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Sermon
Carl B. Rife
"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Mark 13:28-31 ...
Sermon
Thomas Peterson
In our text Jesus makes a comparison between two different things: buildings and a person. The buildings he spoke of were of great importance, representing many resources. No doubt the excess wealth of the city or nation was required to build them. Many workers were conscripted to work on them. And, no matter big or small, they were always much larger, more solid, and of greater economic value tha...
Sermon
Darrick Acre
This is the season we celebrate Christmas. The shopping has begun. The countdown of days left to make purchases is underway. Jewelry commercials are dominating the airways. People are passing by the Salvation Army bell ringers as they go in and out of the mall looking for just the right gift. It’s Christmas! This is the time of year when we decorate with lights, greenery, and all the symbols of th...
Sermon
Paul E. Flesner
How are you getting ready for Christmas? Have you gotten out your Christmas tapes or CDs yet? Have you started your gift shopping? Have you decided what Christmas cookies you are going to bake this year? Have you written your Christmas cards yet? Have you put up your Christmas tree? Over the years it seems like Christmas preparations are starting earlier and earlier. Now some stores are starting t...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
The first vacuum clear was constructed of odd parts. The vacuum effect was accomplished by the attachment of an old pillowcase as its bag. A few hundred refinements later, the Hoover family popularized and sold door-to-door the motorized sucking machine dubbed the vacuum cleaner. It doesn't take a degree in interior design to notice how the humble vacuum cleaner has ably reflected the styles and d...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
In a culture where even the atheists claim to have a "spirituality," it's time for the church to soul out. Until March of 1997, the approaching Third Millennium sneaked up on us like some great, fun adventure. For intrepid entrepreneurs, the year 2000 promises huge sales in commemorative junk. Party planners have been plotting big New Year's Eve blowouts for years. Except for those nerdy com...
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
There's an old story about the passengers on a commercial flight who were settling in for a comfortable flight when a voice came over the loudspeaker welcoming them and announcing that the aircraft had finally reached its cruising altitude. The passengers could now unfasten their seat belts. The voice continued by announcing that this was a state-of-the art fully automated aircraft. The passe...
8. Where Does That Leave Us?
Mark 13:1-31, Mark 13:32-37
Sermon
Thomas Peterson
Where does this Scripture leave us? Jesus compares the fig tree with the Day of Judgment. The fig tree’s leaves, sun s darkening, the moon giving no light, and the stars falling -- all are signs of the final day of the Lord. Then it is that the Son of man comes in clouds with great power and glory, and he sends out angels to gather in the elect. Many denominations spend a great deal of energy try...
Sermon
Charley Reeb
One summer I took a month off for a much needed time of renewal. During my time off I decided to do a little research. I wanted to get the perspective of folks who don’t go to church. Preachers are very insulated in a church bubble. Everything we do revolves around church culture for the most part and that is not all bad. But here is the thing — if the church’s main task is to reach those outside ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
In a culture where even the atheists claim to have a "spirituality," it's time for the church to soul out. Until March of 1997, the approaching Third Millennium sneaked up on us like some great, fun adventure. For intrepid entrepreneurs, the year 2000 promises huge sales in commemorative junk. Party planners have been plotting big New Year's Eve blowouts for years. Except for those nerdy computer...
Sermon
Steven E. Albertin
That great twentieth century prophet of Yankee Stadium, Yogi Berra, said it well when describing the uncertainty of any athletic contest: "It ain't over 'til it's over." Until that last fly ball is caught or strike is called or ground ball is thrown to first base and the last out is made, the game is not over. Anything can happen. And more often than not it has. Everyone has a story about dramatic...
12. Yellow Wind
Mark 13:1-31
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
There is an old mountain saying that goes like this: "Nothing in this world is too bad to happen." We are indeed in "one mell of a hess" as another old saying goes. But people of the light are not afraid "even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea" (Psalm 46:2). Canadian Forum journalist Brian Murphy and his teenage son were idly conversing over breakfast one morning. At o...
Sermon
King Duncan
Let's suppose that the world really was coming to an end. How, do you suppose, the headlines of our major newspapers would read? One day at lunch a crowd of reporters, bankers, brokers and PR types at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. speculated on how various news media would play the story of the end of time. Here are some suggested headlines: *LOS ANGELES TIMES: NO TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY...
Sermon
King Duncan
Pastor Daniel Bohlman had a problem. The front of his new church was very small only enough room for a pulpit. When a prominent member died, Bohlman had to figure out where to place the coffin for viewing. The most reasonable place seemed to be in the back of the church, where there was more room. All they needed to do was move out one of the back pews for the funeral service, then replace it afte...
Sermon
King Duncan
Have you ever noticed how quickly people's lives can be turned upside down? Up until December 4, 2002, Robert Mancillas of San Antonio, Texas thought he was doing all right. When Robert arrived at work that morning, however, his boss fired him. After receiving this news, Robert decided to walk over to his mother's office and tell her what had happened, but he never made it. A five-story historic...
16. Keeping Alert For Christmas
Mark 13:32-37, Mark 13:1-31
Sermon
King Duncan
As Alice sat in worship on the first Sunday in Advent her mind began to wander. She thought of the shopping she needed to do. She thought of all the church programs and neighborhood parties and school activities she would be expected to attend. She had better get those dates on her calendar as soon as possible she thought. And if they really are going to get a goose for Christmas dinner, then now ...
17. Stirring Things Up
Mark 13:1-8, Hebrews 10:11-25
Sermon
Mark Trotter
The Union Tribune carried a series of articles this last week on the variety of religions that are emerging as we approach the millennium. We used to talk about religion in America as Protestant, Catholic and Jew. Now there are more Muslims in America than there are Episcopalians, and soon there will be more than there are Jews. Now with the largest in-migration to this country from Asia, there wi...
Sermon
Cathy A. Ammlung
I for one am heartily glad that the millennium (and its attendant madness) is well behind us. I'm glad that the millennium comes only once in a, well, millennium. The major reason for my relief is that I became sick of "Millennium Fever" and the doom-saying prophecies that (mercifully) did not come to pass. End of the world prophecies are nothing new, of course. They were around for centuries bef...
Sermon
William G. Carter
The Jehovah's Witnesses have changed their minds. After warning for decades that the world would end within this present generation, the leaders of the sect announced in December 1995 that they have softened their position. As a spokesman explained, "Jesus said that 'this generation will not pass away' until a number of signs have taken place (Mark 13:30). When we reflected on the scriptures, we d...
Sermon
Note: As I type these words, I am sitting at a coffee shop just outside the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Nineteen hours ago, the Interstate 35W Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River, collapsed just as the evening rush hour was winding down. Though it is too early to confirm, it is thought that as many as fifty passenger cars plunged into the river last night, not to mention the dozens of cars, tr...
Sermon
King Duncan
The Rev. Douglas L. Meyer tells of working at a college radio station during his undergraduate day. These were the days before computers and CDs. They were a small operation so the deejays also read the news. The news they read each hour came in on two teletype machines which clattered away constantly. What he remembers most was that these machines had bells attached that the broadcaster could he...
Sermon
David E. Leininger
Jesus and the disciples are leaving the temple and one of them remarks what a magnificent edifice it is. This was the third go-round for the Jerusalem temple: The first had been planned by King David and constructed by his son, Solomon, and was exquisite in every way. Sadly, that structure had been leveled by Nebuchadnezzar when the nation was carried off into exile in Babylon. Once God's people ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
Have you heard? Hollywood says we have three years left until the apocalypse. Hollywood, always a reliable scientific and spiritual source, is basing its prediction on the ancient Mayan long-count calendar. This is a calendar which correctly predicted an astonishing number of other astrological and mathematical events. Unfortunately for the Mayans, even the best math couldn’t factor in and figure...
Sermon
Richard Gribble
A long time ago there lived a little boy whose parents had died. He was taken in by an aunt who raised him as her own child. Many years later, after the boy had grown and become successful in business, he received a letter from his aunt. She was terminally ill and from the tone of her letter, quite afraid of death. Thus, the man who had been raised and strongly influenced by this woman decided to ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
Salmon do it. Hummingbirds do it. Butterflies do it. Turtles do it. All these creatures, and many more: they all . . . go home again. Salmon find their way from the vast ocean back to whatever tiny tributary in which they were hatched. Hummingbirds fly over 6000 miles to find their nesting sites. Butterflies congregate in the same trees, generation after generation. Migrating turtles closed down ...
Showing 1 to 25 of 66 results