Sermons on Matthew
Building a Life
Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Sunday, November 19, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa I think that we build a life over the course of years that we have on this earth. All that we say and do on a daily basis contributes to that life, which,…
Watch
Sunday, November 12, 2017 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Matthew 25:13 Used again November 12, 2023 Gardening is a war of attrition. Weeds have developed means of surviving almost anything, and if there is even one small tip of a root left in the ground, it will grow back. It is said that people who are retired make the best gardeners because they can go out there every day. It doesn’t matter how often the weeds come…
God Does Not Let Go
Sunday, August 20, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Matthew 15:21-28 Today’s passage is one of the more awkward moments in the narrative of Scripture. Jesus and His disciples are in hostile territory and a person keeps bothering them. So much so that Jesus says some things that don’t seem polite, and that runs counter to our image of the Lord Jesus, who we envision as someone who is always proper and never says anything out of…
Why We Do VBS
Why We Do VBS Sunday, July 23, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 24:32-35 Introduction: VBS is hard. Why is it worth it? Every year, the biggest and hardest project takes place in the Summer, usually near the end of July or the beginning of August. It is Vacation Bible School. Starting tonight, and going through Thursday night, upwards of 60 children from the church and neighborhood will gather for skits, music, games, snacks…
The Greatness of God
The Greatness of God Matthew 14:22-33; 1 Kings 19:9-18 Sunday, July 9, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: A husband and wife were having a bad day. They were arguing a lot until the wife got fed up and said to just write her a note if he really wanted to talk to her. He agreed, so for the rest of the day they passed notes here and there. At night the husband left a note…
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 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,…