Sermons from 2020 (Page 3)

Sermons from 2020 (Page 3)

The Established heart

The Established Heart Sunday, June 21, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IA 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” Introduction: First Congregational Church was established in 1868. Many other organizations, businesses…

The Appointed time

The Appointed Time Sunday, June 14, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too heard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Introduction:Esther, born for such a time as this. Ephesians, to do the good work that is set forth before you. The Old Testament Book of Esther is the story of a young Jewish woman who…

Some Thoughts on the great commission

Some Thoughts on the Great CommissionSunday,  June 7, 2020Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Introduction: mission statements I recently read part of an article about mission statements, popular with churches and businesses alike. It turns out that some companies haven’t done a great job with their mission statements. For example, there’s McDonald’s. “McDonald’s brand mission is to be our customers’ favorite place and way…

Stand your ground

Stand Your Ground Ephesians 6:13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.   Introduction:  Many of us, I suspect, had to read Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters, a classic collection of poems that chronicle life and scandal in a small midwest town.  I liked the book overall, though I’m not sure if Masters ever wrote anything else to match it. …

Pray against temptation

Pray Against TemptationSunday, May 17, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Luke 22:40 “When He came to the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’” Introduction: I recently found a story about a man who is part of the “While Helmets” brigade in Syria, working to help people caught in the crossfire of that terrible civil war. The story, in “buzzfeed.com” included the following description: “On July 11, 2014, a barrel…

More Than Overcomers

More Than Overcomers Sunday, May 10, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Romans 8:37  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. John 16:33  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. 1 Samuel 17:45-51  David and Goliath   Introduction: My irrational fear of flight and the…

An hour in the garden

An Hour in the GardenSunday, May 3, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaLuke 22:41-42“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’” • Introduction Actually Jesus, spent more than one hour in the Garden of Gethsemane that night, but His experience tells us that even He found the choice…

How To have success

How to Have SuccessJoshua 1:7-9Sunday, April 26, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa IntroductionWhen I was a boy, I would sometimes listen to a speaker on the radio that my father recommended. His name was Earl Nightingale and he was a motivational speaker of sorts. The only thing I remember specifically from him was that he was the first person to tell me that I should “plan my work and then work my plan”. It turned out…

What prophecy looks like

What Prophecy Looks LikeSunday, April 19, 2020 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaActs 2:31 “…he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.”Isaiah 44:28 “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem ‘You shall be built,’ and to the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” • Introduction:Ralph Waldo Emerson, in one of his…

Newness of life – Easter Sunday

Newness of Life Sunday, April 12, 2020  Resurrection Sunday at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”   Introduction Today is the anniversary of the Resurrection of Jesus, celebrated by Christians around the world.  Some theologians have interpreted the story of the Resurrection…