Sermons on John
Authority
Authority John 6:1-21; Ephesians 3:14-21 Sunday, August 4, 2024 11th Sunday After Pentecost First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction Ma Lucado wrote this story about the power of authority that comes from within and from who the person in authority is. “In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy…
Believing and Seeing
Believing and Seeing John 20:24-31; Romans 10:14-17 Sunday, April 7, 2024, The Second Sunday of Easter at the First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction Today’s reflection is called “Believing and Seeing” and it notes that the order of faith and trust that our Lord Jesus prefers is the opposite of what is commonly done in the world, and what probably should be done in the world. There is, after all, a place for doubt in life. There’s a story…
The New Covenant
The New Covenant Resurrection Sunday March 31, 2024 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 6:44-45 Introduction: Citizenship, Marriage, Congregational Covenant important in Congregational Churches cf. the Mayflower Compact. A few years ago I visited several government websites to see, on a lark, how easy it would be to immigrate to and become a citizen of another country. Canada did not want me, though if I learned a trade they might change their minds. Switzerland…
I Am
Exodus 3:13-15; John 8:53-58 Sunday, September 3, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa I recently read about a discussion a pastor had with the church office manager about his sermon for the next Sunday. It’s title, “Jesus was the Greatest” and the office manager took exception to it and suggested that he change the title. The pastor was confused. What was wrong with it? It seemed to be grammatically correct and the Lord Jesus certainly loomed large…
At the Right Hand of God
At the Right Hand of God Acts 2:33; John 20:19-31 Sunday, April 16, 2023 The Second Sunday of Easter at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: St. Stephen sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God just before he is martyred. Acts 6-7 tells the story of one of the first deacons of the church, St. Stephen, who was a person filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. God did miracles in answer to his prayers…
Into this Shared Work
Into This Shared Work John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 19, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction You can have a couple of guys in high school…
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…
He Kept the Scars
He Kept the ScarsJohn 20:19-22; Genesis 2:7Sunday, July 31, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa • IntroductionThere was once a famed football player named Ray Nitschke, who was a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. He was famous for his tough and aggressive play and eventually ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nitschke once lost several teeth in a very physical football game. Afterward he was found wandering around the field, looking for his…
The Word Made Flesh
The Word Made Flesh John 1:14; Revelation 21:1-3 Sunday, July 3, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction pilgrims vs. settled and belonging Today’s sermon is the first in a series that touches on the Biblical truth brought forward by the events of the birth of the Lord Jesus, honored every year on Christmas. The first hymn for today was the Battle Hymn of the Republic, sung in honor of the founding of our nation and…
The Spirit of Truth
The Spirit of TruthJohn 16:12-15Sunday, June 12, 2022, at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa • Introduction: Reaching back to find the right connection for a loose cable in the tv system.I find that when I have to reach back behind the television/vcr/dvd system to reattach a loose cable, being able to see complicates things. It can be easier to simply close my eyes and go by touch rather than try to crane my neck and look back or…
Jesus Prays For All Believers
Jesus Prays For All BelieversJohn 17:20-26Sunday, May 29, 2022 In certain parts of the Bible God is depicted as building a structure using people instead of stones, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. Jesus reflects this in the complex prayer that He offers as the role of a great High Priest. In it He speaks of us being One as He and the Father are One, which is baffling to me in that there is a word in the…