Sermons by Dan Vellinga (Page 10)
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…
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…
The Spirit is Willing
The Spirit is WillingMark 14:38 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa IntroductionI stopped making New Year’s Resolutions many years ago, mainly because the resolution to stop making resolutions is the only resolution I have kept. I remember, years ago, resolving to become more organized so I bought a datebook that came with a “how to organize your life”…
Honor from the Father
Honor from the FatherSunday, March 21, 2021Fifth Sunday of Lent at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaJohn 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”• Introduction: The Remains of the DayThere’s a famous novel about a man who was the butler to a wealthy British nobleman, a duke or an early or something, who labored for years under the…
God Our Savior
God Our SaviorSunday, February 28, 2021Titus 3:5 “…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,…” Introduction: You don’t have to…you get to…Look at all the good works mentioned in this letterI remember some friends in Spokane, Washington who always encouraged their friends to do good by considering the opportunity to do something good something to cherish. “You don’t ‘have to”,…
From Life to Life
From Life to LifeFebruary 14, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa2 Kings 2:1-12 Introduction: upon meeting someone importantThis time, ten years ago, I was working as a chaplaincy resident at a large hospital in Toledo, Ohio. One of the most embarrassing moments that whole year was when I was asked to attend a meeting with top level doctors, administrators and nurses with a family who lost someone recently at the hospital. During the course of the meeting,…
Why Jesus Came
Why Jesus CameHebrews 2:17 “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”Sunday, February 7, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: Mark Twain toward the end of his life wrote a story, The Mysterious Stranger in which the ending has people awaiting word from an angel about forgiveness for…
Saul At En Dor
Saul at En Dor1 Samuel 28:13-15Sunday, January 31, 2021 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa IntroductionPeople try to somehow contact the dead, and interest in spiritualism has been longstanding. It was widely practiced in ancient times, yet worship of ancestors continues to this day in some parts of the world. I remember the wealthy couple who donated the estate that became the University of St. Mary on the Lake. It includes the tomb of their only son, who…