My Word
My WordThird Sunday of Lent March 20, 2022The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaIsaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth, it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”• IntroductionI remember, some years ago when I lived in Idaho, that a young man aged around fourteen years came to a youth group meeting and I struck up…
The Exodus
The Exodus Luke 9:31 and other Scriptures Sunday, March 13, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa “And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” Luke 9:30-31 Introduction This morning’s sermon is called “The Exodus” and if follows that use of that word long after the actual event in which the people of Israel left 400…
When Satan Tempted the Lord Jesus
When Satan Tempted the Lord JesusLuke 4:1-13; Psalm 91:1-12Sunday, March 6, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa • Introduction:The root of temptation is, I believe, that notion that we can be our own gods. We don’t need the real God and we can hold that God accountable to meet our needs without us being accountable ourselves. This seems to be the mindset of a particular group of scientists, at least according to a joke I found online:“One…
Transfiguration Sunday
Guest Pulpit: Bob Spilger
Children of the Most High
Children of the Most High Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” Sunday, February 20, 2022 at the First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: The man who hated the story of the Prodigal Son. This passage is further on in the “Sermon on the Plain”, Luke’s…
The Beatitudes
The BeattitudesJeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 6:17-26Sunday, February 13, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa• Intro. it is better to have a few good friends than many friends who are shallow.Several years ago, when I was working at a summer camp in Ohio, a young man asked me for some advice about friends. He wasn’t that popular in school, and it bothered him. I inquired about the friends that he did have, and he told me of a few.…
Of Wineskins and Old Clothes
Isaiah 6:1-8 Luke 5:36-39
Humility Before The Lord
Jeremiah 1:4-5 Luke 4:21-28 *Video is a little choppy, audio is good*
Give the Sense
Give the Sense Sunday, January 23, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Nehemiah 8:8 Introduction: the little girl asks “why” A pastor, after the church service was over, found a bulleting with several comments in the “notes” section written in the hand of a young lady in 5th or 6th grade. Here are a sample of her many comments: “Why is the sermon so long? Why is it so boring? Why? Why does it take forever? …
Water Into Wine
Water Into WineSunday, January 16, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaSecond Sunday after EpiphanyJohn 2:6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. • Introduction: wash your hands“Cleanliness is next to godliness” is an old saying that I would hear from time to time during my childhood. All the adults would impress upon us kids the importance of washing our hands…
Gifts For Jesus
Gifts for Jesus Sunday, January 9, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaMatthew 2:1-12; Ephesians 3:1-7 Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. • Introduction: I am a bad gift giver. Every year the Christmas season reminds me that some people are good gift-givers.…