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4901. A Shocking Revelation

Revelation 1:9-20

Sermon

Wayne Brouwer

Why did you come here today? Have you given it any thought? Why did you come here today, to church? There are all the usual reasons, I suppose: It’s our habit! It’s what we do on Sunday mornings! That’s probably as good a reason as any! Thank God for good habits! But maybe it’s more than that for you. Maybe you’ve had a rough week, a strange week, a tiring week. Maybe things aren’t working out in your marriage. Maybe the first days of University are more than you’d bargained for. Maybe life on the job isn’ ...

4902. Stranglers Or Wranglers?

Acts 2:42-47

Sermon

King Duncan

Many years ago at the University of Wisconsin, there was an undergraduate literary club. The club consisted of male students who had demonstrated outstanding talent in writing. At each meeting one of the students would read aloud a story or essay he had written, and then submit it to the others for criticism. The criticism was brutal. Nothing was held back. The students showed no mercy in dissecting the material line by line. So hateful were the sessions that the members called themselves "The Stranglers ...

4903. The Cry Of Freedom

Matthew 22:15-22

Sermon

Eric Ritz

This past week we celebrated Independence Day. This day is a special time, set aside to celebrate many gifts and opportunities that "Freedom" brings to the American citizen. It celebrates our independence from England and our dependence on God. I remember watching President Carter receive the distinguished Medal of Freedom in Philadelphia. It was an inspiring moment for me to see Jimmy Carter get the respect he deserves since his defeat in 1980. The Fourth of July always sets me to thinking about the ...

4904. Responding To The Roadblocks Of Life

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Several years ago Frank Court told the story of a student at Iowa State University who took to selling magazine subscriptions for additional income. He determined that a likely customer might be the president of the University. The student was greeted at the door by the president's wife who was able to resist his sales pitch by saying that her husband already received more magazines than he could read. The student assured her that he understood and turned to leave. It was then the president's wife saw ...

4905. How Many Times Should We Forgive?

Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon

King Duncan

There's an old, old story about a little guy who was sitting in a restaurant when a big bully came in. The bully walked over to the little guy, grabbed him forcefully and threw him over his shoulder. "That's Judo," he said, "Picked it up in Japan." Next he hit him square on the back of the neck. "That's karate. Picked it up in Korea." The little guy squirmed away from the bully and went out to his truck. When he came back in, he went right up to the bully and cracked him over the head. "That's crowbar," he ...

4906. Building An Understanding Of God

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Sermon

King Duncan

A Jewish boy in grade school was listening to his Hebrew teacher quoting the most important of all the Hebrew Scriptures, Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." "When will He be two?" the little fellow asked after mulling this over for a moment in his mind. If the Lord is one, then surely, some day, He will be two. It reminds me of something Mickey Rivers, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers baseball team once said about his warm relationship with Yankee owner George ...

4907. Faith-based Living

John 6:1-15

Sermon

King Duncan

One of these days, at the end of a message, I am going to give you a pop quiz--just to see how many of you were really listening. That would be cruel, wouldn't it? Don't worry. I'm afraid of the results myself. Few people enjoy taking pop quizzes--or any kind of test for that matter. Some of our young people would give an "Amen" to that. Tests elevate our anxiety level, so people will do some crazy things to prepare themselves for tests. For the benefit of our high school and college students, I want to ...

4908. The Third Commandment: God's Last Name Is Not...?

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

We continue today in our series on the Living the Ten Commandments. Today we come to the third instruction which teaches us: Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord is very serious when his name is used or attached to something or someone. When God’s name is honored so is everyone and everything else. As you have already probably observed the first four commandments deal with our relationship primarily with God. These are vertical. They are directed upward. They deal with our respect and ...

4909. The Tenth Commandment: How Zacchaeus Got His Groove Back

Exodus 20:1-21

Sermon

Eric Ritz

The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy wrote an insightful story titled How Much Land Does a Man Need? This story beautifully illustrates the attitude and principles that the 10th commandment was written to address. It goes like this: A peasant who had never owned a piece of land was given 20 acres with which to do what he wanted. He was excited at first. Then he decided he needed more. A traveler came and told him of a region he could go where land was available at a cheaper rate. He sold his 20 acres and used ...

4910. A Soul Restored

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Today, we are continuing in our study of the 23rd Psalm, as we claim new insights from this trusted old friend of ours. Now, if you were with us these last two Sundays, you know that we have looked at the first two verses of this marvelous writing. I am going to give a quick review of what has been taught these past two weeks for those of you who have been absent or not listening very well. It is very important you get the foundation we have built so far. After the review, I am going to finish the last one ...

4911. A Cup Overflowing

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Eric Ritz

Now, let us shift gears and travel on to the beginning of verse five: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." A distinguished colleague wrote of the time he experienced such gracious hospitality when he stayed at the home of a friend. He wrote: "They received me into their lovely house, which the wife had labored all day to clean for my arrival. They ushered me into the most comfortable bedroom, where their own clothes had been removed from the closet to make room for mine. They ...

4912. Goodness and Mercy

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Eric Ritz

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (verse 6) Today, we bring our study of this marvelous writing to its conclusion. The Psalmist has had us travel through life''s many experiences, and then leaves us with a great declaration and conclusion. I am glad it is there. I would like to share with you the rich meaning of the two words, "Goodness" and "Mercy." In the June, 1991, edition of Billy Graham's magazine, Decision, the ...

4913. Staying Focused--Traveling Light

Hebrews 12:1-13

Sermon

Eric Ritz

I think most of you would agree that we live in a sports-oriented culture. Even the average athlete makes more money than the President of the United States, and most college coaches make more money than the professors who teach at our universities. Yes, every Saturday and Sunday there are athletic events that have the capacity to attract millions of folks to stadiums, golf courses, and race tracks. These athletic events also have a way of attracting the headlines of the morning newspapers even when we are ...

4914. The Indwelling Christ And Holy Communion

Luke 24:13-35

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Our scripture lesson for our communion meditation is the 24th chapter of Luke. Will you follow me as we hear the word of God, beginning with the 13th verse of the 24th chapter? (Read Luke 24:13-24) Let us pray. Come Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, with all your quickening powers. Come shed abroad a savior’s love and that will quicken ours. Amen. A few weeks ago, I shared with you a story of a Benedictine monk who is a friend of mine. Now I want you to know that I do have some protestant friends, but I want to ...

4915. Partners In the Gospel

Philippians 1:1-11

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

Connections are important. Nobody understands the word connection as do United Methodists. When we talk about the larger church we refer to it as “the connection.” Connections are important. I remember visiting with a young man in Nashville 25 years ago -- I was the editor of the Upper Room and this young man was a student at Vanderbilt University. His parents were friends of mine but I had known him only in passing. This was one of those encounters that we have now and then that we sense are charged with ...

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