Sermons from January 2022

Sermons from January 2022

Give the Sense

Give the Sense Sunday, January 23, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Nehemiah 8:8   Introduction: the little girl asks “why” A pastor, after the church service was over, found a bulleting with several comments in the “notes” section written in the hand of a young lady in 5th or 6th grade.  Here are a sample of her many comments:  “Why is the sermon so long?  Why is it so boring?  Why?  Why does it take forever? …

Water Into Wine

Water Into WineSunday, January 16, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaSecond Sunday after EpiphanyJohn 2:6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. • Introduction: wash your hands“Cleanliness is next to godliness” is an old saying that I would hear from time to time during my childhood. All the adults would impress upon us kids the importance of washing our hands…

Gifts For Jesus

Gifts for Jesus Sunday, January 9, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, IowaMatthew 2:1-12; Ephesians 3:1-7 Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child  with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. • Introduction: I am a bad gift giver. Every year the Christmas season reminds me that some people are good gift-givers.…

The House of God

The House of GodJanuary 3, 2022 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa1 Chronicles 17:3-10; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 • IntroductionI once saw an advertisement for a gym membership that included the words, “the body is a temple.” Did the ad writers know what that phrase meant? I don’t know, but it is, like many catchy phrases, taken from Scripture and touches upon destiny, community, and the influence we have on one another. And it all started with a question…