Glory of the Cross

Core Values - Week 2Matthew 28:18-20Sermon notes available at http://bible.com/events/49408653

MATT. 5:17 – 20Sermon 03/16/2025Sermon Notes: https://www.opendoorcommunity.net/uploads/6/3/0/8/63085847/03-16-25.pdfEmail: PastorKenWilson@gmail.comWebSite: https://www.opendoorcommunity.net/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/OpenDoorCommunityChurchAugustaFaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/OpenDoorCommunityAugustaDonations: https://www.opendoorcommunity.net/donations.html

Faith That Still Moves Part 5 - Ben Workman

Sermon Date: September 18, 2022Sermon on Scripture reading:  Luke 10:1-11, 16-20Sermon led by Rev. Sarah HeathSupport the show

 2022-07-17 Sermon by Steve Hudson

In this episode, Jori discusses with her listeners what the scripture says about more will be given to the one who has and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Scripture translation used is the English Standard Version.Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Scripture References:2 Timothy 2:15Psalm 119:160John 1:14Hebrews 4:122 Timothy 3:16-17Mark 4:25Acts 9Colossians 4:10Acts 13:13Acts 15:36-41Philemon 23-242 Timothy 4:111 Peter 5:13Acts 12:12-19Mark 4Mark 4:21-251 Corinthians 3:19-20Matthew 13:10-17Romans 1:18-322 Thessalonians 2:9-12Ephesians 1:131 John 2:271 John 5:20Sermon link from First Baptist Church in Livingston, TN. Preaching begins at about minute 50 into the livestream.  Copy and paste the link below into your browser to listen.https://youtu.be/yZA9-izikf4Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

賽6:9-11 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/andy84476/support

Eleventh Sunday after PentecostAugust 8, 2021Worship Service includesScripture Reading from Mark 5:1-20Sermon: "To Good To Not Be True" by Pastor Alex Lester-AbdallaClick here for Worship Bulletin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Welcome to Morrisville Presbyterian Church.No matter who you are or where you are on your journey of Faith,you are invited to MPC.Education Hour:Contact Pastor Alex Lester-Abdalla at alexlester-abdalla@mpcusa.net Worship Service:Livestream begins at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday.Morrisville Presbyterian Church771 N Pennsylvania AveMorrisville, Pennsylvania 19067(215) 295-4191 Website: https://www.mpcusa.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morrisvillepres/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrisvillepresbyterian/Support the show (https://www.mpcusa.org/give)

Third Sunday after PentecostJune 13, 2021Worship Service includesScripture Reading from Acts 9:1-20Sermon:  "When the Scales Fell" by Pastor Rachel RhodesClick here for Worship Bulletin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Welcome to Morrisville Presbyterian Church.No matter who you are or where you are on your journey of Faith,you are invited to MPC.Education Hour:Contact Pastor Alex Lester-Abdalla at alexlester-abdalla@mpcusa.net Worship Service:Livestream begins at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday.Morrisville Presbyterian Church771 N Pennsylvania AveMorrisville, Pennsylvania 19067(215) 295-4191 Website: https://www.mpcusa.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morrisvillepres/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrisvillepresbyterian/Support the show (https://www.mpcusa.org/give)

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 11:1-9New Testament Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20Sermon:  When the Spirit ComesPreaching: Pastor JenToday's full service can be viewed online at https://www.shermanstreetchurch.org/virtual-services.html

In this installment of The Way Out we have an ultra-informative and super-instructive interview with person in long term recovery and Author of the new, and folks I don't say this often, absolute must-read book - 50 Ways to Worry Less Now - Gigi Langer. Gigi shares with us her journey to and through recovery and what she's learned up to this point in 35 years of sobriety including many of the recovery, spiritual, energy, and cognitive tools that can put an end to the pernicious worry, anxiety and ultimately fear that dogs so many of us prior to, and even in sobriety. Without question one of the overriding and compelling elements arising out of Gigi's story is the series of reckonings and recoveries that occur throughout her recovery journey, starting with addiction and alcoholism, all the way through codependency and being an adult child of an alcoholic. Equally as fascinating is the phenomenon and experience of being an a Highly Sensitive Person, first identified by Dr. Elaine Aron and how profoundly important it was for her to understand and accept this about herself and then undergo a process of learning, acquiring, and applying an assortment of tools to bring about a transformative recovery rooted in the 12-Steps and a Higher Power. There's so much spiritual truth and recovery tools in this here interview so you might just have to play this one twice but whatever you, do make sure you listen up. 50 Ways to Worry Less Now: Reject Negative Thinking to Find Peace, Clarity, and Connection https://gigilanger.com/ Other Books and Resources Recommended by Gigi Langer: Pema Chodron: https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product-category/books/ Dr. Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/ A Course in Miracles: https://acim.org/ Emmet Fox: https://www.unity.org/sites/unity.org/files/files/Free-Materials/2018/Exerpt-GoldenKey-booklet.pdf http://www.metaphysicspirit.com/books/The%20Sermon%20on%20the%20Mount.pdf The Shack: http://wmpaulyoung.com/the-shack/ Highly Sensitive Person (Elaine Aron): https://hsperson.com/ Copyright: (c) 2015-2021 The Way Out Podcast | All Rights Reserved Theme Music: “all clear” (https://ketsa.uk/browse-music/) by Ketsa (https://ketsa.uk) licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-way-out-podcast/message

“Order” – Genesis 1:1-10, Mark 5:1-20Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from January 10, 2021. "Do not wait for chaos to be calmed in the nation before finding order within. Right now, we can center ourselves on God’s love, we can remind ourselves of the virtues that should guide us, and we can commit ourselves to making a witness without insisting that we have to win or be seen as right."Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/order/

Rev Kenneth I Macleod preaches on 'The Best News in the World' from Luke 2:6-10 in this worship service recorded at home.Order of Service:Call to Worship: Psalm 8:1-5 (Sing Psalms)PrayerChildren's TalkScripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20Sermon: 'The Best News in the World', Luke 2:6-10Praise: Psalm 72:17-19 (Scottish Psalter)

“But who do you say that I am?” – Matthew 16:13-20Sermon by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from August 16, 2020. "My friends, who do you say that Jesus is? If you knew no one were looking over your shoulder—if it were you and Jesus standing face to face, how would you express your confession? How does your life reflect what you believe, with your relationships, your bank account, your time, your social media presence, the ways you vote, your energy, and all the rest? Jesus’ question to Peter is an invitation to answer this question for ourselves."Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/but-who-do-you-say-that-i-am/ 

Parable of Weeds among the Wheat7th Sunday After Pentecost, 07/19/20Sermon by Deacon Deborah Poole Online Donations: https://www.PisgahGives.com  First Reading: Isaiah 44 : 6 - 8Second Reading: Romans 8 : 12 - 25Gospel: Matthew 13 : 24 - 30, 36 - 43 (https://tinyurl.com/yyutjo54)   ---------- Pastor Stephen Mims Pisgah Lutheran Church 1350 Pisgah Church Rd, Lexington, SC 29072 www.pisgahlutheran.org 803-359-2223

Service videos will be available if you . Service Videos Full Service https://christcommunity.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sermons/20200614%20FullService.mp4 Sermon https://christcommunity.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sermons/20200614%20Sermon.mp4

An Unstoppable Church in an Unrelenting Age Speaker: Tim Fritson Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20 Download the slides for this message: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3vrmivn5opp1hve/June%207%20Sermon.mp3?dl=0 (If using on mobile, click the icon in the top right and click direct download)

“The Call Before the Storm” – Mark 1:16-20Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from June 7, 2020. "Storms are raging in our world right now. You can hear the howling winds of a pandemic and the thunder of protest. But this worship service provides a moment of calm when we can look to the distant mountains and remember that our help comes in the name of the Lord―which is also to say through the ways of God."Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/the-call-before-the-storm/

A faith that asks. A faith that waits. A faith that saves. Service videos will be available if you . Service Videos Full Service https://christcommunity.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sermons/20200524%20FullService.mp4 Sermon https://christcommunity.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sermons/20200524%20Sermon.mp4

Scripture Readings James 4: 13-15; James 5: 13-20Sermon by Pastor Cindy Lattimer2020.02.23.mp3File Size:12281 kbFile Type:mp3Download File [...]

Scripture Readings James 4: 13-15; James 5: 13-20Sermon by Pastor Cindy Lattimer2020.02.23.mp3File Size:12281 kbFile Type:mp3Download File [...]

February 16, 2020 MessageMatthew 5:21-37The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Church

February 2, 2020 MessageMatthew 5:1-12The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

January 19, 2020 MessageJohn 1:29-42The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

“Get Up and Go” – Acts 9:1-20Sermon by The Rev. Elizabeth N.H. Link from January 12, 2020. "God is moving in new directions all the time. And if you want to keep up with God, you have to keep open to where God’s Spirit may be heading."Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/get-up-and-go/

December 22, 2019 MessageMatthew 1:18-25The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

December 15, 2019 MessageIsaiah 35:1-10The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

December 8, 2019 MessageMatthew 3:1-12The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

“The Middle’s Edge” – Jeremiah 2:4-8, Matthew 5:17-20Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Sunday, October 27, 2019. In today's divisive times, we must remember how to discuss difficult issues in a way that builds community, not divides it.Read the manuscript on our website: http://www.spres.org/the-middles-edge/

November 3, 2019 MessageLuke 19: 1-10The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

October 13, 2019 Message2 Timothy 2: 8-15The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

October 6, 2019 MessageLuke 17: 5-10The Rev. Dr. Sue Marie BasketteTrinity Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.aztrinitypres.org

02/23/2019

"The Good Life" What is the good life? Ask everyone here this morning – what does the good life look like to you? Maybe it’s being up north, being on vacation, being far, far away from the stresses and difficulties of every day life…being away from work…being from from any type of pain and suffering we face. The good life is much better than every difficult thing we face in life.What is the good life? That’s really the question and the desire of the man in our lesson today who came to Jesus and and who wanted a solution to his problem. He wanted the Good Life. And he thought the good life came if he had more stuff, more things, and by trying to fill the empty void in his life with earthly possessions. We hear from Jesus that our life is not good and not full by how much stuff we can fill it with. Our life is full and good when we fill it with Jesus.

"All Over the World...the Gospel Bears Fruit"Think about apple trees.  Why is it that they produce apples?  Is it because they’ll feel guilty if they don’t?  Is it because they will be in some sort of trouble if they don’t produce enough fruit?  That’s foolish!  Apple trees produce apples because that’s just what apple trees do.  It’s natural.Christians produce good works, not because they’ll feel guilty if they don’t, and not because they’re afraid that otherwise they’ll get in trouble with God.  Christians produce God works because Christ gave them the power to do so.  It’s what they naturally do!That life of a Christian that bears fruit is what we want to think about this morning as we consider the words of encouragement through the apostle Paul that he shared in Colossians 1. But it’s so much more than that – it didn’t take place only in Colosse nearly 2000 years ago. It takes place in Green Bay, WI, and all across the world. “All Over the World…The Gospel Bears Fruit.”

"Don't Look Back!"You know that feeling you get when you look out at the lawn that’s been freshly cut? You have a sense and feeling of accomplishment b/c of how nice it looks. Maybe you needed to cut the grass in preparation for company that’s coming over to the house or simply b/c it needed to be cut. Have you ever stood back and looked at how straight the lines of the grass were? Were they straight? Were they crooked? Off to the side? Sometimes it happens to us when we cut the grass. Our parents taught us from young on – Don’t look back! Don’t get distracted – you can do a lot of damage with the lawn mower. Keep your eyes looking ahead. Don’t look back! If you’re distracted and not looking at where you’re supposed to be going, you run into things and the lines of the grass are crooked.Our words of encouragement from our Lord Jesus this morning are similar to what our parents told us when cutting the grass. Jesus was speaking to the disciples and to you and me when it comes to discipleship and following Christ – “Don’t Look Back!” Jesus said – “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”  Let’s look at these verses this morning as we hear and heed these words of warning and encouragement.

"The Only Way to Win is to Lose"Today we celebrate Father’s Day. There are a lot of things that we’ve learned from our fathers. Fathers teach their children the value of hard work. Christian fathers share God’s Word and their faith with their children. And fathers…they also share their competitive spirit and teach their children about winning.Winning and competing are note everything in life – but they are important aspects of life. Maybe it was a board game, or out on the field or the court, we do everything we can to win.Don’t we try to win at everything still today. We compete with our co-worker so that we might get the raise. We compare ourselves to others. We compete with a brother or sister – we can’t let them win – can’t let them beat us. We try to win in so many aspects of our lives that when Jesus tells us – “The only way to win is to lose” – it doesn’t sit well with us. Today’s gospel lesson speaks to winning and losing when Jesus talks about what it means to bear earthly crosses. “24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”  We know that life is no game – but what Jesus tells us is so very important not only for this life, but for the life to come. Let’s consider Jesus’ words under the theme – “The Only Way To Win Is To Lose!”

"Live Free!"1. Free from fear2. Free for Christ

"The Lord Fights Our Battles"Tomorrow our nation celebrates Memorial Day. It’s a day for us to remember those who have served our nation in battle, especially those who gave their life to protect our freedoms. Maybe you’ve been to Arlington National cemetery and have seen the thousands upon thousands of graves. Or maybe you’ll remember a relative that has served and given their life in battle. Across the country millions of Americans remember the battles that have been fought, and the lives lost – and we thank every single one of our servicemen and women for protecting our country and freedoms.In our Old Testament lesson, there was a battle that was fought on a new frontier for God’s people. Joshua and the Israelites were there – but more importantly as we’ll hear, so was the Lord. Yes, the Lord fought the battle of Jericho, and The Lord Fights Our Battles still today.

"The Three P's of Pentecost"I would like you to think of the most wonderful, awesome and amazing thing that you’ve ever witnessed in your life. Maybe it was that trip out west and you were looking at the majestic mountains and were gazing at the beauty of God’s creation; or you were on the beach looking out at miles and miles of ocean and wondering if it ever ends. Or maybe you’re thinking of the day in the hospital room you had the opportunity to gaze into the eyes of your child as you held him or her for the first time. God is good! He has given us so many wonderful, awesome and amazing gifts in our lives.But how many of you thought of the gift of the Holy Spirit? That’s the exact gift that was given on the first Pentecost. It truly was awesome, wonderful and amazing as they experienced with many of their senses the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They were able to see and hear and witness the awesome power of our almighty God. Let’s consider – “The Three P’s of Pentecost.” Promise. Power. Purpose.You might ask yourself – why 3 P’s? Not only does it have a nice ring to it, there are three things that Jesus gave to his disciples as encouragement. He gave them the promise, power and purpose of Pentecost.

"What Are You Looking For?"Happy Mother’s Day! Think to yourself of the special phrase that your mom has said on more than one occasion to you. Maybe it’s one your mom is famous for. Maybe it’s something along the lines of – “You’ll thank me for this when you get older.” But it’s one in particular that we were told that – mom has eyes in the back of their head. They say that because they want their children to behave and because they want them to know they are always watching them. And you can probably think of a time or two where your dear mother had said to you – “I’m watching you.” Mom’s eyes are everywhere.We can tell a lot about eyes – and in particular where we see the eyes of the disciples as we consider our New Testament lesson from Acts 1. We want to consider the question that was asked of the disciples – “What Are You Looking For?” in v. 11. It’s the same question we want to ask of ourselves as well.

"Why Do Bad Things Happen?"Why do bad things happen? It’s an honest question that both believers and unbelievers have asked throughout life. We know not to talk about “if” bad things will happen, but “when” – b/c we know that it happens to all.This past week I heard on the news – Ingrid Williams, the wife of Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams, was killed in a tragic car accident at the age of 44. She was hit head-on by a car that crossed over the center lane. She was taken to the hospital and died later that evening from injuries suffered in the crash. And the driver died at the scene. Ingrid was traveling with three of her children at the time of the crash. They are all expected to be ok. She leaves behind a husband and 5 children ranging in age from 5 to 17 years old.We know sad new like this affects people every day. You and I may have faced tragedy in our own lives too. When tragedy happens, we may be left to wonder – Why do Bad things happen? This morning we want to listen to the answer of our Savior as he shares with us both the reason and the result.

"Jesus Defeats the Devil!"I don’t know if you noticed or not, but I believe there was a big football game played last Sunday. Did you catch the game? Well, even if you missed some or all of it, all you had to do was look at the headlines this past week to give you a pretty good idea of what took place – §  “Defense powers Broncos to Victory”§  “Broncos give Manning 2nd Super Bowl Ring”§  “What’s next for Payton?And the headlines for the losing team, the Carolina Panthers weren’t nearly as kind.§  “Is Cam a Sore Loser?”§  “Why didn’t Cam dive for the fumble?”It certainly was a battle, a big game – and there were winners and losers.There was another battle – or Big Game – that took place almost 2000 years ago. Jesus vs. the Devil. While we weren’t there at the event, the headlines tell it all – “Jesus Defeats the Devil!” This morning we’ll hear about the enemy, about his game plan, but even more importantly, about Jesus our Savior who went to battle with the devil and won and why it’s so important for you and me.

Ash Wednesday Sermon 2016This Man Went Home Justified“It’s not my fault!” Does that sound familiar? Who in all the world might’ve said those words? Could it be you – when you were 4,5,6 or 7 years old and you said that about your brother or sister who got you into trouble. If you’re a teacher, you’ve probably heard a student say that. If you’re a supervisor, you’ve probably heard it from an employee. You may have heard it from a neighbor or coworker.What it is an attempt to justify your actions. They make an excuse for what they did. They try to shift the blame and get out of whatever consequences might be coming. It’s kind of ironic that we use the word justify for that, because justify is one of the most important words in the Bible. It means that God declares us not guilty in his courtroom. But when we use it in everyday speech, it almost always means that we make an excuse. That subtle difference illustrates the theme of our Lenten devotions. This year, we’re going to hear about irony. One dictionary defines irony as “a combination of circumstances or a result that is the opposite of what . . . might be expected.” Jesus’ passion is filled with irony. Tonight, we’re considering a parable Jesus told. What is the irony, the unexpected result? This man went home justified.Who was Jesus talking about? There were two people here – a Pharisee; and a tax collector. One of the ironies of this parable is how we react to the word Pharisee. To us, that word means proud and self-righteous. We can’t imagine a Pharisee as anything other than a hypocrite. The gospels back up that assessment. But to the first-century Jew, Phariseemeant something else. St. Paul was raised a Pharisee, and he was proud of that label before he came to faith. The Pharisees were the people who defended a strict interpretation of the Old Testament law. They held that it really was the Word of God and that it really was true, unlike the Sadducees who were more like the theological liberals of many churches today. But the tax-collector? He would’ve been the sinner or the outcast of society.We’re told right away in our very first verse – why Jesus told this parable – To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable…There were a lot of people who had misunderstandings of how to get into a right relationship with God. The Pharisees thought by doing and keeping God’s law was the way to get right with God. They even went to the point of making over 600 laws that they tried their best to keep.There were two men who went to the temple to pray – one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Remember, we want to remember the thought, “This man went home justified.” Would we be talking about the Pharisee or the tax collector? The Pharisee is a self-described good person. He lists all the ways he tries to get into a right relationship with God. He was going a step above and beyond what he had to do – what was required of him. Percentage giving was good, but he fasted much more than he had needed to. He thought he was good. Did this man go home justified?God tells us throughout the Bible that it’s not about our outward actions, but it’s about the thoughts and attitude of the heart. The Pharisee doesn’t take responsibility for his own actions. He shifts the blame to others. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. These were the people who were far from being right with God. These were the outcasts of society. In essence, he’s saying “I’m not…a robber…evildoer…adulterer…or tax collector.” And the public would’ve agreed with him. He would have been given the societal stamp of approval – that he was trying to do right and good things.But how did that sit with God? When we hear about the Pharisee, it’s easy to see what the problem is – the pride that rested in his heart. We have pride resting in our own hearts. Maybe we say similar prayers – “Lord, I’m thankful I’m not like this neighbor…co-worker of mine. I’m not a robber, evildoer or adulterer. I’m a pretty good person compared to the person sitting in the cubicle next to me.” Does that type of attitude put us into a right relationship with God – when we carry around the attitude that we’re better than others?We heard it in the very last verse – For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled… and isn’t that what the Pharisee had done – exalted himself? Our Lord told this parable to those who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else… There are times when we are over confident and look down on others; and that we weren’t among the sinful of the world. But our Lord tells us about the sinful pride that rests in our heart – that he has come to defeat the sin and pride in our heart.It wasn’t the Pharisee who went home justified, rather it was the tax collector. But notice the difference between the two. 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance…He didn’t want to be front and center – not wanting to have everyone hear his prayer. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ How do we develop this God-pleasing attitude? When we think about Lent and Ash Wednesday, isn’t it the time for us to do some self-reflection and look at the obvious, difficult and painful reality that we find ourselves in? We are robbing God; we are evildoers committing sin; we are adulterers; we go and break the 8th commandment. We fail to honor God in everything we say and think and do.We are here in Lent and to do on Ash Wednesday. To remember this phrase and say it well – “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”We can tell God anything and everything we’ve done – b/c he knows it all – even the dirty little secrets we don’t want to tell anyone else. We can confess our sins to God – b/c of Jesus, his passion, his life, death and resurrection, we have the forgiveness of all our sins.We have been justified – in the courtroom God has declared us not guilty – of any sin we’ve committed in the past or any sin we will commit in the future. We are to look to Jesus as our Savior.There are many ironies of the Passion that we’ll hear about over the next several weeks. We’ve heard one tonight about the Pharisee and the tax collector. I pray that we look to the model example of the tax collector – that we reflect on our many sins that we’ve committed – that caused our Lord Jesus to suffer and die on the cross. May we also rejoice in the passion of our Savior – that b/c he died to forgive all our sins – we are declared not guilty. We are the man, the woman, the child, that has gone home justified.Amen.

"Jesus is Our Hope"You can easily see the glass of water here (point to it). No, it’s not a science experiment. But I am getting kind of thirsty. There are two ways that you can look at this glass – and you’ve probably heard the expression before – “Is the glass half empty? Or half full?”The person who looks at life as a glass half-empty is the one who thinks to themselves about situations in life – “What’s the point? There is no hope. I might as well just quit.” This is the time of year when we hear the most negativity – from our friends, co-workers, spouses, maybe even you and me from time to time. It’s cold outside and all the green and life and vitality is covered up by snow. Christmas is past. We’ve put away all the decorations. We’ve said good-bye to the family and friends who were only in town for a visit. And to top it all off, you’ve probably just gotten the bill in the mail. January is kind a “blah” type of month; and certainly a time when we’re tempted to look at life as being a glass half-empty.But the glass half-full is a mindset of positivity in spite of any and all circumstances we might find ourselves in. These are the friends, family, co-workers with a positive attitude in life that we want to surround ourselves with. No matter how bleak the situation is, the glass half-full looks at life and all the good that is coming out of every situation. There is hope!Glass half-full describes the season of epiphany. It is the time where we see Jesus revealed as God’s Son. Jesus obeyed his parents perfectly. He was baptized. He performed his first miracle – changing water into wine. And he chooses his first disciples. Epiphany is an opportunity for us to rally around and follow Jesus in preparation for the season of Lent. Epiphany offers us hope.This morning, we want to study our OT lesson and be reminded that with Jesus, there is hope! Jesus is our hope!

"The Recipe For A Healthy Diet" When was the last time, or how often do you find yourself looking at the nutrition facts on the back of the label of whatever it is you’re eating? What do you notice about what you’re eating? You notice the healthy things that you should be eating – proteins and the like. Or you’ll notice the things you shouldn’t be eating too much of – sodium or fats. You read through the labels b/c you want to know exactly what you are eating. You want a healthy diet – and not a diet full of junk foods.Imagine you walk into the doctor and you told him what you were eating and what was in your diet, and you said, “Doctor, I’ve found the perfect recipe for a healthy diet. My diet consists of a cup of water and a whole lot of salt.” The doctor would be thrilled to hear the first half of your recipe for a healthy diet. In fact, he’d tell you don’t stop at just one glass of water – be sure to drink a lot more. But when you tell him about the salt, he’d get a funny look on his face wondering what you’re talking about. Salt in large quantities is not good for us. It raises blood pressure.Did you know that was the exact recipe for a healthy diet that Jesus gave to his disciples and that he shares w/ you and me this morning? You see, Jesus cares about our diet to maintain physical health, but he’s even more concerned about us having a spiritually healthy diet – and what that looks like. In verse 41 a few lines down in our lesson, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”   And then in the very last verse, verse 50, Jesus says, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”  The point that Jesus is making this morning that we want to well remember is that in order to have “The Recipe Of A Healthy Diet”, we need to have a cup of water to keep the parts of your body; and we want to have a lot of salt to keep peace in the body.

"Who Is The Greatest?"When I was a kid we would play a game called king of the mountain.  We did it during winter because we needed a mountain of snow to do it.  The object of this game was to stay on top of this snow mountain.  Players in this game would try to knock the current king down and take their place as the new king.  Whenever a new king would take his place at the top they usually shouted out with joy that they were the greatest.  However, their excitement was short lived as they eventually were thrown down the snow pile and had to start from the bottom.  This mentality of wanting to become the greatest is something that doesn’t end in childhood.  Unfortunately, greatness in the eyes of the world is one of those things that are here today and gone tomorrow.  For a brief moment in time the rich, powerful, famous and influential have risen to the top of the mountain only to fall from greatness unremembered. As we know all too well greatness is an elusive thing.  People from every generation forget.  No matter the great things humans accomplish in this life they are often forgotten at some point.  So "Who is the greatest?"  This morning Jesus answers that question for us here in Mark...

"God Builds His Church"One of the channels on TV my wife and I find ourselves watching is Homes and Gardens – HGTV. There are a lot of shows on this channel that involve the buying, selling and building of homes. Flip or Flop and Property Brothers are two such shows that take older homes and completely renovate them – b/c there is a character flaw in the house that the owner doesn’t like or for potential profit. You get to see many aspects of building or renovating a home from start to completion of the project. And it gets really interesting when they start the renovation process and find mold or asbestos or termites – that cause them to spend a great deal of time and money to fix.Home building and renovating pique our interest b/c it just may be that we have a fascination and desire with homes we live in or dream of living in.This morning, the apostle Paul uses the image of construction and building to tell us how “God Builds His Church.”He tells us how God’s Word is the foundation with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone; and that we as believers are the church.

"Are You Ready For This?"Right after high school he enlisted in the Marine Corps. His dad had been a Marine and his uncle had served in the Air Force. Over the years they had mentioned boot camp once or twice, but never in any detail. He was a pretty good athlete in decent shape. He had seen movies that showed a few clips about boot camp. The recruiter had kind of glossed over it, so he wasn’t real sure what all went on. A few weeks before he went to camp, his dad sat him down and told him in detail. His dad had made it through boot camp and he wanted his son to succeed, too. He listed the physical challenges and the emotional stresses that he would endure. "Are you ready for this?" he asked his son.Being a Christian in today’s world is not an easy thing. We’ve been called by God to be His ambassadors, calling people to repentance and to believe in Jesus. It’s not going to be a cakewalk. The devil and his allies are going to mount daily attacks on our faith. "ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?" Trust the Lord to care for you, but also trust the world to attack you.

"Celebrate God's Grace In Times Of Trouble"For many athletes, Olympic and others as well, discouragement can become a big obstacle in their path to finishing their race. There are many stories of athletes who have been faced with a medical issue while they are training, or even during competition. Many times it is a physical ailment or a diagnosis of a medical condition that threatens to halt their training. At other times, and because of the time and energy they have placed into their training and sport, mental health can become a factor as well. But I would imaging, and judging by comments you’ll hear from many of them, discouragement is perhaps the greatest obstacle of them all.Discouragement is something that you and I know about very well. We may not be training for the Olympics, but we are faced with the struggle of discouragement at many times in our life. When we hear the diagnosis from the doctor, when a relationship is on the rocks, when we’re struggling in school – discouragement can become a big obstacle that is difficult to overcome.In our second lesson this morning, the apostle Paul was discouraged. But as we’ll hear, he had something to overcome discouragement – something that you and I have, too – God’s grace. In fact, we want to be encouraged by God’s Word this morning to “Celebrate God’s Grace In Times Of Trouble.”

"I'll Wait...For The Salvation Of The Lord"How good are you at waiting? When it comes to the good things in life, we can’t wait to get to it – like the day of our retirement or the birth of a child or grandchild and we’re like a kid on the 4thof July waiting for the fireworks. But then there are the things in life that we do not look forward to – like our gospel lesson, where there is a sickness in the family. We’re like Jairus and pleading with Jesus, “Please, don’t let my little daughter die.”We all face difficulty, trouble and sorrow in life. What are we to do about it? At times we find ourselves complaining – about the taxes we have to pay, the economy, our health, in a relationship or in a marriage. Whatever the case is, may we all say with the prophet Jeremiah in Lamentations 3 – “I’ll Wait…For The Salvation of the Lord.”

"Why?"Curiosity is a very powerful thing. Curiosity is arguably one of the strongest traits that the Lord created and placed inside the mind of the human race. Curiosity has caused discoveries of many kinds. Columbus was driven by curiosity. Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawkings were driven by curiosity. We want to know the reasons. We want to know the answers.How many of us, especially parents, have heard the question "Why?" How many of us wish we had the answer when someone asked us "Why?" How many of us have asked the very same question when bad things come into our lives? Perhaps all of us.This morning we meet a man called Job, a man who also asked the question "Why?" Why did things, bad things, happen to him? "WHY?" Job found out that man can only ask, and only God can answer.

"Kingdom Work Requires Patience"This past week I happened to be watching the NBA Finals. During the course of game 6, there was a moment when the announcers began talking about the graphic laid out across the screen - “Time since their last Championship.” What it amounted to is that it has been a really long time since the Cavaliers, or Indians or Browns have won a championship. It would certainly be fair to say, Cleveland sports fans have learned a great deal of patience over the years – as they wait for their team to return to the World Series.But let’s say you are a New York Yankees fan, you also think about the last time your team went to the World Series and won. But you know that your team, with 27 championships, has won more than any other team in MLB. When you look back in history, you only have to go back a few years to 2009 to the last time your team won it all. You wonder not about if your team is going to the Series, but how sweet it will be to win championship #28. And if you don’t reach the World Series and win it all, or if there is a drought of any kind, maybe you’re thinking that something must be wrong and want to proceed in firing the entire team, manager and all.Regardless of what team you’re a fan of, or if you simply look on in amazement at the fans of any team, all of us have been given various amounts of patience through the circumstances of life. If patience is a virtue – on a scale of 1 to 10 – how much patience do you have? A little; a lot; or not nearly enough? Our patience is often easily tested when things don’t go according to plan – when the economy bottoms out and you lose your job, when you’re waiting in the doctor’s office for the test results, or your patience of a father or mother is tested raising children. The thing that we’ll always want to remember is that the Lord is in control of everything in life, including the Cleveland sports teams and the Yankees.Before we look at our gospel lesson, let’s think of a few biblical examples of patience or lack thereof. Jonah was so adamant that he did not want to accept the Lord’s call to preach to the wicked people of Nineveh that he ran away to the opposite end of the earth. But God had patience with Jonah and with the people of Nineveh. In the end all the people of that great city put on sackcloth and fasted and repented of their sins.When talking about patience as we wait for the end of the world, the apostle Peter was inspired to write – 2 Peter 3:8-9 – 8 …with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”The apostle Paul understood God’s patience. The man formerly known as Saul – the great persecutor of the early Christian Church. He was a zealous Jew who persecuted Christianity b/c he thought he was doing God a favor. God struck him down and worked in his heart through the Word. And after his conversion, he became one of the greatest missionaries Christianity has ever seen. How much patience did the Lord have with Paul? How much patience does he have with your and me?In our gospel lesson this morning, Jesus used two parables to teach about patience as God goes about his work. God tells us in His Word that the Holy Spirit is actively working by creating and strengthening faith in human hearts through the power of His Word. He asks us to have patience in trusting that God’s Word works in a miraculous way – and that we have patience while we wait for growth.

"Are You Hiding From God?"My guess is you’ve been there before. You’ve been in that situation when there comes a moment of truth. It was a beautiful day outside. The kids were outside playing and having a blast. In fact, they were having so much fun mom was inside and could hear all the giggling and laughing that was taking place. But then that giggling and laughing stopped. You see, the kids were outside playing and enjoying each other’s company and doing exactly as mom asked them to do – staying out of mom’s hair so she could get some things done around the house. But as they were outside, they noticed there were a few things enticing to them. A few things mom and dad told them – “Don’t play with it b/c you will get hurt.”You’ve been there before. You’ve done the thing mom and dad told you not to do – the thing you’re not supposed to do. How did it end up for those children who were playing outside? Not very well. B/c what happened is they were having all sorts of fun, but it all came down with a loud crash. Maybe it was a broken window as they were throwing a baseball up against the house or the roof – and they probably shouldn’t have done that. Or they were outside playing with the bb gun and they thought it would be cool to shoot the windows on the barn 35 ft up in the air. Not a good idea. And then, the fun came to an end.Mom handled the situation. But she gave the kids a reminder – “Wait until your dad comes home.” And those were the words any kid did not want to hear. B/c when dad came home you knew you really were in trouble.How do you think Adam and Eve faired in our lesson this morning when they heard the words from the Lord, “Where are you?” They knew they were in a great deal of trouble. In the verses that precede our text this morning, Adam and Eve and the fall into sin. They were created into a perfect world without sin. God gave Adam and Eve a simple command, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Gen 2:16-17) God gave them a simple command and asked them to follow it.Then along came the devil. The devil tempted Adam and Eve – “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:4-5)“Where are you?” My guess is that Adam had all of these things on his mind as he was hiding from God. That’s not a good situation to be in, is it?

"Do I Have To?"There are things that we do because we want to. There are things we do because we have to. Some of us go to work because we want to. We almost feel guilty being paid for what we do because we enjoy it so much. Others of us go to work because we have to. We don’t enjoy what we’re doing, but we need the cash to pay for the groceries, the mortgage and the car. No matter what we do, there are basically only two attitudes that we carry. Because I want to, or because I have to.If you have a family, you know this attitude also translates to church. This morning, perhaps your son or daughter asked you the same question. "DO I HAVE TO?" Do I have to go to church? Do I have to sing those songs? Do I have to sit and be still while that guy in a black dress stands up and talks and talks and talks? Maybe you have the same feeling. Do I have to? Well, let’s take a look at "church", at worship this morning and see what worship is and how it benefits us. I pray that by the end of today’s short talk your attitude will not be "do I have to" but "I want to."

"Go!"I'd like to share with you just for a moment, one of the events that I witnessed over this past weekend. In addition to celebrating my dad's birthday, we also had the opportunity to attend graduation and call day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. This time it was my brother's turn as he was assigned to be a tutor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, one of our two preparatory high schools in our church body in Saginaw, MI. And if you're wondering, as a tutor, my brother will have the opportunity to be a dorm supervisor, teach religion classes and coach. But as we were sitting in the auditorium waiting for the reading of Assignments by our synod president, I had all these flashbacks of thoughts and emotions from when I was sitting there 9 years ago with my fiancé, waiting to hear my name called for assignment to Beautiful Savior, El Paso, TX.What do you think goes through a pastor's mind as he's about to receive his first call into the full-time pastoral ministry? It isn't his first call, as he's already received his vicar call. But this is different. This is a permanent assignment. You don't know where you're going, what the church or people are like. There are so many thoughts running through your mind. But one thing is for sure. The candidate is certainly excited to carry out the Great Commission of our Lord which is verse 19 of our lesson where and "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..."These are the words of Jesus to his disciples, but imagine you're sitting there in that auditorium. Instead of it being the president of the WELS, it is the Lord Jesus himself. He calls out your name and he simply says to you, "Go!"There may be a little fear and trepidation. You don't know where you are going to go, to Texas, or half-way around the world. You don't know who you're going to share that word of God with.That can be pretty scary? To think that spreading God's word and extending his kingdom, shepherding a flock and caring for souls is going to be done by someone like me? Yet, that's your assignment - "Go!" God knows your fears and worries when it comes to sharing the good news. That's why Jesus didn't leave the command to "Go and make disciples by Baptizing and Teaching" all by itself. It's the verses before and after that command that we want to focus on this morning. "Go!"Knowing that Jesus' power gives you strength, and Jesus' presence gives you peace.

"Come Find Peace"I don’t think you saw many smiles on the faces of the disciples during Holy Week. They knew that the Jewish leaders had it in for Jesus. Who knew what they had up their sleeves? Jesus cleansed the temple one last time, overturning the tables of businessmen and disrupting one of their most profitable days just before the Passover. Jesus’ teaching of forgiveness and love had clashed time and time again with the demands of the Pharisees. On top of it all, Jesus told them that he would be leaving soon. What would they do? What did the Son of God have in mind for their future? How would they cope?Ever find yourself in the same boat? Not sure of what the future holds and worried about the present? Maybe these thoughts are racing around in your brain. "How am I going to make it financially this month? How can I afford to fix the dryer? What is my daughter doing dating that guy? How’s that going to work out? Is my job secure? Will my health improve?"Don’t you wish you had a stop button for these upsetting thoughts, this lack of peace? Ah, but you do! Our Savior Jesus Christ comes to us today in His Word and invites us to "COME, FIND PEACE." Come, and find the peace prepared by Christ for you. Come, and find the peace the Holy Spirit gives to you through God’s Word.

"You Are My Witnesses"We’re so used to having options and choices in our lives, aren’t we? When you go to a restaurant, you get to choose from a menu. When you buy a car, you get to choose what options you will buy. If you purchase a suit, you get to choose the color and the size. You get to choose what goes in your house. You get to choose where you go on vacation. We’re so used to having choices in our lives that we often can’t comprehend not having those choices.As Christians however, there is one area where we don’t have a choice. That’s in the area of talking about our Savior, or as some will call it, witnessing. That’s not optional. Jesus states this very clearly in our latest disciples directives when He says "YOU ARE MY WITNESSES." He reminds us today that the Holy Spirit prepares us to speak, Jesus commands us to speak and people need to hear our voice. Yes, it’s true. You are Christ’s witnesses here on earth. Speak up!

Pastor Jim1 Thess 2:13-20Sermon #3 of the series "Blessed Re-Assurance"

Sunday, September 29, 2013  "Seeing God's Grace Throughout Scriptures" Series  |  Listen    Read Notes

Sunday, September 8, 2013  "Creating a Culture of Outreach at Christ Covenant" Series  |  Listen    Read Notes

Sunday, September 1, 2013  "Seeing God's Grace Throughout Scriptures" Series  |  Listen    Read Notes

Sunday, August 18, 2013  "Seeing God's Grace Throughout Scriptures" Series  Listen  |  Read Notes

Sunday, July 14, 2013   Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, August 11, 2013  Listen  |  Read Notes

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Sunday, July 7, 2013   Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, June 16, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, June 30, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, June 9, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, May 19, 2013   Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, May 26, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, May 12, Mother's Day  | Listen  | Read Notes

Sunday, April 14, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, April 7, 2014  "Colossians" Series  Listen  | Read notes

Easter Message, Sunday, March 31, 2013  |  Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, April 28, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Read notes

Sunday, March 17, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Notes

Sunday, March 10, 2013  "Colossians" Series  Listen  |  Notes

Sunday, March 3, 2013. "Colossians" Series. Listen  |  Notes

Sunday, January 6, 2013.  Listen  |  Notes

Sunday, January 13, 2013. "Colossians" Series.  Listen  |  Notes

Sunday, January 20, 2013. "Colossians" Series.  Listen  |  Notes

Sunday, January 27, 2013. "Colossians" Series.  Listen  |  Notes

December 2, 2012 Sermon

December 9, 2012 Sermon