John and I are getting into birds! We work out of the mountains of western North Carolina during the summer months. One of our favorite pastimes, when we are at home, is to watch the birds that come to our deck which overlooks the mountains. There are ruby-throated hummingbirds (sometimes as many as sixteen of them), which come to guzzle the red-colored, sugar-water that I keep in feeders for them under the eave of the house. At another feeder, filled with sunflower seeds, we are visited by the white- ...
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I'm worried about education in America. My concern right now is different from the usual ones about drug abuse, sexual immorality and secularistic ideas. I'm worried about the way some Americans have learned to spell. There are people who cannot spell even the simplest words ...
It is said that by the year 2000 one-half the population of our nation will be over 50 and one-third over 65 years of age. Those of us who are growing older will have plenty of company. We have a science, gerontology, dedicated to our well-being. We do not even have to surrender to senility: doctors tell us that it is not a normal state of old age; only 8 percent of older people need to fear such a breakdown. It is possible to remain alert and creative right down to the conclusion of our lives. Marie ...
I read recently of a congregation where they did the usual Christmas pageant. The children from Sunday School played the parts. And they were all dressing for their roles: Mary and Joseph in bathrobes . . . the Shepherds carrying canes from their grandpas and Angels under tinsel halos and white sheets . . . One mother was trying to get an angel costume onto her squirming son, and his sister stood by to watch. "Boy!" she said. "Talk about miscasting!" What are angels like? Have you ever seen one? Angels ...
[While King Duncan is enjoying a well deserved retirement we are going back to his earliest sermons and renewing them. The newly modernized sermon is shown first and below, for reference sake, is the old sermon. We will continue this updating throughout the year bringing fresh takes on King's best sermons.] Original Title: All That From A Little Bit Of Water? New Title: All That From A Little Water There was the Baptist minister who, at his first baptism, became stage-struck. Standing in the baptismal pool ...
"You know what I don't understand?" asked Lucy of Charlie Brown in my favorite comic strip -- "PEANUTS" by Charles Schultz. "I don't understand love!" Charlie Brown replies, "Who does!" Lucy says, "Explain love to me, Charlie Brown", Charlie says. "You can't explain love. I can recommend a book or a poem or a painting, but I can't explain love." Lucy comes back, "Well, try, Charlie Brown, try." As is always the case, Charlie can't say no to Lucy. He can't resist doing what Lucy tells him to do, so he says ...
Long ago, on a high mountaintop, three trees were speaking about their future dreams. The first tree said, "I would really like to be made into a cradle so that a newborn baby might rest comfortably and I could support that new life." The second tree looked down at a small stream that was flowing into a big river and said, "I want to be made into a great ship so I can carry useful cargo to all corners of the world." The third tree viewed the valley from its mountaintop and said, "I don't want to be made ...
EXEGESIS of Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew begins his gospel by taking special care to establish Jesus’ historical and theological identity. The first seventeen verses enumerate the genealogy of Jesus “the Messiah” and establishes Joseph’s lineage as a descendant of the royal house of David. Yet this information also problematizes the narrative, for Matthew also reveals that Jesus’ conception was a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. Mary, a betrothed young woman, remained a virgin until Jesus’ birth. In today’s ...
Exegetical Aim: We can trust God with our worries. Props: A small table, a small box, and numerous small unbreakable objects that can be carried in your hands all at once. It does not matter what the objects are. Lesson: Before speaking to the children, place all of the small objects in your hands and arms and act as though you are having a difficult time carrying them. Good morning. Today I wanted to show you a few things that . . . drop an item on the floor . . . oops. Sorry about that. Bend down to pick ...
COMMENTARY This pericope constitutes the third of the four servant songs in Isaiah. Yehweh's servant hears his voice and is therefore fortified with determination to suffer mental agony in terms of ridicule, false accusations, humiliation and shame. He suffers confidently because he believes Yahweh will vindicate, help and pronounce him innocent. Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11 Paul is pleading for unity in the Philippian congregation. He uses Jesus as an example of humility. In this pericope, Paul shows the ...
One of the most fun trips I have ever taken in my life was years ago when my wife and three sons went out west to Colorado, and spent a week in a part of the country we had never been in before. We did everything from horseback riding to white water rafting, to just exploring the great outdoors. But one of the highlights for me, strangely enough, was driving up to a top of one of the Rocky Mountains and standing on what is called by some, "The Continental Divide," and others "The Great Divide." Geologists ...
When I first started school, I wasn't like most kids in several respects. First of all, I actually started a year early, but I was always physically one year behind the rest of my class. I made up for being one of the smaller kids by focusing on academics. I really enjoyed reading and became a voracious reader and I had a burning passion to make good grades. For the most part, I liked my teachers. There was one type of teacher I absolutely could not stand. Believe it or not, it was not the strict ...
A family from South Carolina went to New York City for their vacation. They told all their friends they were going to attend the Broadway musical, My Fair Lady. Unfortunately, the play was sold out when they tried to get their tickets, and they couldn't get in. They were disappointed, but they were also embarrassed. They didn't want to have to go back home and tell their friends they missed the highlight of their trip. In fact, they were so embarrassed that they decided to make their friends think they had ...
814. You Have To Let Go
Illustration
Dr. Anthony T. Evans
One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were on their way to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an old woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across on her own. The first monk kindly offered, "We will carry you across if you would like." "Thank you," she said gratefully, accepting their help. So the two men joined hands, lifted her between them and carried her across the river. When ...
Business writer Dan Miller in his book Wisdom Meets Passion reveals some fascinating information about the brilliant artist, sculptor and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci, the ultimate “Renaissance Man,” was interested in about anything of consequence. He had an intense curiosity about birds and how they flew. He studied their wings and modeled helicopters, parachutes, and flying machines based on their anatomy. The freedom and movement of birds served as a metaphor for da Vinci’s life. He observed ...
Live Wholly for God 4:1 What are the practical implications for Christians of Christ’s suffering and consequent triumph over death and the powers of evil? Recalling the opening of this section, back in 3:18, Peter reverts to the death of Christ. This is the example that believers should follow. They must turn their backs on the immoral practices of their pagan neighbors, formerly their own life-style, and wholeheartedly follow their Master by copying him. Christ suffered in his body, that is, he gave his ...
“Dad, will you help me with my homework?” asked one eighth grade boy. “I’m sorry,” replied the father. “It wouldn’t be right.” “Well,” said the boy, “at least you could try.” Welcome on this Father’s Day, 2016. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are problematic for pastors, especially Father’s Day. Some young people today have no real relationship with their Dads. And many others have a relationship that could be termed destructive. Charles Sell, in his book Unfinished Business, tells about David Simmons, a ...
The Creation of the Earth: Genesis opens with the account of creation, which is as profound as it is simple. It focuses on the way God ordered the earth. The text addresses the heavens only as they have an impact on life on earth. The purpose of this account is threefold. First, it teaches essential facts about the way God ordered the world so that humans might understand their place and role in creation. Second, it leads us to praise God as the wise, all-powerful Creator. Third, it preempts the ...
Big Idea: Jesus’s role as the suffering Messiah (8:27–33) provides a model for his disciples. The path of true discipleship is one of self-denying and cross-bearing. Understanding the Text The previous section developed the necessity and meaning of Jesus’s suffering (8:27–33). Jesus then uses his messianic suffering as the model for discipleship. The sayings in 8:34–9:1 define the implications for true followers, with the thesis statement telling how to follow (v. 34) followed by two clarifications telling ...
Big Idea: God leads and protects his people. Understanding the Text Numbers 10:11–22:1 forms a new major unit in the book of Numbers that describes the journey from Sinai to the plains of Jordan. In Numbers 1:1–10:10 Israel had prepared for resuming its march toward the promised land. The tribal camps have been counted, and their positions around the tabernacle designated. The duties of the priests and Levites have been delineated. Gifts for the dedication of the tabernacle have been received, and silver ...
Big Idea: The Lord accomplishes his purposes through those who promote his kingdom agenda and act in accordance with his reliable promises. Understanding the Text Israel has been humiliated by the Philistines and torn by civil strife, but finally the tribes have united and made David king in accordance with God’s purposes. David immediately takes the ancient site of Jerusalem as a prelude to establishing a central sanctuary there. He also seeks the Lord’s guidance and experiences his supernatural ...
Once the spies have returned, Joshua and the Israelites set out from Shittim toward the Jordan to cross it. A series of instructions is given in 3:2–6 especially concerning the place of the ark as the procession moves toward the Jordan. The ark, carried by the priests and signaling the Lord’s presence and guidance, is to lead the way, with the people following after it. But the people are cautioned not to follow too closely but to maintain a distance of a thousand yards, presumably in deference to the Lord ...
In the narrative flow of Numbers 1–10, the benediction at the end of chapter 6 aptly concludes a block of material on ordering the camp in preparation for departure from Sinai. The blessing may recall the inauguration of tabernacle worship (Lev. 9). Numbers 7 then refers back to the completion of the tabernacle (Exod. 40). The notation When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle is a helpful clue here. It initiates a “flashback” that continues through Numbers 10:11 and the departure from Sinai (Olson, ...
Object: rough-sawn beam, approximately 4" x 4" x 2' Good evening, boys and girls. It makes me so happy to see you in church! Look what I have here. It's a piece of scrap lumber I have left over from a building project. Would you like to hold it? (As many as want to may hold the beam.) What do you notice about it? Yes, it's very heavy and rough. Your hands could get splinters from it if you aren't careful. This beam is not very long, but it's still very heavy. Imagine what it would weigh if it were this ...
John 21:1-14, John 21:15-25, Acts 10:1-8, Acts 10:9-23a, Acts 10:23b-48
Sermon
Lori Wagner
Props and visuals: fishing boat / fishing net / tablecloth and stick / backpack / diaper bag / purse or satchel You know how some dreams won’t let go of you? Sometimes God has a message for you, and speaks in this “forgotten language” of dreams. Sometimes God needs to prepare you for something that’s hard for you to hear. In our scripture story today as told in the Acts of the Apostles, God was preparing Peter for his visit with Cornelius. And for something even greater! But as everything goes with Peter, ...