In Sermons: showing 76-90 of 125

The Importance Of Being Forgiven Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Feb 19, 2004

Forgiveness and the need we have to give and recieve God’s forgiveness

Ernest Hemingway starts his short story, “Capital of the World” by describing Madrid Spain. He says, there is a Madrid joke about a father who took out an add in a local paper which asked his son, Paco, to meet him in front of the newspaper office. And told him that “all was forgiven”. According to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 6:12-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Do You Need? Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Feb 19, 2004

Semon on the issue of needs and determing what "needs" are.

Did you see the clip before worship from Bruce Almighty? I would imagine that this is just how most of us would respond if we were faced with answering all the prayers of…say North Portland between I-5 and Portsmouth. If you didn’t see it Bruce gets fed up with answering millions of prayers and so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Who's Your Daddy Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Jan 20, 2004

Fatherhood of God and the foundation for all our prayers

Richard Nixon enjoyed family dinners with his daughters Tricia and Julie; JFK enjoyed having his children play in the Oval Office while he worked. FDR and Eleanor had six children; President Harding had a daughter with Nan Britton and President Van Buren had four sons. Yet all of these “fathers” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-12, Hosea 11:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sharing Our Heroes Super-Stories Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Dec 8, 2003

Learn how to take small steps in sharing the wonderful news of God’s love with those close to us

It seems that the news media plays a role in the lives of many of our make-believe superheroes. From the Daily Planet from which the editor Perry White chronicles Superman’s latest exploits to the editorial pages of J. Jonah Jamieson who bitterly denounces the actions of Spiderman. Even on TV you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

So Who's Your Favorite Superhero? Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 26, 2003

Learn to give thanks for a superhero too wonderful for words

Those of you here earlier will know the answer to this but try to guess who I’m talking about. From an idyllic place this father sends his son to a world in which he would be alone, seen as strange and in which no one would understand him. The son, on earth lives with his adoptive parents till ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11, 2 Corinthians 5:19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Simon Says?

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

Following the Leader isn’t always quick or easy

Simon was busier than he should have been. He had an important dinner coming up and was running short of time as he made the preparations. Sitting arrangements, making sure there was enough food, servants and the like all taxed him to the nth degree. He was going to have this preacher/miracle ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Give To God? Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

We give out of what Jesus has done for us

Generosity isn’t always as generous as it might seem. There is a story out of Miami, Florida about six Royal Palm trees that had been vandalized and cut down along Miami’s Flager Street. Due to the expense involved in re-placing them Dade County wasn’t how soon if ever they would be replaced. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:1-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sharing Our Gifts And Talents Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

documentary a religious leader was asked what they believed the future of their people would be. This is what she said. “Everyone’s become materialistic, that’s what bothers me most. We do everything for money…if we don’t change what’s on the inside, sp

We’ve been looking at the concept of “hearing God” and how that happens. We started with a “no brainer” that said we had to take the time to listen to God as we prayed. We took steps to try to change our understanding of prayer from our giving God commands to us hearing Christ’s instructions. We ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 7:15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Spiritual Or Being Spirit-Filled?

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

John Calvin said, “The Holy Spirit brings no new doctrine, but teaches that which was uttered by Christ’s own mouth, and imprints it in our minds.” Our interesting times would like us to believe that truth is relative. This isn’t really that new. Pilat

General Assembly is meeting in Louisville this Trinity Sunday. And as those elders and ministers pray, worship, gather and debate the crucial issues for this denomination each and everyone of them is seeking the Holy Spirit to present to the church God’s will. I want you to understand that the ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Listening With Our Eyes Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

Jesus’ words lead if we will listen

One of the top three needs for human beings is to find a place where they fit in. It can be called by fancy terms like self-affirmation, identity or sense of belonging but it boils down to finding a place where they feel at home. In the world in which we live there are a lot of places that want ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Marks Us As Christ's Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

Our love isn’t defined by our world, our parents, or even our own feelings but by Jesus’ life. We love one another the way Jesus loved us. What does this mean? Let me give you four marks that you can remember if you can spell the word LOVE.

If I describe various people could you identify the group they belong to? The first are saffron-colored robed men working over a sand painting in the Library downtown? (Followers of the Dalai Lama) What about two guys on bicycles, white shirts, ties and little black badges on their pockets? (LDS) ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Set Your Dial To God... Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

to hear God we have to tune into God and this means being where God is at.

Imagine a dozen radios all on different stations, playing at the same time. What image comes to mind? Mind numbing noise, mass confusion or perhaps the inability to think clearly, well you’d probably be right. Now imaging trying to listen for your favorite song in the mix of noise. Imagine ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:10-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eating Dinner With Jesus

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

Jesus isn’t content to enter our lives and leave us alone so we can do what we want. He’s not even satisfied with a few moments of our day or a couple of hours on Sunday mornings. He enters our life in order to be in charge. He comes in to make changes

D oing something beautiful for God is, for Mother Teresa, what life is about. Everything, in that it is for God, becomes beautiful, whatever it may be; ... Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity provide a living witness to the power and truth of what Jesus came to proclaim. His light shines ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:14-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Practical Lessons From Impractical Parades

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

Entering Jerusalem Jesus teaches us much

I magine that most of us have been to the Rose Festival Parade at some time in our lives and sat along MLK and waited for the floats and bands to come along. Some of us have gotten there just before it started. Others have purchased seats from which to view it and still others of us have spent the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sharing Our Lord With Joy Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

Seeing the Unseen Christ allows us to delight in introducing others to Jesus

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area I got to see both the Giants and Niners play from time to time. Because of that I was in the park when Willie Mays stroked homers to right-center field at Candlestick. Nothing gave me greater joy than watching Montana put together a last minute drive and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed