Sermon Central
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Turn, Turn, Turn
Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 1, 2009 (message contributor)
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1. Turn Aside And Look
Contributed on Mar 1, 2009
We so often live with tunnel vision. But if we turn aside and look at what God is doing, we will find an experience that will not end, a mission that will direct our lives, and a presence that will never leave us.
I confess to a malady known as “tunnel vision”. Tunnel vision is being able to see only what is straight ahead, as if I were going through a tunnel, and there is nothing to see on the sides, only the light at the end of the tunnel. Tunnel vision is not so much a condition of the eyes as it is of ...read more
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2. When Life Turns Sour
Contributed on Mar 15, 2009
When life turns sour, tell yourself the truth, complain to God, and He will deliver. Message focuses on Dylan Thomas’ poem, "Do not go gentle into that good night; rage, rage against the dying of the light."
On a warm spring evening in 1952, at his home in Swansea in Wales, David John Thomas lay on his deathbed. Once a soldier who had fought in the Second World War, later an English teacher, Thomas had become very frail in his later years. There was no doubt that he would die soon. There was no ...read more
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3. A Rebuke Turned Back
Contributed on Mar 22, 2009
Jesus turns from silence about His achievements to open speaking about His death. He will not follow the ambition path, the pleasure path, or the easy spirituality path.
You can admire Jesus, you can think well of Jesus, you can even love Jesus. But you cannot domesticate Him, you cannot tame Him, you cannot make Him sweet and nice and pretty. He is who He is and He says what He says, and sometimes it’s hard to take. In my experience, just about everybody out ...read more
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4. Turn Around Or Turn Out
Contributed on Mar 30, 2009
Dramatic monologue as if Paul were speaking: a farewell address, focused largely on Philippians, but drawing from much of the Pauline literature. A play on Paul’s name: Pray, Avoid, Understand, Love.
Paul, servant of the Gospel, to all the saints in Gaithersburg: grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am ...read more
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5. The World Turned Upside Down
Contributed on Apr 5, 2009
An adaptation of the Seder service: Jesus turns upside down all our common values: sorrow for slavery becomes sorrow for sin; common issues become community; and wandering becomes salvation, all through the Cross.
When great crowds gather in city streets, it is either for a celebration or for a revolution. Throngs do not come together without a purpose; they come together either to celebrate a great occasion or to agitate for what they want. They come to see evidence of a world turned upside down. In ...read more
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6. To Us He Turned
Contributed on Apr 9, 2009
Maundy Thursday message, designed to be interwoven with verses of "When I Survey ..." and with the elements of Communion. Jesus turns to us to interpret the power of wounded healing.
TO US HE TURNED: REVELATION “Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!’” This is a private moment. To the disciples He turned and spoke privately. There are some things not meant for the public arena, some things intended only ...read more
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7. Pain Turned Into Joy
Contributed on Apr 12, 2009
It seems unreal that pain could be turned into joy. Yet pain is the very stuff of joy. It will come, not instantaneously, but completely. The risen Christ proves this, and can transform our disappointments, disillusionments, and shame into joy.
“You will have pain, but y our pain will turn into joy.” That brings back memories of the doctor’s office and that giant needle moving ever closer. “This will hurt a little bit.” A little bit! When you are a year old, it hurts a lot, and there is no joy in it. No, I do not remember being one ...read more