Sermons from 2020 (Page 2)

Sermons from 2020 (Page 2)

The Wedding Feast People Tried to Avoid

Matthew 22:1-14 IntroductionI don’t know about poorly attended wedding feasts. As a young minister I once lead a funeral for a man who died of alcoholism. He sister was there, his wife wanted to come but she had too much to drink and took the wrong train. The funeral home staff sat with the sister so she would not be the only one there to say goodbye to her brother. Today, we look at an odd parable that Jesus told…

The Chief Cornerstone

Matthew 21:42-44 IntroductionI remember a year of hospital chaplaincy training led by a former Catholic priest from Ireland named Steven. He was a wonderful guy and did a great job as our leader and teach in this program. One of his projects was a sort of group therapy in which the chaplaincy residents sat in a circle in silence until we all had “gotten in touch with tour feelings”. The feelings were often negative; irritation, sorrow, despair, anger (lots of…

Many are Called Few are Chosen

Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” • IntroductionOne of the teachings of Scripture is that, in addition to natural skills, the Holy Spirit gives people gifts to be used for the benefit of others. They include gifts such as healing and prophecy, and also hospitality and service. Some gifts are more fun and dramatic than others, and it can be tempting to envy people who have gifts…

Some Thoughts on Forgiveness

Scriptures: Genesis 50:15-21; Matthew 18:21-35 IntroductionI remember several visits with Mr. Jones, some years ago. He was an amazing conversationalist. I literally could step into his living room, sit down, check my watch and say, “hello, Mr. Jones, how are you?” Those would be the last words I would say for the next two hours. He was in his nineties and he had several decade’s worth of stories about the oil industry, and life in Ohio when he was just…

Taking Vengeance

Taking Vengeance2 Thessalonians 1Sunday, September 6, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: If justice is denied you, don’t stoop to vengeance (Romans 12:19 “beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for is it written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” [quote from Deuteronomy 32:35])One of the more difficult commands of Scripture is that if justice is denied us, we are not to stoop to vengeance. The Old Testament instruction…

Take Up Your Cross

There’s a Cost to Following ChristTake Up Your CrossMatthew 16:24-28Sunday, August 9, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaMatthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Introduction: He’s nearly 80 now, but an evangelist named Arthur Blessitt made a career out of carrying his cross. A full cross, with a wheel attached at the base for ease of transport,…

More Thoughts on Intercession

Some More Thoughts on IntercessionDaniel 9:2-7; 1 John 5:16-17Sunday, August 2, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa IntroductionLast week I spent some time talking about intercession and felt it warranted a few more thoughts on the subject. Whole books have been written about what Scripture teaches about how to pray and how to pray for other people. We are told specifically to pray for people in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2) that we have peace in our lives.…

Some Thoughts on Intercession

Some Thoughts on IntercessionSunday, July 26, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaRomans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession…

People Are Interconnected

People Are InterconnectedMatthew 13:24-30Verse 29 But he said, “No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.”Sunday, July 19, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa IntroductionI remember once, years ago, volunteering in a hospital for the poor in the Boston area that held a number of people suffering from AIDS, all long gone by now. During that time I had a conversation with a nurse in which I mentioned that I…

The Nation

The Nation Sunday, July 5, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Zechariah 9:9  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Introduction: John Adams I’ve long had an interest in history, especially the American Revolution. I know such subject is not to everyone’s interest, but it has never…