Sermons from 2023 (Page 3)
SHARED gIFTS
Shared Gifts 1 Corinthians 12:12; Numbers 11:24-30 Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa I’d like to begin with a story about a delivery person, and I will explain why in just a minute. The story goes as follows: “Around 2004/2005, I lived alone in New Jersey without a car. I ordered from the local pizza place pretty much every other night. Delivery was usually done by someone in a beaten up car, or…
The Last Thing He Did Was Bless
The Last Thing He Did Was Bless Luke 24:51 Sunday, May 21, 2023 The Seventh Sunday of Easter at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: after graduation, a new chapter for a person Across the country people will be graduating from high school or college or something similar and it is almost always the end of a chapter and the start of a new chapter in a person’s life. For high schoolers, it is the end of taxpayer…
Hearing the Voice of God
Hearing the Voice of God Sunday, May 14, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa 1 Samuel 1:8-18; Luke 1:35-38 The Sixth Sunday of Easter Introduction I started putting together this sermon with the idea that I would feature two women in the Bible who heard the voice of God, and hopefully draw some inspiration from them that we can relate to our own life experience. What I found is that attitude is vital when it…
A Shared Baptism
A Shared Baptism Acts 2:36-41; 1 Peter 1:17-23 The Third Sunday of Easter, April 23, 2023, at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction Baptism is universal in the Christian church. Many years ago, I watched a documentary showing a baptismal service in an Orthodox church in Bulgaria, I think. I’m not sure of the location nor of the tradition of the church. There were eight or nine sets of parents with their infants, so perhaps the priest…
At the Right Hand of God
At the Right Hand of God Acts 2:33; John 20:19-31 Sunday, April 16, 2023 The Second Sunday of Easter at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: St. Stephen sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God just before he is martyred. Acts 6-7 tells the story of one of the first deacons of the church, St. Stephen, who was a person filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. God did miracles in answer to his prayers…
Newness of Life
Newness of Life Romans 6:4 Therefore we were 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. Resurrection Sunday, April 9, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Life does not always seem “new.” Very soon churches around the world will celebrate Resurrection Sunday, or Easter. As the highest day of the church calendar,…
Into this Shared Work
Into This Shared Work John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 19, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction You can have a couple of guys in high school…
Into This Shared Grace
Into This Shared Grace Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-11 The Third Sunday of Lent, March 12, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Introduction The first image that came to mind when I read this passage…
A Multi-Generational Journey
A Multi-Generational Journey Romans 4:1-5; Genesis 12:1-4 2nd Sunday of Lent March 5, 2023 at The First Congregational Church of Marshalltown, Iowa Introduction: The Japanese motel that has been in continuous operation since 703 AD, run by the same family for 53 generations. Imagine that you are an employee at a local motel. It’s not a bad job, but there is no sense of tradition or destiny to it. The motel is not family owned and it is not…
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…