The Day Jesus Saved A Wedding The Day Jesus Stopped A Funeral The Day Jesus Tackled A Tsunami The Day Jesus Wrote In The Sand The Day Jesus Stopped A Funeral Luke 7:11-17I wish now to read for you these verses from the 7th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. This...
Luke
Call Him By His Name #10: Savior: Take Heart The Lord May Come Today
Wonderful Counselor: Here Comes The Son! Mighty God: Betting Your Life On Jesus Christ Everlasting Father: Starlight In A Star-Crossed World The Promise Of The Angels Prince of Peace: This Shall Be A Sign Wonderful Counselor: God Can Make Something Great Out Of You...
Faces and Places Around The Cross #6: Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry
Gethsemane The Roman Barracks Simon Of Cyrene Mary: The Mother Of Jesus Unknown Soldier Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry The Empty Tomb Faces and Places Around The Cross: Jerusalem: The Triumphant Entry Luke 19:29-44I read to you from the Gospel according to Luke, but...
A Faith That Sings #5: The Greatest Storyteller’s Greatest Story
From Crib To Cross To Crown When The Waters Are Deep Jesus Is Coming Soon - Look Busy! Night Is When The Stars Shine The Greatest Storyteller's Greatest Story The Greatest Songwriter's Greatest Song The Cross: Stumbling Block Or Stepping Stone? A Faith That Sings: The...
The Story We Thought We Knew #6: The Family We Love To Know
The Story We Should Know The Father We Wish We Knew The King We Wish We Never Knew The Wise Men We Ought To Know The Christ We Can Know The Family We Love To Know The Story We Thought We Knew: The Family We Love To Know Luke 2:25-40Pray with me, please. Give me Jesus,...
The Story We Thought We Knew #5: The Christ We Can Know
The Story We Should Know The Father We Wish We Knew The King We Wish We Never Knew The Wise Men We Ought To Know The Christ We Can Know The Family We Love To Know The Story We Thought We Knew: The Christ We Can Know Luke 2:1-7The birth of Jesus according to Luke. This...
Spiritual Arson: Setting The World On Fire For Christ
Spiritual Arson: Setting The World On Fire For Christ Luke 12:49-50 I wish now to focus your attention upon Luke 12. These words of Jesus are the Word of God. “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to...
Crossroads On The Cross Road
Crossroads On The Cross Road Luke 23:26-32 We call it the Via Dolorosa—the way of sorrows, the way of grief. I refer, of course, to the route which Jesus traveled through the streets of the city of Jerusalem on His way to the hill called Calvary. Today, I would like...
Keeping Christmas Holy And Wholly
Keeping Christmas Holy And Wholly Luke 2:1-14 Christmas is more than just a season. Christmas is a time to keep. The things that make Christmas Christmas ought to be true all year round. In the first place, Christmas gives us a new understanding of power. In King...
Christmas Is For Ordinary People
Christmas Is For Ordinary People Luke 1:26-38 Christmas has been, is now, and always will be for ordinary people. In other words, Christmas is for you and for me. When we stop to examine the Christmas story, what strikes home to us is its ordinariness. Christmas came...
Simeon And Anna: No Songs Like The Old Songs
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Simeon And Anna: No Songs Like The Old Songs Luke 2:25-38You know what they say—“There are no songs...
Mary: A Faith Too Important Not To Share
Mary: A Faith Too Important Not To Share Luke 1:26-35Once in a while, there are lines in television commercials which I can’t seem to get out of my mind…Once in a while, there are lines in television commercials which I can’t seem to get out of my mind… For example,...
Innkeeper: When God Knocks, How Will You Answer?
Innkeeper: When God Knocks, How Will You Answer? Luke 3:1-7 The inn at Bethlehem has become the most famous of all inns—not because of what happened there, but because of something that might have happened, but didn’t. How does the Bible say it? You know the words by...
It’s Never Easy To Be A Father
It's Never Easy To Be A Father Luke 2:41-52 No sermon is so bad that you can’t get one good thing out of it. No book is so bad that you can’t get one good idea from its pages. No movie is so bad that you can’t find one good line within it. Take, for example, the movie...
Cross Words #6: A Dying Word And A Living Faith
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: A Dying Word And A Living Faith Luke 23:44-49During these weeks leading up to...
Cross Words #3: The Very First Christian
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: The Very First Christian Luke 23:39-43Two thieves were crucified with Jesus....
Cross Words #1: You Can’t Step In The Same River Twice
You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Thirsty Lips and A Thirsty Heart The Very First Christian God's Light In Dark Times A Staircase To Heaven A Dying Word And A Living Faith Cross Words: You Can't Step In The Same River Twice Luke 23:26-34“No one can step into the...
Christmas Eve: Communion And Reunion
Christmas Eve: Communion And Reunion Luke 2:8-14 I love Christmas . . . I love all that is so beautiful and inspiring about our annual observance of Christmas. I find it fascinating to note that even those who make no profession of faith or no practice of our...
When Your Heart Needs A Home
When Your Heart Needs A Home Luke 15:11-24Here is the greatest story ever told by the greatest storyteller who ever lived... Once upon a time, there was a man who had two sons. The younger of those two sons said to the father, “Father, give me the share of the...
The Sublimity Of Simplicity
The Sublimity Of Simplicity Luke 22:14-20 I am a simple man. I have a simple faith. I simply believe in Jesus Christ. Consequently, I have a hard time with our tendency to complicate anything and everything these days. I remember what Alfred Lord Tennyson had to say...
Walking A Lonely Road
Walking A Lonely Road Luke 24:13-35 Have you ever been to Emmaus? I do not mean literally, of course. I do not mean the specific village, which we are told in Scripture, was seven miles from the city of Jerusalem. In fact, you cannot go to the literal Emmaus. It has...
Why I Believe #2: Why I Believe In Angels
Why I Believe In The Incarnation Why I Believe In Angels Why I Believe In The Virgin Birth Why I Believe In Jesus Christ Why I Believe In God Why I Believe The Bible Why I Believe In The Church Why I Believe In Heaven Why I Believe In The Atonement Why I Believe In...
Have You Met Jesus? #6: The Man Who Was Both Saint And Sinner
The Nobody Who Became Somebody The Somebody Who Became Nobody The Man Locked In A Prison Without Bars The Men Who Crashed The Party The Man Who Put Christ First The Man Who Was Both Saint And Sinner The Woman Christ Complimented Have You Met Jesus?: The Man Who Was...
Minor Men With A Major Message #22: The Man Who Was Both Saint And Sinner
The Man Who Snatched Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory The Man Who Wanted Somebody With Skin On The Man God Marked The Man Who Died With No One's Regrets The Man Who Chose The Wrong Friend The Couple Who Paid The High Cost Of Low Living The Man Who Put Profits Before...
A Prayer for Christmas #5: Obedience Of Mary And Joseph
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: Obedience Of Mary And Joseph Luke 2:1-14Once upon a time… There lived in a little town called Nazareth, a young...
A Prayer for Christmas #4: The Peace Of The Christ Child
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: The Peace Of The Christ Child Luke 2:1-14Nobody loves Christmas more than I do. However, I do feel constrained...
A Prayer for Christmas #2: Eagerness Of The Shepherds
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph A Prayer for Christmas: Eagerness Of The Shepherds Luke 2:15-20It has always seemed to me that God has a special relationship with...
A Prayer for Christmas #1: Joy Of The Angels
Joy Of The Angels Eagerness Of The Shepherds Perseverance Of The Wise Men The Peace Of The Christ Child Obedience Of Mary And Joseph LUKE 1:26-38Last Christmas, at Westminster Abbey in London, the worshipers gathered there prayed this prayer, May the joy of the...
Faces About the Cross #4: The People Of Jerusalem
Simon Of Cyrene The Dying Thief The Mother Of Jesus The People Of Jerusalem The Disciple Thomas Faces About the Cross: The People Of Jerusalem Luke 19:29-44It’s a story I never tire of telling and I never tire of hearing. The Passover holiday crowds were gathering in...
Faces About the Cross #2: The Dying Thief
Simon Of Cyrene The Dying Thief The Mother Of Jesus The People Of Jerusalem The Disciple Thomas Faces About the Cross: The Dying Thief Luke 23:32-43Two thieves were crucified with Jesus. One thief cursed and ridiculed Christ; the other called and reached out to...
Only One Came Back
Only One Came Back Luke 17:11-19 As I thought about what to say to you on this Thanksgiving Day, one of the things that I did was to dig back into my old history books to remind myself of the story of the first Thanksgiving. The story began well over a year before the...
It Doesn’t Take A Great Hero To Be A Great Father!
It Doesn't Take A Great Hero To Be A Great Father! Luke 8:40-42, 49-56It Doesn’t Take a Hero. That’s the title of a wonderful autobiography written by General Norman Schwarzkoff. One of the most powerful passages in the book is the text of a letter General Schwarzkoff...
Star Wars and the Gospel #2: Anikan Skywalker, Darth Vader And Jesus Christ
The Force, The Phantom Menace, And Faith Anikan Skywalker, Darth Vader And Jesus Christ Star Wars and the Gospel: Anikan Skywalker, Darth Vader And Jesus Christ Luke 4:1-13To be perfectly honest, I am preaching these “Star Wars” sermons for our son, John David, who...
The State Of Our Union: What This Country Really Needs
The State Of Our Union: What This Country Really Needs Luke 10:25-28Once upon a time, there was a little boy who had a terrible temper and losing his temper landed him in frequent trouble. His father became concerned about his behavior and decided to try to teach him...
Walking With Us In Love
Walking With Us In Love Luke 2:1-7 Familiarity breeds complacency. When William O’Dwyer was serving as the mayor of New York City, he frequently welcomed distinguished visitors to that place. On one occasion he greeted two dignitaries from South America. He asked them...
Anticipating The Joy
Anticipating The Joy Luke 2:8-20It snows in Bethlehem. I know that we do not often think of that as being true; but last year, for example, at just this time of the year they had a seven-inch snowfall in Bethlehem. Because that region stands some 2,000 feet above sea...
Preparing For Peace
Preparing For Peace Luke 1:26-38I believe in angels. Don’t think for a moment that I must have lost touch with reality to dare to stand up here in the enlightened, sophisticated age in which we are living and make what some would regard as an absurd statement. But I...
Waiting In Hope
Waiting In Hope Luke 21:35-36There is a wonderful story that comes out of Swedish folklore about a country doctor who went out to a farmhouse one night where a woman was about to give birth. As the woman went into labor, the doctor asked her husband to assist him by...
A Journey With God #5: The Gift You Won’t Want To Return
That’s What Friends Are For A Tale Of Two Sisters Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Cross Prayers The Gift You Won't Want To Return A Journey With God: The Gift You Won't Want To Return Luke 24:1-11A personal word, please, before I preach ... Easter possesses an...
A Journey With God #4: Cross Prayers
That’s What Friends Are For A Tale Of Two Sisters Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Cross Prayers The Gift You Won't Want To Return A Journey With God: Cross Prayers Luke 23:32-49I want to tell you about two men, each of whom rode into a city to die and each of whom...
A Journey With God #3: Love Means Saying “I’m Sorry”
That’s What Friends Are For A Tale Of Two Sisters Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Cross Prayers The Gift You Won't Want To Return A Journey With God: Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Luke 19:1-10Let me start with this.Let me start with this. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of...
A Journey With God #2: A Tale Of Two Sisters
That’s What Friends Are For A Tale Of Two Sisters Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Cross Prayers The Gift You Won't Want To Return A Journey With God: A Tale Of Two Sisters Luke 10:38-42Have you ever noticed how often the New Testament sets two personalities in contrast...
A Journey With God #1: That’s What Friends Are For
That’s What Friends Are For A Tale Of Two Sisters Love Means Saying "I'm Sorry" Cross Prayers The Gift You Won't Want To Return A Journey With God: That’s What Friends Are For Luke 5:17-26This last week, my dad’s incredible journey through this life came to an end....
Songs of Faith – Sermons of Grace #7: Getting Back On Top When Life Gets You Down
The Leadership Style Of Jesus Jesus Is Coming Soon-Look Busy! You Can Fail And Still Not Be A Failure The Cross: Stumbling Block Or Stepping Stone? Carpe Diem-Not A Fancy Name For A Fish Dish! Stop Stewing And Start Cooking Getting Back On Top When Life Gets You Down...
The Night The Angels Sang
The Night The Angels Sang Luke 2:1-20 If you are surprised to find a shepherd from twenty centuries past standing in this place tonight, then be assured that I am much more surprised than you. I never, ever expected to be standing in such a holy place. You see,...
Christmas … For #3: Christmas Faith For The Faithless
Christmas Hope For The Hopeless Christmas Spirit For The Spiritless Christmas Faith For The Faithless Christmas Faith For The Faithless Luke 2:15-20A decade ago, in 1987, I spent the summer studying at the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Israel. It was a...
Tales With a Twist #14: The Great Two-Handed Engine
Eyes Too Busy To See A Forgiving God In An Unforgiving World It's The Little Things That Count The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay Who Said Life Is Fair? Jesus And The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day God Threw A Party But Nobody Came! E Unum Pluribus...
Tales With a Twist #13: Sometimes Our Worst Day Can Be Our Best Day
Eyes Too Busy To See A Forgiving God In An Unforgiving World It's The Little Things That Count The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay Who Said Life Is Fair? Jesus And The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day God Threw A Party But Nobody Came! E Unum Pluribus...
Tales With a Twist #12: Better To Be ‘Called Up’ Than ‘Called Down’
Eyes Too Busy To See A Forgiving God In An Unforgiving World It's The Little Things That Count The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay Who Said Life Is Fair? Jesus And The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day God Threw A Party But Nobody Came! E Unum Pluribus...
Tales With a Twist #5: The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay
Eyes Too Busy To See A Forgiving God In An Unforgiving World It's The Little Things That Count The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay Who Said Life Is Fair? Jesus And The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day God Threw A Party But Nobody Came! E Unum Pluribus...
Tales With a Twist #4: It’s The Little Things That Count
Eyes Too Busy To See A Forgiving God In An Unforgiving World It's The Little Things That Count The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay Who Said Life Is Fair? Jesus And The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day God Threw A Party But Nobody Came! E Unum Pluribus...
Life Is Short – Pray Hard!
Life Is Short - Pray Hard! Luke 11:1-4I know you've seen the Nike commercial with the message: "Life is short—play hard." But have you seen the T-shirt which is a twist on the Nike commercial? The T-shirt reads: "Life is short—pray hard." Good advice. A couple of...
Dreaming Of A Right Christmas
Dreaming Of A Right Christmas Luke 1:26-38A friend of mine who is a psychologist told me recently that he has found the perfect formula for getting through Christmas. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, he said: "You just put your mind in neutral and go where you are...
Starburst In A Time Of Storm
Starburst In A Time Of Storm Luke 2:8-14A friend I know set out to try to make Christmas an especially significant faith experience for his family one year. And so three weeks before Christmas, he bought a manger scene to use in teaching his children the real meaning...
The Heart of a Champion #7: Go Deep
Be Strong! Keep Faith Stay Loyal Have Courage Share Christ Serve Others Go Deep The Heart of a Champion: Go Deep Luke 5:1-11It takes a lot to get me down in life—a whole lot! It happens only on the rarest of occasions. But on those rarest of occasions when it does...
Home Improvement #4: Teenagers: The People God Didn’t Create
The Commandment You Can't Always Obey What Adam Should Have Learned About Eve What Eve Should Have Learned About Adam Teenagers: The People God Didn’t Create Growing Old Without Getting Old Lessons Learned From Two Adoptive Dads The Gripes Of Wrath: Love's Number One...
What To Do When You Don’t Know What to Do #6: The Day The King Cried
Believe It Or Not Eyes Cleansed By Tears See More Clearly Sticking Your Toe Into A Sea Of Joy Jesus Died Of A Broken Heart The Man Who Came Last The Day The King Cried An Easter Symphony In Four Movements What To Do When You Don't Know What to Do: The Day The King...
What To Do When You Don’t Know What to Do #5: The Man Who Came Last
Believe It Or Not Eyes Cleansed By Tears See More Clearly Sticking Your Toe Into A Sea Of Joy Jesus Died Of A Broken Heart The Man Who Came Last The Day The King Cried An Easter Symphony In Four Movements What To Do When You Don't Know What to Do: The Man Who Came...
The Man Whose Faith Amazed Jesus
The Man Whose Faith Amazed Jesus Luke 7:1-10Lloyd Ogilvie is a great Presbyterian preacher and a good friend. He presently serves as the Chaplain of the United States Senate. Several years ago, he had quite an experience one morning as he was preparing to address a...
Christmas Contradictions #4: Glory In The Lowly
Victory In The Defeat Light In The Darkness Splendor In The Silence Glory In The Lowly Christmas Contradictions: Glory In The Lowly Luke 2:1-20It has always seemed to me that life is better measured by the breaths we do not take, than by the breaths we do take. In...
Bigger Barns Can Mean Smaller Souls
Bigger Barns Can Mean Smaller Souls Luke 12:15-21Not long ago, the Associated Press carried a story about a woman who tried to hold up a bank. The weapon? She said it was a remote control device set to trigger a bomb in her car which was parked in front of the bank....
The Shame Of A Lowered Aim
The Shame Of A Lowered Aim Luke 10:25-37Someone has said that the Parable of the Good Samaritan contains the three basic philosophies of life in this world: "beat 'em up, pass 'em up, help 'em up." Which philosophy of life is yours? Today, I would like to help us...
It’s Never Been Easy To Be A Father!
It's Never Been Easy To Be A Father! Luke 2:41-52No sermon is so bad that you can't get one good thing out of it. No book is so bad that you can't get one good idea from its pages. No movie is so bad that you can't find one good line within it.No sermon is so bad that...
Rising To The Occasion-Once And For All
Rising To The Occasion-Once And For All Luke 24:1-12Her name was Carol Johnson. She was the organist at her church. She was an outstanding musician, but she did something no organist or preacher should ever do. She overslept on Easter Sunday morning, and missed the...
Some Things We Can’t Repay, But We Can Pass Them On
Some Things We Can't Repay, But We Can Pass Them On Luke 19:1-10So many times I read something written or hear something said, and I think to myself: "Golly, I wish I had said that!" For example, I came across a series of quotes from different individuals on the...
Home For Christmas #4: When It Is More Blessed To Receive
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Home For Christmas: When It Is More Blessed To Receive Luke 2:15-20I saw a cartoon recently which...
Home For Christmas #2: The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven
Make Your Heart Christ’s Home The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven No Songs Like The Old Songs When It Is More Blessed To Receive Some Christmas Memories Home For Christmas: The Best Christmas Presents Are Wrapped In Heaven Luke 2:8-14You cannot imagine...
The Boomerang Syndrome
The Boomerang Syndrome Luke 6:32-38Peter Marshall - If ever the name of a Presbyterian preacher were a household word, Peter Marshall's name would be it. He is the best known, most admired Presbyterian of this century. His impact as a Christian in this nation was so...
The Transforming Touch #1: Taking People Where They Are And Loving Them Into Life
Taking People Where They Are And Loving Them Into Life O.J. Simpson, Jesus Christ, And Us Nobody's Born A Bigot! Chained By A String What Jesus Wrote In The Sand, He Also Wrote In Blood The Heart Inflamed The Transforming Touch: Taking People Where They Are And Loving...
Homeward Bound #11: The Dark Side Of The Good News
Life Is Forever! Reflections On The Resurrection The Promise Of The Pearl Someday Our Prince Will Come Take Me Home To My Mother You Can't Take The Sheep From The Shepherd! Life Is Uncertain, So Eat Dessert First! Facing Death Unafraid Finishing What We Start Moments...
The … of Jesus #2: The Target Of Jesus: What You Fear Most, Christ Handles Best
The Tenderness Of Jesus: What Matters To You Matters To God The Target Of Jesus: What You Fear Most, Christ Handles Best The Tactic Of Jesus: What You Count Lowly, Christ Counts Holy The Tears Of Jesus: What You Cry About Is What You Care About The Target Of Jesus:...
Mary: Portrait Of A Powerful Faith
Mary: Portrait Of A Powerful Faith Luke 1:26-35There was one line in the television commercial which I can’t seem to get out of my mind… The commercial to which I refer is the one produced by the Mercedes Benz Automobile Company. It showed a Mercedes Benz being rammed...
Christmas Has Some Wonderful Things To Say To Us
Christmas Has Some Wonderful Things To Say To Us Luke 2:8-14Have you heard the story about the young woman who lived on a large ranch in Texas? She had fallen in love with a local cowboy named Tex. She wanted to get married, but Tex was inexperienced in the world of...
A Little Faith Goes A Long Way
A Little Faith Goes A Long Way Luke 17:5-6There's a wonderful story about a large company in the Southwest which employs several thousand people. Not long ago, they were attempting to put in place a new pension plan. The only problem was that they couldn't put the...
To Belittle Is To Be Little
To Belittle Is To Be Little Luke 10:38-41Today in this church we honor our young people who are graduating from high school. Therefore, I want to speak a word today especially to those who are young. Of course, all of the rest of you who are young in spirit may listen...
On Dealing With Disappointment
On Dealing With Disappointment Luke 24:13-35Let me tell you about Phineas Taylor. The year was 1820. Young Phineas was up before anyone else in the house was awake. It was his tenth birthday and he was filled with excitement. This was the day he was going to see an...
We’re Here For Life #4: A Call To Commitment
A Call To Continuity A Call To Confidence A Call To Compassion A Call To Commitment We're Here For Life: A Call To Commitment Luke 9:23-26One of the great joys of my life is serving this congregation. I don't know that I can thank you enough for the honor I have of...
Christmas in the Carols #11: The First Noel
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
You Make a Difference #1: Total Commitment
Total Commitment Promises To Keep Priming The Pump You Make a Difference: Total Commitment Luke 9:57-62Not long ago, I was on a long uneventful flight home to Orlando. I suppose one ought never to complain about an "uneventful" flight, but in this case "uneventful"...
Tales With a Twist #1: Eyes Too Busy To See
Eyes Too Busy To See A Forgiving God In An Unforgiving World It's The Little Things That Count The Cost Of Not Loving Is Too Great To Pay Who Said Life Is Fair? Jesus And The Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day God Threw A Party But Nobody Came! E Unum Pluribus...
The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing
The Main Thing Is To Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing Luke 10:25-28 On the second Sunday in September of 1968, I preached my first sermon in my first church! Since that day, every Sunday that I preach, before I start into the service, I always spend some time alone....
Christmas in the Carols #6: What Child Is This?
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Two Women Bent Double With Trouble
Two Women Bent Double With Trouble Luke 13:10-17Today, I would like to tell you the tale of two women bent double with trouble… One of the women was named Sarah Winchester. Sarah inherited 20 million dollars. That's a lot of money under any circumstances, but back in...
His Father
His Father Luke 2:41-52What an incredible man, Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, must have been! To be sure, we know precious little about him. He was, for all practical purposes, just a bit player in the story of Jesus' birth. He appeared on the scene suddenly,...
Christmas in the Carols #4: O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Christmas in the Carols #2: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
Joy To The World Hark, The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Of Orient Are O Little Town Of Bethlehem Away In The Manger What Child Is This? O Come All Ye Faithful There's A Song In The Air Angels From The Realms Of Glory It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The First Noel...
Minor Men With a Major Message #33: Zacchaeus: Minor Men With A Major Message
The Man Who Snatched Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory The Man Who Wanted Somebody With Skin On The Man God Marked The Man Who Died With No One's Regrets The Man Who Chose The Wrong Friend The Couple Who Paid The High Cost Of Low Living The Man Who Put Profits Before...
The Most Misunderstood Mother
The Most Misunderstood Mother Luke 1:26-38Tell me who is the most famous mother in all the world? For this time and for all time, who is the best known, the most frequently mentioned, the most highly honored mother of all? Measured by any standard, there can be only...
Why Wait So Long To Begin Living?
Why Wait So Long To Begin Living? Luke 9:57-62If I had my way there are some words from the lips of Jesus which I would like to erase from the pages of the New Testament. Mind you, I wouldn't want to throw out the words we love to hear—words like "Come unto me all you...
A Parade Of Cheers And Tears
A Parade Of Cheers And Tears Luke 19:29-44Everybody loves a parade! George M. Cohan set that truth to verse when he wrote: "You won't do any business if you haven't got a band,The folks expect a street parade and uniforms so grand." And just about everybody does love...
Minor Men With a Major Message #30: The Man Who Saw It All And Said It All
The Man Who Snatched Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory The Man Who Wanted Somebody With Skin On The Man God Marked The Man Who Died With No One's Regrets The Man Who Chose The Wrong Friend The Couple Who Paid The High Cost Of Low Living The Man Who Put Profits Before...
The Promised Land Of Our Souls
The Promised Land Of Our Souls Luke 22:7-23Today we come to the Table of the Lord. What we do here is basic to the belief of all Christians. For 2000 years, all Christians, in one way or another have observed what we observe here today. The string is unbroken. Empires...
Sounds I Hear At Christmas
Sounds I Hear At Christmas Luke 2:1-7That night in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born, was a night of startling contrasts in the sounds that were heard… There were the sounds out on the hillsides and the sounds in the town; the sounds in the stable and the sounds in...
How Far To Bethlehem?
How Far To Bethlehem? Luke 2:8-16Frances Chesterton has a children's Christmas poem which poses the question: "How far is it to Bethlehem?" If we answered that question literally, we would have to say that Bethlehem is nearly 2000 years and 7000 miles away. But I...
To Live Is To Choose
To Live Is To Choose Luke 15:1-4If we ever dare to take it seriously, Communion will shake the foundations of our lives and turn us upside down and inside out. I suppose that is why some people complain about the service. They invent excuses to stay away on Communion...
The Exquisite Simplicity Of The Gospel
The Exquisite Simplicity Of The Gospel Luke 22:1-23You may have heard the story… A little boy, six years old, walked into the neighborhood grocery store and said to the grocer: "I would like to buy the smallest box of Tide you have." The grocer said: "Why do you want...
Eyewitness Good News
Eyewitness Good News Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1-8On April 15, 1920, two people were carrying a payroll in Braintree, Massachusetts. They were robbed and murdered, with $16,000 stolen. There were three eyewitnesses to the crime. While they agreed that two men had committed...
Cross Road #5: No Exit
Agony In A Garden Blind Justice In The Fox’s Den No Exit Human Cruelty And The Gentleness Of God Cross Road: No Exit Luke 23:13-25To put it mildly, Pontius Pilate was on the spot. Was he ever! He was caught between the proverbial "rock and a hard place." He didn't...
Cross Road #3: In The Fox’s Den
Agony In A Garden Blind Justice In The Fox’s Den No Exit Human Cruelty And The Gentleness Of God Cross Road: In The Fox’s Den Luke 23:6-12Today we take what I would call a slight detour on the Cross Road in order to study the encounter between Jesus and King Herod....
Cross Road #1: Agony In A Garden
Agony In A Garden Blind Justice In The Fox’s Den No Exit Human Cruelty And The Gentleness Of God Cross Road: Agony In A Garden Luke 22:39-44(For the next several weeks, we shall engage in a close examination of the final sequence of events Jesus experienced before the...