Rev. Timothy J. Ensworth
Again … joy (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Isaiah 53:10-12
April 5, 2015
How does it all begin?
With a dance …
Out of nothing, out of an empty, shapeless, lifeless void, God sets the universe dancing. Atoms of hydrogen and helium excite and collide and combust, dancing into flame, dancing into light, swirling, congealing, taking shape as stars, dancing stars!… Continue reading ...
Be the church: share earthly and spiritual resources (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Acts 4:32-35
April 12, 2015
[Play music video: “People Help the People” (Birdy)]
www.believersjournal.org/Movies/PeopleHelpthePeople.mov
and if I had a brain, oh and if I had a brain
I’d be cold as a stone and rich as the fool
that turned all those good hearts away
Lord, have mercy!… Continue reading ...
Be the church: forgive often (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Acts 3:12-19
April 19, 2015
(Strike gavel on pulpit)
All rise! Court is now in session. And the presiding judge is … you!
You are the judge. You are the judge empowered to pass sentence on every person who has hurt you. You have the power to condemn or to show mercy, to exact punishment — by taking vengeance or by exiling the offender — to exact punishment in one way or another or to forgive. … Continue reading ...
Be the church: fight for the powerless (Click in the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Acts 4:5-12
April 26, 2015
Sometimes, if I just feel like “vegging out” and watching some TV, one of my favorite shows to watch is “Leverage.” It was cancelled three years ago, but you can still find reruns on cable. Anybody else know that show?… Continue reading ...
Be the church: reject racism (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Acts 8:26-40
May 3, 2015
Here on Mount Zion the Lord Almighty will prepare a banquet for all the nations of the world — a banquet of the richest food and the finest wine. Here he will suddenly remove the cloud of sorrow that has been hanging over all the nations. … Continue reading ...
Be the church: enjoy this life (Click on the sermon title for a pdf copy)
Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
May 17, 2015
Be the church …
Protect the environment
Because it is God’s handiwork and because it is precious to God.
Care for the poor
Because they are God’s handiwork and because they are precious, especially precious to God.
Forgive often
Because God has forgiven you.… Continue reading ...
Today is the day! (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
June 21, 2015
Life goes on. Life goes on and we settle into a rhythm. A daily rhythm, a weekly rhythm, a rhythm of seasons and of years. A rhythm of sleeping and waking, eating and exercising, working and playing, spending time alone and spending time with others. … Continue reading ...
Give her something to eat (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Mark 5:21-43
June 28, 2015
Matthew, Henry, and Louisa … These are my children, children to Lynne and myself.
Kaylee, Tristan, Japhy … These are children to Greg and Michelle.
Brad, Cole, and Emily … These are children to Cliff and Diane.
Jill and Joel and Jake … These are children to Craig and Karen.… Continue reading ...
How I want to be there! (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Psalm 84
August 23, 2015
How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty!
How I want to be there!
I long to be in the Lord’s Temple.
With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God.
You only know it if you know it — that passion, that longing, that joy. … Continue reading ...
Exasperated (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Mark 6:53 – 7:13
August 30, 2015
I am exasperated! Do you want to know why? OK, I’ll tell you why!
Some Pharisees and teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus …
From Jerusalem. These guys had come a long way! It’s a hundred-mile trip from Jerusalem to Gennesaret. … Continue reading ...