Tag: love

Grace

Grace (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Ephesians 2:4-10
April 8, 2018

Craig Driver, Jo Tefft, Leah Reisinger, Steve Peters.  This is who we are, the people gathered in this particular room at this particular hour, each of us bringing our own stories: stories of finding our way, some of us having an easier time of it, some of us a harder time; stories of making a living and making a life, of falling down and rising up, of gaining and of losing; stories of leaving our mark and of being marked by the people who come into our lives.… Continue reading ...

God and the “gods”

God and the “gods” (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Mark 9:38-41
February 4, 2018

There is no “them.”

Say it with me!  “There is no ‘them.’”  Let the words rest in your mouths.  Let the words rest in your minds.  Let the words rest in your hearts.  There is no “them.”

What does it mean?  It means there is no “us” and “them.” … Continue reading ...

How does Jesus help families facing problems with addiction?

How does Jesus help families facing problems with addiction? (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Mark 2:1-12
January 14, 2018

How does Jesus help families facing problems with addiction?  That was the question posed by one of you as a suggestion for an Epiphany season sermon: How does Jesus help families facing problems with addiction?

It’s a hypothetical question, right? … Continue reading ...

A carol of love

A carol of love (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Isaiah 60:1-3, 19-20
December 17, 2017

Next Sunday evening, Christmas Eve, at about 11:57 pm, I will be standing in the front of the sanctuary holding a lighted candle and many of you will be sitting there in the pews holding lighted candles and we will be singing together “silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.” … Continue reading ...

Moses

Moses (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Exodus 1:8 – 2:10
August 27, 2017

I pulled him out of the water, and so I name him Moses …

Moses.  His name was Moses, which means “pulled out,” because he was pulled out of the water, pulled out of the place among the reeds at the edge of the river where his mother has hidden him, pulled out by the slave of an Egyptian princess.… Continue reading ...

That you may have life

That you may have life (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
John 20:30-31
April 23, 2017

That you may have life …

That through your faith in him, through your faith in Jesus, you may have life.  Then or now?  Someday or today?  After you die or here and now?

The gospel makes no distinction: that you may have life, then and now, someday and today. … Continue reading ...

And reconciling the world to yourself

And reconciling the world to yourself (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Matthew 28:16-20
April 16, 2017

Irreconcilable differences. That is grounds for divorce in Iowa, the only grounds for divorce in Iowa. Irreconcilable differences. A relationship grown so divided, so distant, so broken, that it cannot be saved, that the partners cannot be reconciled. Irreconcilable differences. It is now the catch-all term for any number of factors contributing to the degradation of the relationship.… Continue reading ...

Comma

Comma (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
1 Peter 3:13-22
May 25, 2014

Do you know any of these people?

She can’t keep a job.  She doesn’t have a job now.  She always starts out with good intentions, but then distractions or boredom or weak willpower or just plain laziness get in the way.  She can’t seem to follow through, can’t seem to be able to see the big picture, won’t buckle down, won’t grow up. … Continue reading ...

Servants of a generous God

Servants of a generous God (Click on the sermon tittle for a .pdf copy)
Matthew 20:1-16
September 21, 2014

Corina.  Zoe.  Emily.  Arlo.  McKenzie.  Jack.  Nevaeh.  Teddy.  Allison.

Who are these?

These are our children.  These are our children’s children.

What do we want for them?

We want them to be healthy.  We want them to be happy.  We want them to have opportunities and successes. … Continue reading ...