In Sermons: showing 106-120 of 312

The Gift Of A Savior

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Dec 23, 2013

A sermon for Christmas Eve. The gift of a savior we celebrate at Christmas is that the birth of this baby is a sign that in the midst of all our fears, God is yet at work fulfilling God's promises and making this world a better place.

This past week, I watched little LuLu cautiously approach Santa Claus during the Fairview Christmas meal. Now, LuLu is past that age of squalling uncontrollably when seated on Santa’s lap. But as those of us at the Fellowship Meal observed this week, she is still a little bit uncertain, if ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Denomination: United Methodist

The Gift Of Peace

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Dec 18, 2013

Peace is a gift made possible by Jesus Christ, but if we are to truly experience peace, it requires that we follow the path to peace, the example that Christ has set for us.

This past Monday morning, news broke that there was a bomb threat on the Harvard campus. This happened after I was already out of the house and settled into my office for the day. But I just happened to call my Mom about something else right after the news broke. After I had finished talking to her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

Denomination: United Methodist

The Gift Of Joy

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Dec 12, 2013

After the angel announced to Mary that she was to give birth to Jesus, she was full of complete joy, anticipating God's new work in the world through Jesus. This is a joy we can experience as well as we continue to watch God's work unfold in the world.

Can you tell when someone is in a good mood? What’s the “give-away”? Maybe you see the person smiling, or perhaps they have a little extra “spring” in their step. I can tell when Ken is in a good mood because he starts singing; whatever is in his head is what comes out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-56

Denomination: United Methodist

The Gift Of Love

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Dec 4, 2013

The coming of Christ at Christmas was God's most extravagant declaration of his love for us, a love that should change each of us and the way we love.

One of the most profound and lasting lessons I learned in seminary was in my Systematic Theology class, as we were “unpacking” the meaning and significance of the Holy Spirit. I can remember so vividly my professor saying, “There are many ‘spirits’ in this world. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:15-20

Denomination: United Methodist

The Gift Of Hope

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Dec 4, 2013

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all hope, and thus a

One of the best things about Christmas, in my opinion at least, is the sense of anticipation that comes with it. We see it most readily among little children, who follow the “Elf on the Shelf” around the house from day to day, and carefully craft their Christmas wish lists, and eagerly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Not Of This World

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Nov 18, 2013

Christ's kingship and kingdom are far different from our worldly expectations about kings and kingdoms.

How many of you are aware that today marks the end of the year? Don’t worry, you’ve still got 30 shopping days before Christmas, but today does in fact mark the end of the Christian year. And next Sunday, as we begin our Advent celebration, we begin a new Christian year. I suspect that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: United Methodist

After The Storm

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Nov 14, 2013

The trials we face, though difficult, refine us and draw us closer to God in such a way that we love God even more and cannot help but praise him.

How many of you have ever been to a “Third World” or “developing” country? And while you were there, were any of you able to observe the educational system? What did you see? In 2005, I had the opportunity to travel to Uganda on a two-week immersion experience through my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 12:1-6

Denomination: United Methodist

Not Afraid To Be Seen

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Nov 6, 2013

Experiencing Christ's full salvation means more than just meeting Christ, it means allowing Christ to transform our whole lives.

A few years ago, I was on staff at a relatively large downtown church. I observed something in my time there that I had never encountered at any other church. For lack of any better way to describe the rather disturbing trend at this church, I’m going to call it “resume members.” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

What Makes A Saint?

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Oct 31, 2013

A sermon for All Saints' Sunday.

Imagine with me for a moment what it would look like if we were to come up with a set of Beatitudes for the 21st century. What if we made a list of the kinds of people who seem to be well-off; who seem to have it made by today’s standards? It might go something like this: Blessed are the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:20-31

Denomination: United Methodist

Is There Faith On Earth?

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Oct 16, 2013

Though the parable of the widow and unjust judge is difficult to hear, Jesus' lessons on the urgency of faith continues as he wonders, "When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on earth?

For the last two weeks, we have learned along with the disciples as Jesus has taught about faith. And what we have learned, in essence, is that we are not made “Christian” by the amount of faith we have, but by a faith that is focused on God and lived out in gratitude to God and others. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Faith And Gratitude: One And The Same

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Oct 9, 2013

The story of Jesus' healing of the 10 lepers reminds us that one of the greatest expressions of faith is gratitude before God in Christ Jesus.

I imagine that most of us had that childhood experience where every request was followed by the question, “What do you say?” And then, once we received whatever it was we were seeking, our parents would follow-up with, “Now, what do you say?” Of course, this was our training ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: United Methodist

The Root Of Evil, The Key To Life

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Sep 25, 2013

The difference between "life" and "death" is the focus of our love. Do we love the things of this world that are fleeting, or do we love the eternal God? It makes all the difference.

Mary Ellen is on a little kick right now. At least, I hope it’s a “little” kick and doesn’t go on for too much longer. She has decided she wants a horse. She’s been talking about wanting a horse for quite a while, but what had been just moderate interest reached ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Denomination: United Methodist

With Great Privilege, Comes Great Responsibility Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Sep 19, 2013

As disciples of Christ, we have an obligation to

Let’s talk about this woman, Esther. And I actually want to start today, at the end of her story. Were any of you able to read through Esther this week? If so, then you know that the ending of the book seems a bit strange. Here’s how it goes, “Certainly, Mordecai the Jew was ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Life-Giving Companions Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Sep 5, 2013

When we are faithful to God, God will be faithful to us, and amazing things will happen!

Many of us are quite familiar with the story of Job. In the Bible, Job is the guy God chooses to prove to Satan the faithfulness of God’s followers. The result is that God repeatedly “tests” Job, making his life extremely difficult, in order to show Satan how he remains faithful ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

That's Gonna Leave A Mark! Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Aug 21, 2013

The story of Deborah remind us that the key to winning the victory over struggles in our lives is to listen to God and heed what God says.

We come this morning to one example of what I consider to be the most difficult part of the Bible to understand. So I’m just going to name it for what it is, right up front. This scene of Deborah calling members of the Israelite tribes into battle is just one story among many of the seemingly ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist