Cloverdale United Methodist Church
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Sharing the Light of Christ
SermonsPrevious SermonsAll sermons are presented as Adobe Acrobat files.
March 15, 2009 - “First Things First”
Luke 10:38-42
Mary of Bethany
Mary was the sister who sat at Jesus’ feet and listened. Jesus says: “Martha, you are worried and troubled over so many things, but Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus is taken to the Temple, Simeon takes the child in his arms and gives thanks to God, the father and mother are amazed at what Simeon said, Simeon speaks to Mary and concludes with “and sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.”
February 22, 2009 - “Capturing the Moment”
Mark 9:2-9
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
2 Kings 2:1-12
When was that moment when God seemed so near it was like you could reach out and touch Him, hear his voice, be so sure, know that your life had been changed? Mark 1:14-20
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Jesus calls four fisherman. The journey of those who follow Jesus begins not with our decision, but with his decision to call us. Remember those fisherman that Jesus first called? The point of telling the story is to understand that the fishermen did not weigh the pros and cons of following Him as a way to advance their career or their goals in life. The point of the story was that Jesus made the decision. HE called THEM. And the call to come and follow Him was so overwhelming and compelling that they just had to follow.
John 1:43-51
1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael. God calls people to work with Him. Jesus called Philip who in turn invited Nathanael, just like Andrew brought Peter. Nathanael responded because God had gotten him ready. Still today God gets people ready to hear the call. The question could be raised – how do you know it is God calling?
January 11, 2009 -"Runners" Where are we headed
Luke 15: 11-32
It is an incredibly, unbelievably radical passage, radical new understanding of God, radical teaching about grace. It is shocking in what it has to tell us.
January 4 - “Three Men and a Baby”
Matthew 2:1-12
Matthew 2:8 - “Go and make a search for the child and when you find Him let me know, so I may go and worship him.” Author Ken Callahan in his book The Future That Has Come says that there are three longings of contemporary people: hope, compassion, and community. In the coming of Jesus and his new Kingdom these are realities.
December 07, 2008 - "Divine Nonsence"
Second Sunday in Advent
Luke 2:12
“This is what will prove it to you – you will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”
November 30, 2008 - "Falling Asleep in Church"
First Sunday in Advent
Matthew 22:1-14
Exodus 32:1-14
Philippians 4:1-9
The first Sunday of Advent,s reading is about being ready. Looking forward with expectation, preparation, and not getting caught off guard.
November 23, 2008 - "Being Thankful When Life Isn't Fair"
Thanksgiving Sunday
Matthew 20:1-16
Philippians 1:21-30
Exodus 16:2-15
“Why is God letting this happen?” we ask when things are awful. But we don’t ask that question when things are going well. When was the last time you felt like complaining to God? November 16, 2008 - "Share the Light"Matthew 5: 13-16
Promise Sunday
What an incredable privilege for Jesus to consider us the "light of the world." What an incredible tribute to his followers, what an inspiration and what a challenge.
November 9, 2008 - "Rock Solid Investments"
Matthew 25:31-46
Ephesians 1:15-23
Ezekial 34:11-16, 20-24
How we normally approach life. Do we hide and hoard or live generously and share. And how does the church approach its job in the world?
November 2, 2008 - “While Deciding Your Vote”
Revelation 17 – 18
How do you possibly find words to describe feelings? How do you put into words the joy of birth? Or any exciting moment in your life? The beauty of a sunset? The awesome images of color on trees, or standing on a high rock cliff over a river?
October 26 - "Put Out Into the Deep"
Luke 5:1-11
Mark 8:27-38
By any measure of success, Jesus was a miserable failure. Well, almost any. At least by the standards of success we know in our world today anyway. He had no wealth, no family, no business, no home, no bank account, no fancy
outfits to wear ..... So why is it then that we follow him when he calls us? October 5 - "Never Stumble Over Something Behind You"
Luke 9:57-62
1 Samuel 25
David had apparently protected Nabal’s shepherds and stock. David sent a message to Nabal, “your shepherds have been with us and we did not harm them. And nothing was stolen from them. Just ask them and they will tell you.” Also, “please receive us … and give us what you can.”
September 28 - "Sand Things"
Matthew 7:24-27
What is your life built on? Are you building your life on something that will last? Or something that will wash out from under you when the storms of life hit? That is what Jesus asks us in this little parable. Are you building you life on rock, or on sand?
September 21 - "Life is Worth Losing"
Mark 8:31-38
When Barry Minkow was a small child, his mother worked for a carpet cleaning company. Since she could not afford a babysitter, she took him to work with her – so he learned the basics of cleaning carpets. When he was older, he helped her with her work.
August 24 - “You Are a Rock!”
Matthew 16:13-20
Last week I asked “Who is God, anyway?” This week Jesus asks basically the same question of Peter …. “who do you say I am?” Peter’s answer changed his life. Jesus said something to Peter that, if he said it to us, we would argue with.
August 10 - "A Frightening Thing to Ask"
The Lord's Prayer Matthew 18:21-35 Matthew 6:12 Read this verse carefully, read it over and over again. Does it not seem to you a pretty scary thing to ask of God? Let's talk about it. August 3 - “Catching Up with Yesterday”
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:24-34
Matthew 6:11
The “ancient people” were acutely aware that their very existence every day depended on God, and on the orderly nature of the world God created. Modern people, 76% of Hoosiers a recent study shows, believe God exists at least as a mental concept. The people of ancient times took it way beyond what we are ready to go. We are so far behind in our understanding of God that we have to hurry to catch up with yesterday.
July 27 - “Seeking God’s Kingdom”
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15
This is the first in a series on The Lord’s Prayer. Jesus, in his model prayer, teaches us so much. His is an expansive Kingdom, not a limiting one. He teaches how God’s love includes everyone, and invites us to focus our lives on that Kingdom. An immediate question confronts us – do we really want God’s Kindom “on earth as it is in heaven”?
July 13 - "The Outsiders"
Matthew 9:9 - 13
Romans 4:13 - 25
Genesis 12:1 - 9
Jesus said he did not come to call respectable people,but outcasts. How does the church get it so backward? Genesis tells us God called Abraham for two reasons: to bless him, and so that Abraham could be a belssing. If you feel like and outsider, especially when it comes to church, hear the Good News!
July 6 - "A Table for All"
Luke 7:36 – 8:3
Galatians 2:15-21
We will start Pastor Paul’s third year at Cloverdale with Communion, as we remember how Jesus came with Good News for everyone!
June 22 “The Price of Peace”
Matthew 10:40-42
Romans 6:12-23
Genesis 22:1-14
Here is a phrase I’ll bet you have heard. “Anything to keep the peace.” Or “peace at any price.” Sometimes we are willing to pay too high a price to keep peace. I’ve seen situations where there was no fighting, but there was no peace either. We choose “harmony” over productive conflict. Peace over painful growth. Each of these scriptures offers us a practical suggestion toward true peace.
June 15 “FlightSchool”
Matthew 10:24-39
Romans 6:1b-11Genesis 21:8-21
I am using the lectionary, even if it is Father’s Day. There are some pretty tough things said, revolutionary things. But as I thought about them in the context of a special family day, I began to wonder, “What if He’s right?” What if Jesus has it right, and as fathers we have not taught our children some of the most important things they will ever need to know?
June 8 "Living Without Anxiety"
John 14:15-21
First Peter 3:13-22
The day we live in, no less than any other time, gives us reason to be anxious. To be afraid of the unknown. Jesus’ followers must have been terrified at the thought of moving forward without Him. But He promised them, “you will not be left alone, I will come back to you.” He made that promise true on Pentecost Sunday. When we are anxious about our lives, the greatest thing to remember is that God is always with us.
March 30 "Keep Your Fork"
Can there be good news from a graveyard? Well, there isn’t ANY news from a graveyard, is there? Not to mention good news. But our Christian faith says that the greatest good news ever sprang forth from a graveyard on Easter day.
March 21 “The First Servant” Good Friday
In the movie “The Last Emperor” a young child appointed last Emperor of China lives a magical life of luxury. From a Christian perspective Jesus changed the pattern and became the “first servant..”
There are things in life I don’t understand. On Palm Sunday I wonder how Jesus could be celebrated, but the same people turn on him in just a few days, leading to His crucifixion. This passage tells us that Jesus caused something of an earthquake in the Temple one day. Perhaps just as much He brings about an earthquake in us.
People sometimes get thrown off-guard by the seeming injustice or unfairness in the world. The question comes up “Why doesn’t God do something?” Scripture shows it is not a new question. One person, when asked, “Where is God when it hurts?” responded profoundly, “God is in YOU, the one hurting, not in it, the thing that hurts.”
We think God seems far away, far removed from our lives, until all the sudden there is a breakthrough and we are overwhelmingly aware of the presence of the Lord. Where have you found God present in your life? What were those moments when you had this “sense” that God was present and with you?
February 17 “Nic At Night” Second Sunday in Lent
God called Abraham and a guy named Nicodemus to start their life all over with him. Physically with Abraham. Spiritually with Nicodemus. At what point in your life do you need to start over? Where is God asking you to take a new look, try a new way, begin again? A great thing about the Christian faith is that it teaches us the opportunity to start life all over again. From any point in our life.
The Bible is a faith book. It tells us God created the world, why it was created, the purpose for which it was created. The Bible is not a science book telling us exactly how it was done. We need to keep faith and science distinct, and let each inform the other.
February 6 Ash Wednesday
A wonderful line at the end of the passage from John says, “We believe now, not because of what you said, but because we ourselves have heard him, and we know that He is the savior.” As we celebrate Communion, we have the opportunity to “experience Him” for ourselves.
January 27, 2008 "Kingdom Eyes: Brace Yourself"
Is this the ultimate agenda? The ultimate conservative agenda? Is this guy just nuts? Many people stil lchafe at everything he said thinking it is all a pipe dream. But millions down through the ages have found it all true by faith in Jesus.
January 20, 2008 "Kingdom Eyes: Your Call"
Matthew's 4th chapter makes it clear, if not easy. Now, as then, there is a great struggle, there is a great announcement, and there is a great calling.
January 13, 2008 "Come and See"
The Good News begins to explode among the people who discover that Jesus is the One God had promised to send. John experienced it and began to tell everyone that Jesus “is the Son of God.” Upon that news people begin to be Jesus-followers. January 6, 2008 "Facing a New Year"
God is always making things new. The Great Creator continues to create. To make something out of nothing. He invites us to be part of it. At the time of year when we talk about “resolutions” we will look at what worked for Jesus. December 2007 Sermons |
|
