Every Word
Every Word Matthew 4:1-11 Sunday, February 26, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Matthew 4:44 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ “ We are dependent on a trustworthy God Introduction Perhaps one way to look at this passage before us today is to consider the value of authority. No one should be placed in…
Up on a Mountain
Up On a Mountain Sunday, February 19, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Matthew 17:1-9 Introduction: Climbing the hill beside the high school in Kellogg, Idaho to get a bird’s eye view of the village below. During the years that I lived in Idaho, I made use of a trail by the high school that went up into the foothills of the surrounding mountains. There was a place at the top of one hill that afforded…
Cherish Relationships
Cherish Relationships Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Matthew 5:23-24 Sunday, February 12, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Introduction: relationships The Lord Jesus seemed to place a higher value on relationship than some people. …
The Message of the Cross
The Message of the Cross Sunday, January 29, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Isaiah 29:13-16; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Introduction: The Cross is Offensive to…
In the Same Mind and Judgement
In the Same Mind and Judgment Sunday, January 22, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV) 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Introduction: The scorpion and turtle-it is in my nature to…
Called to be Saints
Called to Be Saints 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of the Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. Sunday, January 8, 2023 at the First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: Hebrew national hot dogs-dedicated to a higher calling. I remember trying a hotdog years ago that had the…
The God who was Faithful to the Defeated
Called to Be Saints 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of the Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. Sunday, January 8, 2023 at the First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: Hebrew national hot dogs-dedicated to a higher calling. I remember trying a hotdog years ago that had the…
Light
Light Isaiah 52:7-10; John 1:1-14 John 1:4-5 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:9 “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. Sunday, January 1, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction In our passage in John, we learn about Jesus as the “true light which gives light…
Watchers – Christmas Eve
Watchers Luke 2:8-14; Daniel 4:13 Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: Is it worth buying a baby monitor? Earlier this week I did a Google search on the importance of a baby monitor, and this was the response I found. “ Baby monitors are considered an essential tool for most parents of little ones. After all, it’s simply not possible to keep an eye on your baby 24/7, and having…
The Least in the Kingdom
The Least in the Kingdom Matthew 11:11 Sunday, December 11, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction C.S. Lewis is alleged to have written that if we were to mee the simplest, humbled most ordinary soul in the Kingdom of Heaven they would be so august and radiant that we would be tempted to worship him. The heavenly destiny of a disciple of Jesus is to be even greater than the angels and we know that…
Preparation for the Kingdom
Preparation for the Kingdom Matthew 3:1-12 Sunday, December 4, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Intro: John the Baptist Prepares the Way One of the highest, dearest goals for a Christian is to grow spiritually, to learn more, to engage God in prayer on a deeper level, to become more like the Savior whose Name we claim. We want to grow in our awareness that there is a Kingdom of God that is yet to come,…