Some time back someone circulated a form called The College Entrance Exam -Football Player Version. This humorous exam consisted of twenty questions and had a time limit of 3 weeks for completion. Let me read you some of the questions: 1.What language is spoken in France? 2. Would you ask William Shakespeare to (a) build a bridge (b) sail the ocean (c) lead an army or (d) (in large capital letters) WRITE A PLAY 3.What religion is the Pope? (check only one) (a) Jewish (b) Catholic (c) Hindu (d) Polish (e) ...
Fear. It can manifest itself in many forms. Chrysostom was the church leader of Constantinople in the fourth century when Rome was persecuting the Church. The Roman emperor had him arrested and charged with being a Christian. If Chrysostom did not renounce Christ, then the emperor would have this Christian leader banished from the kingdom. Chrysostom responded to the threat by saying that the emperor could not do so, “because the whole world is my Father’s kingdom.” “Then,” replied the emperor, “I will ...
Americans are amazingly law-abiding folk. We obey the rules. If you don't think so, travel to other countries. Watch people in countries we normally think of as civilized push in front of one another while waiting in line. Try driving in many of the great cities of the world. Those who travel greatly have horror stories to report. People drive through stop signs as if they were not there. And traffic lights receive not much more respect. Meanwhile, in the home of the free and the brave, we passively do ...
Nothing in our lives brings us joy like small children. But they are also a challenge. Maybe that is why there are so many jokes about raising children. "We child-proofed our home," said one comedian, "but they are still getting in." "If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache," says another, "do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "˜TAKE TWO ASPIRIN' and "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN." Some of you will identify with Rita Rudner's line: "I think about having children, because time is running out. I ...
I understand there is an organization in Hollywood, CA called The Holy Ghost Repair Service, Incorporated. And no, they aren't in the business of repairing shoes, watches, or automobiles. On their stationary they state as their purpose "repairing broken lives for Jesus . . . in the power of his Spirit." We may express it a little less colorfully, but that is our church's purpose as well"” "repairing broken lives for Jesus in the power of his Spirit." Some of us know what it is to have broken lives. There ...
Series on the Book of Job, #1 This dramatic reading takes place in two seemingly different spheres. The Reader (most likely the pastor) stands behind the pulpit. The Reader needs to read these passages from the Bible, so that the congregation realizes that the scene has shifted back to the story of Job each time. The other readers Male 1, Male 2, Female 1, Female 2, and Female 3 are off to the side of the pulpit. They are seated in folding chairs placed in a semicircle facing the congregation. The ...
If your life depended on it, could you name the Twelve Apostles? Probably not. I have a hard time remembering all of their names myself. Perhaps when I finish this series of sermons on the Apostles, I will have them more firmly fixed in my mind. But I have to confess that right now I couldn’t do it. Let’s see: There was Peter, of course. And James, and John (the inner circle). There was Matthew, and Judas, of course. And wasn’t there somebody named Philip? And Thomas...we all remember him. He was the ...
At the magnificent cathedral in Milan, Italy, there are three possible doorways to gain entrance to that building. Over the left doorway is carved an inscription that reads: "All that which pleases is but for a moment." Above the door on the right is written: "All that which troubles is but for a moment." Over the central door is the inscription: "That only is important which is eternal." This example reminds us that the doors we open--and the doors we allow ourselves to go through--determine not only the ...
A rabbi and a pompous woman who were attending a luncheon were conversing. "One of my ancestors," boasted the woman, "signed the Declaration of Independence." "Is that so?" asked the rabbi. "One of mine wrote the Ten Commandments." It was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments. He didn''t write them. He received them from God, and these commandments have become a reliable guide to behavior for millions of people on this earth. The great preacher, Dr. Phillips Brooks, tells the story of a ...
Sometimes a biblical passage catches us off guard. We simply aren’t ready for it. If we listen, it takes our breath away, and leaves us limp. But if we continue to listen, really give it our attention, the weakness that has come from being taken aback by surprise becomes strength flowing from an overwhelming joy at what the word is saying to us and what we’re receiving from the word. Ephesians 3:14-19 was such a passage for me not long ago. Paul is praying for the people to whom he writes, and if you ...
Amos Alonzo Stagg was one of the great football coaches of all time in sports history. As a coach he constantly tried to keep his substitutes prepared and ready on the bench. He had the habit of prompting alertness by suddenly popping questions at them while the game was underway. One afternoon he turned to a fourth-string player who hadn't seen a single minute of the game during all the season. Stagg barked, "You, Cartmell! What would you do if we had possession of the ball with one minute to play, the ...
I don't usually recommend the books I have written, and I'm certainly not going to begin now. But I need to tell you about this one. I'm sure none of you have ever seen it. It was edited by the staff of Upper Room and this special edition of it was given me when I left the Upper Room to come here as your pastor 10 years ago. It's a beautiful thing as you can tell, handsomely bound, with embossed silver printing of the title on the shelf-back and cover. All of it was a surprise to me. You can't imagine how ...
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15.9-11) Healthy, growing, and branching out. That is what roses are supposed to be doing, but mine, the ones that Mr. Ted Jones [1] planted for me as a gift, were not doing that. Ted asked me a series of diagnostic ...
I am very taken by what Paul says. He claims, "I am not ashamed...." Most of us have known people, maybe a lot, maybe a few, and they are ashamed of something. I struck up a conversation with a woman I had known for a couple of years. I thought I knew her fairly well. One day she blurted out that she had been married four times. I said, "You never mentioned it." She said, "I guess I'm ashamed." A man lost his job. That was hard enough. What made it more difficult is that he lost the job because he was ...
John 10:1-21, Acts 6:1-7, Acts 7:54--8:1a, 1 Peter 2:13-25
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
COMMENTARY Epistle: Acts 2:42-47 Luke describes the nature and functions of the apostolic church. Here is an idealistic description of the very first church. Unity was the primary characteristic. They were one in holding to apostolic teaching. They so loved Christ and each other that they had fellowship and shared all they had with each other. The first church was a happy one as they prayed and worshiped together. New converts were added daily as they were received by baptism. At this time Christians found ...
COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 16:2-15 Yahweh provides food for the Israelites in the wilderness. Only a few weeks after deliverance from Egypt, the people complain about the lack of food. They murmur against Moses and Aaron, but God knows that they complain about him. They doubt whether Yahweh cares about them and his ability to provide for them. In response to their complaints, Yahweh sends quail in the evening and bread, "manna," in the morning. To this day the manna is a mystery - "What is it?" Moses ...
Exodus 32:1-33:6, Isaiah 25:1-12, Philippians 4:2-9, Philippians 4:10-20, Matthew 22:1-14
Sermon Aid
John R. Brokhoff
COMMENTARY Old Testament: Exodus 32:1-14 The Israelites worship a golden bull. Thinking Moses had deserted them as well as Yahweh, the people persuaded Aaron to make a golden bull out of their jewelry for worship. It is a return to an Egyptian god, Amon-Re, represented by a bull. Yahweh was so angry at their desertion of him, that he threatened to destroy them. Upon Moses' intercession, their plight was avoided. Old Testament: Isaiah 25:1-9 On Mount Zion, God will make a feast for all peoples on the last ...
Boosters: Pre-1946 Will all those born before 1946, please rise and remain standing? Tom Brokaw calls you the greatest generation, and he's right. Sociologists call you the boosters. You comprise both the GI Generation and the Depression Babies. The Trotsky saying that anyone who wants to lead a peaceful life has chosen the wrong century in which to be born applies to you more than any other generation. Born pre-1946, you are the generation that survived the depression, was transfixed by the 1939 New York ...
The more complex our world becomes, the more simplicity it needs. This quest for simplicity has become the holy grail of science, whether in the form of physicist Stephen Hawking's TOE and his lifetime pursuit of a Theory of Everything (TOE), or theoretical physicist Stephen Wolfram's "A New Kind of Science" (the title of his 2002 book). Wolfram, a Ph.D. at 20 from Caltech, proposes that instead of looking for more and more complex theories to creation, we should be looking for simpler ones (primitives, he ...
Last week I flew to Nashville, Tennessee to work with The Methodist Publishing House on a video project they are producing in connection with my book, Yes, Lord, I Have Sinned, But I Have Several Excellent Excuses.” We made twelve video lessons to coincide with the twelve chapters of the book… so Sunday School Classes can see and hear my thoughts about the material in the book. Now, I have been doing television for over 30 years and in all that time. I had never ever used any kind of make-up… until last ...
I read something recently that blessed me and inspired me, and I hope it will you too. It is entitled: THE WORLD NEEDS MEN...[AND I MIGHT ADD WOMEN] Who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who possess opinions and a will; who are larger than their vocation; who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their individuality in a crowd; who will be as honest in small things as in great things; who will make no compromise with wrong; whose ambitions are not ...
I have been preaching through the 23rd Psalm, and I have entitled this series of messages “Good Vibrations.” Good vibrations are important. Dr. Michael Jacobson cited a recent study in which patients were asked to recall various types of emotional experiences, while doctors monitored their physiological reactions. They were first asked to recall an argument in which they became very angry or frustrated. The patient was to relive that experience in their mind for five minutes. The doctors noted that these ...
It has been said there are only two groups of people in the world: those who divide people into groups and those who do not. And I suppose that is true. But we do live in a divided world. East and west, north and south, blue state and red state, black and white, male and female, rich and poor the list goes on and on. Some of these differences are of little importance. Others shape our existence from the cradle to the grave. No divide, however, is as important as that divide represented in our lesson for ...
One of the most remarkable Christian witnesses in the world today is a man named Charles Colson. Many of you remember him as the political hatchet man for President Richard Nixon. While he was serving as special counsel to the President, Colson seemed to be a dispicable man, seemingly without a conscience. Then, quite remarkably, Chuck Colson had a thorough and complete conversion experience. It was in 1973 during the height of the Watergate proceedings. Please don’t be suspicious. This conversion ...
The mother of two daughters, ages 10 and 12, decided it was time to tell them about the birds and the bees. She sent off for a booklet recommended by the PTA and, having read it, called the girls in for a long chat. When she finished, she said, with her heart in her throat, “You may ask me any question you want to.” The oldest said, “Anything?” The mother said, “Yes, anything,” then she took a deep breath, thinking, “Here it comes.” The little girl asked, “Can we have a new baseball bat? It should not ...