In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 344

Barriers

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 28, 2013

Instead of removing barriers to faith, Jesus erects them. Why?

The story we have read together today is surprising in many ways. The way Jesus handles this situation is confusing, because some of the things Jesus are saying are upsetting his followers, and it seems that he does not make it easier, but harder for them. Our natural instinct is to take down ...read more

Scripture: John 6:44-69, Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Methodist

Role Reversal

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 4, 2013

A look at who "got it" when Jesus came and who did not. What you would expect is not what happened.

Role Reversals Luke 8:4-9 Think about it for a moment. If you knew nothing about all the stories of the Bible, especially the New Testament stories about Jesus, who would you expect to be the most enthusiastic and welcoming to the idea of God visiting planet earth? Who would be those most ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:19-23

Denomination: Methodist

The Will Of God

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 20, 2013

Understanding the difference between the sovereign will of God, the perfect will of God, the permissive will of God and the ultimate will of God.

On November 30, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School, had its security protocol upgraded, requiring visitors to be individually admitted after an identification review by video monitor. The school had 456 children enrolled in kindergarten through fourth grade. The doors to the school were locked ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Methodist

Blindness & Light

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 6, 2012

Who is blind and has sight in the story of Jesus healing the blind man?

A recent article reported, “The blind will be able to see the light with a new bionic eye implant which is said to be available within 2 years. The development of the bionic eye will at last restore blind people’s sight. The prototype high tech implant will be fitted to approx 50 to ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Christianity, Jesus Style

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 23, 2012

What is a true Christ follower?

A few years ago I was driving to the Adirondack Mountains where I would spend a week in the Whitney Wilderness area. My canoe was on top of the car, my backpack and other equipment was in the back and I was set for the long trip to upper state New York. Driving that far is a little boring so I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Forgivenss Of Sins Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 2, 2012

What is forgiveness and who is forgiven?

On September 8, 1974, President Gerald R. Ford granted a full pardon to former President Richard Nixon. From that point on Nixon was legally forgiven. All investigations and indictments were ended. Eight days later Ford granted amnesty to all those who had avoided the draft illegally, as well ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Communion Of The Saints Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 17, 2012

The benefit and necessity of being a part of the life of the church.

I believe in the communion of the saints. The words sound strange, and you may ask, “Who are the saints?” Are they the ones we see in some churches that are made of plaster standing on little shelves around the walls? Are they the ones whose image people wear around their neck or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Holy Catholic Church Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 10, 2012

The church of Jesus Christ is catholic, i.e. "universal". All of every age, race, and station stand in need of the means of grace which it alone supplies.

The most misunderstood part of the Apostle’s Creed is the phrase we are considering today. I have had sincere people tell me that they do not repeat this part of the creed because they think that it means the Roman Catholic Church, and if they had wanted to be Catholics they would have ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-19

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe In The Virgin Mary

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 13, 2012

What is the significance of the virgin birth.

I believe in the Virgin Mary. That may sound like a strange sermon title for a Protestant, but actually it is quite important. It is important to believe that there was such a person in history, that she was the mother of Christ, and that she was a virgin at the time of his birth. In fact, this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 8:22-31

Denomination: Methodist

Choosing To Do The Right Thing

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 16, 2012

A look at various approaches to making ethical decisions.

When I taught an ethics course, as an adjunct, at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, I started the class by talking about the fact that moral decisions are at times exceedingly complex. Black and white categories do not work very well in the real stuff of life. To demonstrate this I used an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Methodist

What’s It All About?

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 19, 2012

What is life meant to be and how was it meant to be lived?

This past week we heard about the death of Whitney Houston, one of the most talented and most beautiful women who has ever lived. I thought she was a wonderful person in many ways. She absolutely had it all: talent, beauty, wealth and the adoration of the world. We still don’t know about ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Methodist

The Gift Of Intercession

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 12, 2012

The important place of prayer in the Christian's life.

The Scripture this morning contains two entirely different stories which seem unrelated, but, in fact, have much the same message. The first is an early meeting of Jesus with Peter, James and John before they became disciples. They had worked all night with all the skill of professional ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

A Higher Power

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 30, 2012

Is there a real, personal Satan and a kingdom of evil against which we are in spiritual combat?

Today we are looking at a rather remarkable story of Jesus as he leaves Nazareth and goes to Capernaum. As is his habit, he goes to the synagogue to teach. Again the people are amazed. But Luke tells us that the reason the people are amazed at Capernaum is not because of his gracious words, but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:31-44

Denomination: Methodist

The Ladder

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 15, 2012

The experience of Jacob at Bethel, and what it can mean today -- God still extends his staircase down to us at unexpected times.

The story of Jacob and his brother Esau is a tangled one, filled with deceit, intrigue and animosity. Esau despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a pot of stew. Jacob then deceived their father and got him to bless him as the ruler and chief heir of the family. So tensions ran high ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Methodist

Truth

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 8, 2012

A sermon on the importance of truth: Its reality, the ability to know it and the difference it makes.

At one point in the history of the world, truth was very important and people sought to know truth and thereby gain wisdom. It used to be that people who searched after truth were called “lovers of wisdom”: Philosophers (phileo meaning to love, and sophos meaning wisdom). Today, philosophers are ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Denomination: Methodist