Bearing Good Fruit
Bearing Good FruitSunday, December 12, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaLuke 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. • Introduction: True repentance involves planning for the mindset involved indicates a change in thinking and in worldview. As such it is an ongoing part of the…
The Paths of Peace
The Paths of PeaceSunday, December 5, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa2nd Sunday of AdventLuke 2:79 • IntroductionI found this old story about peace that seems appropriate for this day in age. It goes like this: “Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great…
Seeking God and God Seeking Us
Seeking God and God Seeking Us Matthew 6:31-34 Luke 21:25-36
Partakers of the Divine Natur
Partakers of the Divine Nature Sunday, November 21, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa 2 Peter 1:4 “…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Introduction: what does growth as a person look like? Recently I read the November 16 article from the devotional classic My Utmost for His…
Going to Church
Going to Church Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Samuel 4:19-22 Sunday, November 14, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: Our need for the glory of God When I began preparing this sermon, I planned to focus on the end of the passage in Hebrews: the part that tells us to be steadfast in gathering together, as is the habit of some, in order to encourage each other, especially as we see the day approaching. The “day” meaning…
The Journey Home
The Journey Home Sunday, November 7, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Genesis 2815 “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Introduction: The people of faith on a journey to the great city. The second passage of Scripture for today is from the famous chapter of heroes…
The Party at the End of the Age
The Party at the End of the AgeSunday, October 31, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaRevelation 21:4“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”• Intro: All Saints’ DayMonday is All Saints’ Day, in which we celebrate those who have gone before us and left good examples for us to follow. It reminds…
The Journey Christ Took
The Journey Christ Took Sunday, October 24, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Galatians 3:10-14 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’)” Verse 13 Introduction One of the highlights of my childhood and early teen years were travelogues by Al Bell, who gave presentations of his journeys so vividly that I felt like I had…
Sometimes You Can’t Go Back Home
Sometimes You Can’t Go Back HomeGalatians 3:1-9Sunday, October 17, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaGalatians 3:5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?• IntroductionIn 1940 Edward Aswell, editor for the late novelist Thomas Wolfe, published You Can’t Go Home Again, a novel about George Webber, a writer who pens a best seller that makes several…
When it’s All About Trusting Someone
When It’s All About Trusting SomeoneGenesis 12:1-4; Romans 4:16-18Sunday, October 2, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa• Introduction: the boys in the flooded caveI remember, a few years ago, of a group of boys in Asia who explored a cave only to have the cave flood, trapping them deep inside. Professional divers rescued them. They would outfit the boys with diving gear, sedate them. and pull them through the underwater tunnels by rope. The boys had to…
The Long March
The Long MarchHebrews 11:10; Genesis 12:1-4Sunday, September 19, 2021 at The First Congregational church of Marshalltown, Iowa• Intro. the journey of the people of God is a journey to heaven. Or maybe it is a journey through time to return to our home.“When the world my heart is rending With its heaviest storm of care, My glad thoughts to heaven ascending, Find a refuge from despair. Faith’s bright vision shall sustain me Till life’s pilgrimage is past; Fears may vex…
The Christ
The ChristMark 8:27-30 2 Timothy 1:10Sunday, September 12, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa• Introduction: your goal in life is a person, not an accomplishmentIn ancient times the empire of Rome considered Christianity an illegal religion, so it was dangerous to be public about your faith. From what we understand of those times, if you were in a public place and you suspected that the person next to you was a Christian, you could use your big…