Rev. Timothy J. Ensworth
Murderers (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Matthew 23:29-39
March 23, 2014
Sure, I’ll admit to being a hypocrite, but a murderer?
In the two hundred years between 1095 and 1291, Christians went to war to reclaim access to important religious sites in Palestine, the Holy Land, in a series of military campaigns, known collectively as the Crusades. … Continue reading ...
Getting there (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Romans 12:1-6
August 24, 2014
Katahdin is an impressive mountain. It is actually a massif, a massive, horseshoe-shaped ridge comprised of six distinct summits rising abruptly from the forests and lakes and streams of the northern Maine woods. The six summits are North Howe, South Howe, Hamlin, Baxter Peak, South Peak and Pamola. … Continue reading ...
Leaving jealousy behind (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Romans 13:8-14
September 7, 2014
In seventeen days, on September 24, our church will celebrate its 158th anniversary. Our congregation has a long history in Waterloo, virtually as long as the history of the town itself. It is your church, it is our church, but it is a church we have inherited, with a long-established tradition of worship and ministry and mission in Waterloo and the Cedar Valley.… Continue reading ...
Fear not! (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
John 12:12-15
November 30, 2014
Last Monday evening, St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCullough announced the decision of the grand jury: Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the shooting death of Michael Brown. And then, on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, all hell broke loose.
Now the story is about broken windows and burned-out buildings and National Guard troops. … Continue reading ...
Love never gives up (Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Matthew 9:32-38
February 12, 2017
Give up.
You’re tired. You deserve a break. Give up.
You’ve done all you could, more than your share. Give up.
The emotional cost is too high. It’s not worth it. Give up.
Some things can’t be fixed. Some people don’t want to be helped. … Continue reading ...
What is left unsaid Click on the sermon title for a .pdf copy)
Isaiah 53:7-9
March 29, 2015
Words. Lots of words.
Praise God!
God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord!
God bless the king of Israel!
Look! The whole world is following him!
There’s no stopping him.
What are you going to do?
Crucify him! Crucify him!… Continue reading ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...