In Sermons:

Following Jesus Is An Adventure (An Easter Sermon On Luke 24)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 30, 2007

Jesus is Risen! Is that Good News? Well ... if you had been promising yourself that you were never going to get yourself into trouble with the Roman occupation forces again...

Following Jesus is an adventure. It’s not always a barrel of laughs, but it’s always an adventure. Ange has been known to muse over where her life might be now, had she not married me, and so ’married into the church’ (so to speak). We’ve reflected numerous times on how she might have had a ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Wounds Endure (A Sermon On John 20:19-29)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 30, 2007

There is a mystery in the suffering of Jesus - we know that. His wounds are special, because they are Godxs wounds for us! We know that Jesusx wounds are deeply tied to His ...

We’re in John Chapter 20 today - revisiting the story of ’doubting Thomas’. This is a familiar story. We have it read to us in church every year, though I’m not entirely sure why that is. As most of you probably know, we in the Anglican church work on a three year lectionary, which means that we ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Hosea 9 Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Oct 29, 2007

God’s judgment on unfaithfulness is unpalatable but we need to hear it.

Hosea 9.1-17 I am sure we have all met people who always seem to look on the negative. Every time you meet them they have a tale of woe to tell you. No sooner have they recovered from one illness than they have a new illness to complain about. During world war II a man called Tommy Handley’s had ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 9:1-17

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

0821 Trinity Xxi: Jesus, My Brother Was Murdered Series

Contributed by Mark Woolsey on Oct 29, 2007

My first response when I learned of the passage I am to preach on this morning was a mild, "What will I say?" Jesus healed a boy, but so what? What possible use could this be to my life? What difference does faith make?

Sermon: Jesus, My Brother was Murdered. Text: John 4:46-54 Occasion: Trinity XXI Who: Mark Woolsey When: Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 Where: Providence Reformed Episcopal Church May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In ...read more

Scripture: John 4:46-54

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Keeping The Faith

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

We have hope only because we have faith. We only hope for what we believe is attainable. And we believe, or have faith, in God because of his love for us.

(Lectionary Reading is 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 -- 9-15 is left out) Collect prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-18

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Do Your Ears Itch?

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

It seems like so many people have been revamping God’s Word lately, to make it less offensive, or more inclusive, or less intrusive into our personal behavior. Many of these people are clergy, which is even more disheartening.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) Do your ears itch? It seems like so many people have been revamping the Word of God lately, to ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

We’ve convinced ourselves that “God helps those who help themselves.” Many people believe that’s even in the Bible. It’s not. In fact, I can’t think of anything more unbiblical.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) What an awesome healing story in today’s Gospel! I’m not referring to the cure; I’m referring to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Power Of Love

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

Often we reject our role as disciples because the thought of leading others to Jesus scares us. We don’t think we know enough about the Bible, or understand enough about theology, or believe we’re good enough. And we’re right.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) As disciples we are all Christian leaders. That’s a concept we may not all be comfortable with. We ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Following Jesus Is An Adventure(An Easter Sermon On Luke 24)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2007

Jesus is Risen! Is that Good News? Well ... if you had been promising yourself that you were never going to get yourself into trouble with the Roman occupation forces again...

Following Jesus is an adventure. It’s not always a barrel of laughs, but it’s always an adventure. Angel has been known to muse over where her life might be now, had she not married me, and so ’married into the church’ (so to speak). We’ve reflected numerous times on how she might have had a ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Wounds Endure (A Sermon On John 20:19-29)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2007

There is a mystery in the suffering of Jesus - we know that. His wounds are special, because they are Godxs wounds for us! We know that Jesusx wounds are deeply tied to His

We’re in John Chapter 20 today - revisiting the story of ’doubting Thomas’. This is a familiar story. We have it read to us in church every year, though I’m not entirely sure why that is. As most of you probably know, we in the Anglican church work on a three year lectionary, which means that we ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Nowhere To Rest! (Luke 9:57-62)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2007

It hurts when we lose someone we love, and it hurts because we love them. Love and pain are never far from each other. You can’t have one without the other.

Q: Why did the Palestinian cross the road? A: We don’t know either, but if he wont’ tell us what he was doing, crossing a road without a permit, we will detain him until we find out! I was looking for a joke with a jarring ending to introduce what I consider to be a particularly jarring Gospel ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Looking Through The Eyes Of Jesus (A Sermon On Luke 7:36-50)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 25, 2007

"Do you see this woman", Jesus challenges Simon, for in truth, he’d never seen her! He’d seen the prostitute, the bit of flesh, the easy conquest,

There’s nothing I enjoy more than watching a good stoush (I‘m talking ‘boxing’ here) except perhaps participating in a good stoush. I know that some of you here share my love of the pugilistic arts. I’m also conscious of the fact though that a goodly number of you people, for reasons that I can’t ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus V Legion: A Hellish Stoush! (A Sermon On Luke 8:26-39)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 25, 2007

I do personally believe that the greatest thing that holds people back from following Jesus, and that so often holds us back from truly giving ourselves to Him, is fear.

Those of you who tune in regularly to my online forum will know that there’s been a lot of discussion lately about Christopher Hitchens’ new book, "God is Not Great - how religion poisons everything". The publishers, Allen and Unwin, had sent me a review copy that I passed on to someone else on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Faithful Servants (A Sermon On Luke 12:35-40)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 24, 2007

Following Jesus: It’s long hours, hard work, costly, and a little bit crazy, but would we ever consider changing positions and serving someone else? Not a chance!

I thought that I finally had a totally positive sermon for you today! I’ve been under rather trenchant criticism of late for repeatedly giving sermons focused on the theme of judgement and on the hard path of discipleship, and I admit that I have been looking for that text, "Come to me, all ye who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:35-40

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Hating Your Family For Jesus' Sake?! (A Sermon On Luke 14:25-33)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 24, 2007

How can we hate our parents, partners and children? It has to be the most offensive exhortation Jesus ever gave - telling us that we have to hate the ones we love th most.

As soon as I noticed that our Gospel reading today was the one that begins by telling us that we’ve got to ’hate our mothers and fathers’, I decided then and there to give my sermon today on Paul’s Letter to Philemon! No, as much as I’d like to do that, I feel I have to stick with "hate your ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican