Jesus Gets Pestered
Jesus Gets PesteredMark 7:24-30Sunday, September 5, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa• IntroductionMany years ago I heard a divinity student from a prestigious university preach on this passage. His main point is that Jesus had to outgrow cultural biases just like the rest of us and this mother, whose child was very ill, helped Jesus to grow. But I don’t think that Jesus needed to outgrow any cultural bias, but rather this episode was a lesson in…
The Power of Words
The Power of WordsSunday, August 22, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaJohn 6:60-63Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The…
Taught By God
Taught by GodSunday August 15, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaJohn 6:44-45 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, “and they shall all be taught by God.” Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. • IntroductionIt is a wonderful complement to all educators that God is a teacher.…
Bread From Heaven
Bread From Heaven August 8, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa John 6:26-27 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food with endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on…
Some of the symbolism of Holy Communion
Some of the Symbolism of Holy CommunionSunday, August 1, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaJohn 6:53-55Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is…
The Easy Yoke
The Easy YokeMatthew 11:25-30Sunday, May 16, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction:A former Marine started a new career as a teacher. Just before the school year started, he injured his back. He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn’t noticeable. On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the most challenging students in the school. The students,…
Mary and the Great Prayer
Mary and the Great PrayerSunday, May 9, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaLuke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (repeated on Sunday, May 9, 2021, Mothers’ Day, at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa) There was a little boy named Johnny who used to hang out at the local corner market. The owner didn’t know what Johnny’s problem was, but…
Mission to Ethiopia
Mission to Ethiopia Acts 8:26 Sunday, May 2, 2021 Fifth Sunday of Easter at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: a critical moment in missions I recently read on the webpage of Wycliffe Bible Translators that they have a new process, whereby they use technology, trained scholars and linguists as well as people fluent in the target language to translate the Bible. It has greatly increased the speed of the process, so much so that the good…
The Good Shepherd
The Good ShepherdJohn 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by My own.Sunday, April 25, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa• IntroductionLloyd Ogilvie, the former Chaplain of the Senate and Pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church tells of being in the Middle East and watching a group of shepherds walk a large flock down a hillside one evening. As they got nearer each man called to his sheep and out of…
Promise
PromiseLuke 24:49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”Sunday, April 18, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa• IntroductionThe best definition of faith that I know is in Hebrews 11:6, which says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of…
Peace
PeaceJohn 20:21 “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’”Sunday, April 11, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa• IntroductionThere’s a joke about peace involving Charlie Brown and Lucy. “In the Peanuts cartoon Lucy says to Charlie Brown, ‘I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!” Charlie says, ‘But I thought you had inner peace.” Lucy replies, ‘I do have inner peace. But…