Zoom
Showing 1 to 25 of 32 results
Sermon
David G. Rogne
Following his service as Prime Minister of Great Britain during the dark days of World War II, Winston Churchill was invited to speak at Harrow, his boyhood grammar school, from which he had been graduated some seventy years before. As he stood at the lectern, looking out at his young audience, he said, "Young men, never give up! Never give up! Never! Never! Never!" With that he sat down. The audi...
Sermon
George Reed
The Gospel of Mark is filled with action. From the beginning Jesus is teaching, healing, and casting out demons. By the time we get to chapter 6, we have witnessed many miracles which Jesus has done. Then he comes home to Nazareth. Nazareth, that little backwater town that is despised and looked down on by the rest of Israel. Here is their big chance to show that something good can come out ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
Titanic. Say the word, and everyone, everywhere knows the story. Whether you know the name because you saw the movie, or you know the name because you spent the bulk of your life in the twentieth century, you still know the name. “Titanic” means huge, gargantuan, immense. The word “Titanic,” which rhymes with “gigantic,” brings visions of unstoppable power, immovable force, impenetrable resistance...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
There are two types of travelers. There are those that travel light; and, there are those who pack for self-preservation. Do you take a small bag with the basic essentials and figure you’ll pick stuff up as you go? Or do you cram everything you can into every corner of an extra-large expandable bag, making sure that whatever comes your way on your trip, you are prepared? Parents traveling with ...
Sermon
William G. Carter
His name was George, and he sat in the back row of the sanctuary on the preacher's right. A permanent scowl was chiseled on his face. His posture announced to all that he was a man not easily pleased. Ushers tip-toed around him. Whenever his name came up in conversation around church hallways, someone would always ask, "Why does a grouch like that keep coming to worship?" No one ever came up with ...
Sermon
King Duncan
Steven was a young man who felt the call of God on his life. He came from a really close family. He finished college and then went off to seminary.  After finishing seminary he came back home before going to his first church. He visited with all of his relatives for about a week. He stopped by the church and talked to his hometown pastor. The pastor asked him if he would like to preach that upcomi...
Sermon
Donald B. Strobe
William Muehl of Yale Divinity School tells of visiting a fine old ancestral house in Virginia.  The aged owner was the last of a distinguished colonial family, and she was proudly showing him through the home.  Over the fireplace he noticed an ancient rifle which intrigued him.  He asked if he might take it down and examine it.  She replied, “Oh, I am afraid that wouldn’t be safe.  You see, it is...
Sermon
King Duncan
The Fourth of July makes us conscious of our roots. Have you ever thought what a leap of faith it was for Columbus to embark on his great adventure? Do you not marvel at his perseverance and commitment to his dream? I read somewhere that the average speed of the Santa Maria during the voyage across the Atlantic was two miles an hour. Yet we get frustrated when we have to slow down to 30 miles an ...
Sermon
King Duncan
"A prophet is not without honor," said Jesus "save in his own country." No wonder! Prophets speak to a people on the part of God. What nation on earth has ever lived up to God's standards? Not us. Not Israel. Not any nation that has ever existed on earth. We need to remember that as we prepare to celebrate our grand national holiday. Our nation has been wonderfully blessed. It seems somewhat imper...
Sermon
Ron Lavin
George Anderson wanted to write a book. He had the subject of his book in mind. The title would be Handling Troubles. He knew that if he could get a publisher, the book would help other people. He knew he could do it, but he didn't know how, so he joined a writers' group. A famous and successful author was addressing a group of novice writers at the writers' group meeting. The would-be writers, i...
Sermon
Kristin Borsgard Wee
When I was just barely into my teens, I went through a period of time when I wanted to be someone else. I didn't like the way I looked. I was self-conscious about the spaces in my teeth. I hated that the veins in my hands stuck out. I wanted to be just like my friend, Marilyn. She was perfect — in everything — and, the boys liked her. I used to stand in front of the mirror and practice smiling lik...
Sermon
David E. Leininger
All four gospels tell us that Jesus was rejected by his hometown and home synagogue. They all say that a prophet (or a preacher — the two words are more or less interchangeable in biblical understanding) has no honor in his own hometown and among his own relatives. According to Mark's chronology, Jesus comes home to Nazareth accompanied by his disciples after the remarkable healing of a woman who...
Sermon
Leonard H. Budd
There was still a slick of morning moisture covering the path into the town as Eli and Samuel walked by Nathan's orchard, crossed the small stream, and finished the prescribed sabbath day's journey to the synagogue: in length, 2,000 cubits. By our modern standard of travel it was not far. It was about 1,000 yards. They walked at hurried pace. Their prayer shawls were pulled tightly around them, wh...
Sermon
Charles R. Leary
Thomas Wolfe penned the immortal words, “You can never go home again.” Our Gospel documents that truth in a unique way. Early in his ministry, Jesus and his disciples made a tour through his hometown. The people in Nazareth were unable to accept him as the inspired Teacher. Their judgment was limited to how they had always known him: a child, a young man, a carpenter, a local boy. They were unabl...
Sermon
Ron Lavin
"... A thorn was given me in the flesh ..." 2 Corinthians 12:7, RSV Paul had a problem. We don’t know what the problem was. We only know that Paul called it his "thorn in the flesh." A thorn. Paul spoke of his limited humanity, his suffering, his weakness, his problem in terms of a thorn. How about your problems? A thorn. Perhaps it was a sickness which Paul experienced. Some say it was epileps...
Sermon
James Weekley
A man began buttering his wife with romantic talk. "My dear, let me feast my eyes upon your lovely face, and I'll buy you a sable muff. Let me hold your hand, and I'll buy you a silverfox scarf. Let me kiss you, and I'll give you a mink cape. Let me ..." "Stop!" she pleaded. "that's fur enough!" Like two porcupines, some people will never get too close for comfort. The poets and theologians have ...
17. The Master's Voice
Matthew 13:53-58, Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:14-30
Sermon
Lori Wagner
Prop: The King’s Speech [use a clip from the movie near the conclusion in which the king is grateful to have been freed] Being “voiceless” has been the cause of many a revolution. Slavery, women’s suffrage, child abuse, human trafficking —the progress of history is the story of the voiceless finding a voice and struggling to be free. The stifled voice will find a way to be heard. Those who have d...
Sermon
Dean Feldmeyer
Almost every culture has, in its foundational mythology, a Phoenix or firebird. The one with which we westerners are most familiar is the Greek Phoenix which, like all such mythological creatures, is said to die in a burst of sparks and fire only to be born anew from its own ashes. Because this mythological creature lives in a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, the Phoenix is, in most ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
A year or so ago, when our primary activity during lockdown was to sit on the porch and watch the wildlife, I noticed a mother bird building a nest. I had never seen the process up close like this, and so fascinated, I took note of everything she was doing. In fact, I became so engrossed in Mama bird’s family that I would perch on my rocking chair each and every day, just so I could observe the en...
Sermon
David Coffin
Imagine a high school student who was struggling with his math homework. His father was in a high-tech machine occupation in which he worked with much complicated math. He sat down at the table to help the student with the math homework. Unfortunately, the father was not a good instructor because he lacked patience in trying to help the student out who was not too savvy with numbers and figures. T...
21. Shake It Off
Mark 6:1-13
Sermon
Lori Wagner
June 21, 2024, Taylor Swift arrived at Wembley Stadium in London to perform her astonishingly popular “Eras Tour” concert. That same Friday, before the weekend shows began, the royal family shared a video on Instagram of the royal guard (usually silent and staid) joyfully rocking it to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” The band formed a semi-circle right in front of Buckingham Palace during the chang...
Sermon
James Weekley
And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
If "words are the bugles of social change" it is time for the church to trumpet a different tune than "planning" and "programming." Today's church is called to rediscover the spirited discipline (i.e., "walking stick") of preparedness. In 1989 President Bush challenged the community of public educators to join with him in rescuing our failing system of teaching our children. By 1991 neither ...
Sermon
King Duncan
A few months ago Pat Robertson got extremely upset when a reporter referred to him as a "former TV evangelist." In Robertson's camp this was considered slander. A cynic said recently in QUOTE magazine, "Parents used to worry if they caught their children playing doctor. Now they worry if they're playing evangelist." It has been 60 years since Sinclair Lewis wrote his fiery indictment of the trav...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
It's amazing what we do with funny stories.  We apply them to whomever we wish.  For instance, you might hear one funny story with the legendary coach Bear Bryant as the primary actor.  When you hear it again, the primary actor may be Johnny Majors.  I heard a marvelous story sometime ago about Thomas Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company -- in fact, ...
Showing 1 to 25 of 32 results