In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 27

I've Got Joy?

Contributed by Carla Powell on Dec 22, 2007

This sermon was preached on Gaudete (Joy) Sunday (3rd sunday in Advent). I wasn’t feeling very joy-filled, though I felt called to preach on joy (and used that hesitancy as part of the sermon focus). It’s my best "grumpy sermon on joy" ever.

It’s been a rough couple weeks for me. My wallet was stolen last Wednesday. My step-grandfather died – two days ago. I woke up feeling sick and lost my voice - yesterday. Almost got stuck in the snow last night. Had to park around the corner and traipse home in the deep snow with the wind whipping ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Random Acts Of Kindness

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

Uses Biblical story of the Sheep and the Goats to talk about the way to live out kindness and love in life. Presents three stories of "random acts of kindness" done by people.

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Let me tell you a true story about kindness between two very different people who lived far away from one another: Beverly Powell (no relation), a cleaning lady from New Mexico, read a story in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Lutheran

Home By Another Way

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

An Epiphany sermon - explores the way that we are changed after we meet the baby in the manger, just like the "wise men" were. (also makes reference to the James Taylor song of the same title)

Grace be to you and peace from the One who was and is and is to come. Amen. As the story goes, the Magi in our gospel lesson had seen a star at its rising that they interpreted as announcing the birth of a king. Magi may have been dream-interpreters, astrologers, or astronomers, but not likely ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Rejoice Always

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

Sermon highlights joy in the midst of pain, defines the Latin word Gaudete. Reflection on the difference between joy and happiness.

Grace be to you and peace from the One who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. Today is the third Sunday in Advent, which was historically called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for ‘rejoice’. Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday, if we had a pink candle in our Advent wreath, that we would light the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-20

Denomination: Lutheran

A God Who Camps With Us

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 8, 2003

Sermon focuses on John 1:14, using the translations the word became flesh and "tabernacled" or "set up camp" with us. (Good for use in a camping setting or a location where many hearers are familiar with camping.)

Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. How many of you would call yourselves “campers”? Yes, several of our members disappear for varied weekends throughout the summer to spend time at a campsite. But let me get more specific here. How many ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14, John 1:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

What's The Big Deal About Angels?

Contributed by Carla Powell on Oct 2, 2002

Written for St. Michael and All Angels Sunday, this sermon explores the biblical purpose and role of angels. It does not highlight one particular text, but uses a broad biblical overview to confront the popular notion of a fluffy, harp-playing angel in fl

Today we celebrate the festival of St. Michael and all angels, known in some other countries and traditions as Michaelmas. Michael, the archangel, is mentioned in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, as well as other Bible-time writings that we do not consider to be part of our Bible. This ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2, Psalm 35:5-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Confrontation

Contributed by Carla Powell on Oct 2, 2002

Uses Matthew 18 to address the best way to approach interpersonal church conflicts.

An amusing news story from Wales told of a feud in a church looking for a new pastor. It read: “Yesterday the two opposition groups both sent ministers to the pulpit. Both spoke simultaneously, each trying to shout above the other. Both called for hymns, and the congregation sang two -- each side ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Having Fun With Jonah

Contributed by Carla Powell on Oct 2, 2002

A re-telling of the entire story of Jonah, but with a twist.

This sermon was given without notes, so the text may differ somewhat from the actual preached word. I asked the people to help me as I read the story of Jonah from the Bible, to raise their hands whenever they heard something that differed from the story as told in the Bible. This sermon works ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Sum Of All Fears

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jul 20, 2002

Looks at fear and why we shouldn’t be afraid. Tom Clancy’s movie is used as the title, and little else.

Just a few weeks ago, the movie "The Sum of All Fears" was released. This movie plays on the fear of international hostility, and allows our favorite Tom Clancy character Jack Ryan to save the day once again. The movie title though, seems to hit on a very timely topic these days: fear. Even though ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Slaves Either Way...

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jul 20, 2002

St. Paul tells us we’re going to be slaves, but will we be slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness (draws heavily on some Martin Luther quotes).

As we approach Independence Day, I hear more and more conversations talking about what freedom means. In 1941, FDR identified four essential freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of each individual to worship God in their own way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Today some people suggest ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-23

Denomination: Lutheran

Worthless Weeds

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jul 20, 2002

Using Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares, this sermon looks at the miraculous way weeds can turn into wheat when God’s in charge.

Around Timothy Lutheran, there are a number of you who have incredibly green thumbs. You know how to identify plants and what the different flowers look like. You know how to coax flowers and vegetables from seeds planted in the soil. Some of you are quite amazing when it comes to the garden. And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Panic Room

Contributed by Carla Powell on Apr 20, 2002

References the movie "Panic Room" (Jodie Foster). Recalls the disciples’ reaction to hide out in a locked room after finding the tomb empty. The "Panic Room" can be both a safe haven and a well-fortressed prison.

"Panic Room" - Easter 2A April 7, 2002 - John 20:19-31 This week I saw the newly-released movie "Panic Room". In this movie, "Jodie Foster plays a wealthy single mom with a teenage daughter. They buy a fancy brownstone in NYC that has a ’panic room’, a fortified hi-tech room in the center of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Made Known In The Breaking Of The Bread

Contributed by Carla Powell on Apr 20, 2002

Involves the congregation in some immediate community-building, as well as inviting them to see the face of Jesus on their brother or sister. Explores the corporate role of "communion".

Easter 3A - April 14, 2002 "Made Known In The Breaking of the Bread" - Luke 24:13-35 Grace and peace be to you from our Lord and Savior, who is made known to us in the breaking of the bread. On that first Easter day, two of Jesus’ followers were heading away from Jerusalem toward Emmaus. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Lutheran

We Are The Church

Contributed by Carla Powell on Apr 20, 2002

Explores the four images of church/Christians in 1 Peter 2: infants, living stones, priests, chosen people.

Lectionary Texts for 5th Sunday of Easter - April 21, 2002 "We Are The Church" - 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14 [Okay-say it with me…]"Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people." That little kids’ rhyme and fingerplay holds some truth to it. The church is your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:2-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Running From Your Baptism

Contributed by Carla Powell on Mar 2, 2002

Exploration of traditions of adult/infant baptism, and discussion of how we respond to our baptism. Do we run from it? Or do we turn toward God who is always turning toward us?

Baptism of our Lord (A), January 13, 2002 "Running from Your Baptism" Today we hear about Jesus’ baptism as an adult. This baptism was the beginning of his official ministry, sort of his inauguration or commissioning as it were. John was baptizing people at the Jordan River as a symbol of washing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran