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Sermon
William L. Self
At the beginning of every new fall term, Dr. Sydnor Staley, the first president of Southeastern Theological Seminary at Wake Forest, North Carolina, welcomed the new freshman class with these words: "I wish that we could give each of you a theological diploma today. Then those who desire an education could go about their studies unhindered by those who are spiritually shallow." The student experie...
Sermon
Barbara Brokhoff
Some of the largest ads in newspapers, and some of the best commercials on television, deal with flying. Some people think that flying is "the only way to go," others fly only because they must and "white-knuckle" it all the way, and some simply refuse to fly at all, claiming that "if God intended us to fly he would have given us wings." Some delightful stories come out of airplane experiences. O...
3. Into The Whirlwind
2 Kings 2:1-18
Sermon
Robert Allen
Certain events, no matter how long ago they happened, are forever etched in your mind. One such event that I shall always remember happened when I was in the third grade. It was late April, but it was not a beautiful spring day. Instead, it was a day marked by spring rains. It was a day that was dark and dreary. It was a day packed full of tornado warnings. Finally, late in the afternoon, the sch...
Sermon
Frederick C. Edwards
There is a story that a university in Scotland once wished to honor a scholar who had done some significant inquiry into the life and work of one of its own most illustrious former scholars, the 16th century Scottish reformer, John Knox. The tradition in that and several other universities was that, if possible, a cap belonging to the subject of the study - in this case John Knox - would be given ...
Sermon
Thomas D. Peterson
Elijah was the leader of the Sons of the prophets, bands of prophets located throughout Israel. Elisha was his protege. Naturally the other prophets were jealous of him. Our scripture opens when there is general knowledge among the prophets that the Lord was soon to take Elijah. Elijah was told by God to go on a journey from Gilgal to Bethel. He told Elisha to remain behind. Elisha refused, saying...
Sermon
Richard L. Eslinger
Elisha had been with Elijah for what seenied like a long time. It began in the most dramatic way: Elijah lamenting that the people of Israel had all forsaken the covenant, everyone in Israel bowing the knee to false gods; Elijah complaining, "And I, even I only, am left." But the Lord God refused to let the prophet just hide out there in the wilderness. So Elijah was sent back to do battle against...
7. Going, Going, Gone
2 Kings 2:1-18
Sermon
Curtis Lewis
Recently, a friend of mine went to Wrigley Field in Chicago to watch an afternoon baseball game. For my friend, an afternoon at Wrigley Field is the ultimate in baseball. Those who attend an afternoon game at Wrigley Field still sing enthusiastically during the seventh inning stretch, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." When a player drives a ball deep into left field towards the bleachers, and it loo...
Sermon
Schuyler Rhodes
Each one of us gathered here today comes bearing the echoes of great people in our lives. Each one of us bears the mark of someone who touched us in a powerful way. It might be a mother or father, a grandparent, or an aunt or uncle. It could be a neighbor who took you under his or her wing, or a teacher, or even, dare I say, a pastor. If you're really blessed, you might even receive more tha...
9. Seeing A Chariot Of Fire
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Sermon
Stephen P. McCutchan
I think that we are in a battle for the soul of the church. I'm not just talking about my Presbyterian denomination, although it cer­tainly has its problems. I'm suggesting that we are in a battle for the soul of the whole church in our time. Wherever you turn, the church is changing and evolving to­ward something new, though it is not yet clear what that new form will look like. Our forms o...
10. Cloak of Power
Psalm 5:1-12
Sermon
Lori Wagner
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. Malachi 4:2 Props: Prayer Shawl or Tallit (with Tzizit) or Cloak/Diver’s helmet Have you ever had the opportunity to take or watch a scuba diving lesson? What happens is this: a group of students, young and old, listen as the instructor has them practice fitting on the scuba helmet. Of course the helmet is part of the breathing tank...
Sermon
Robert Leslie Holmes
Norval Christy was fifteen years old when he agreed with the Lord that everything he possessed was a gift and that he was willing to use it in God’s service however, whenever, and wherever God chose. After attending Westminster College in Pennsylvania, Norval applied to Harvard Medical School and was accepted in spite of long odds. He was in the process of doing his medical residency when a call c...
12. The Smell of Bread
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Sermon
Stan Purdum
One of the most popular television shows ever was M*A*S*H, which ran for eleven seasons, from 1972-1983. If you didn't see it when it was originally on network television, you've probably seen it in reruns on cable stations. The show was about life in a mobile Army surgical hospital during the Korean War, and the reoccurring characters included the surgeons. One of those surgeons, named Charles Em...
13. No Comment
2 Kings 2:1-12a
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
In situations when we come face to face with the wonder of God's love and power, our best response may be to close our mouths and open our hearts to God's magnificence and munificence. In his 1924 presidential campaign, Calvin Coolidge greeted the emotional subject of Prohibition at press conferences with a standard response: "No comment." No matter how insistent the questioning reporters, he ste...
14. Transitions
2 Kings 2:1-12
Sermon
David E. Leininger
This is one of those passages that has its roots deep in the mythology of ancient Israel. It is at least a little bit familiar to us because this is where the film Chariots of Fire gets its name, and this is where we find the origin of the expression, "passing on the mantle of leadership." The story also gives us one of the earliest uses of the term "Father" as a title for a religious leader (if y...
15. A Double Portion
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
At a recent church luncheon buffet line, next to the apples was a sign that read: "Apples: please only take one per person. Remember, God is watching." A little further down the line next to the cookies, someone had scrawled with a crayon: "Cookies: take all you want. God is watching the apples." (1) Or how about the guy who stopped at the bakery right at closing time and ordered a batch of sugar...
Sermon
Harold Warlick
Many scholars view this narrative as one occasioned by the fear of an uncertain future followed by a sensation of great joy. Indeed, the narrative resolves the transfer of leadership from one generation of prophets to another. There is anxiety over the death of the great Elijah. How will his power be transferred? Who will have the authority when the great man dies? Certainly the scene is one of c...
Sermon
Richard Gribble
On a warm and sunny early June day in 1943, John Francis Laboon, "Jake" to his friends, stood with his Naval Academy classmates on Warden Field; it was graduation day. These men were the class of 1944, but because of World War II raging in both the Pacific and European theaters, and thus need of their presence in the fleet, the class was "accelerated" one year in its training. A rough and tumble y...
18. A Double Dose
2 Kings 2:1-18
Sermon
Carlyle Fielding Stewart
Anyone coming into contact with Elijah could see the full power of God's anointing on his life. Elisha would be next in line to continue Elijah's prophetic ministry and he knew the requirements of this awesome task. Elisha could not do it alone. The full anointing of God's spirit had to be in his life in order for him to succeed in his ministry, so Elisha asked that he receive a double portion of ...
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