In Sermons:

Blessings And Judgements – The Symbolism Of The Fig Tree

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 26, 2021

The fig tree event as Jesus walked to Jerusalem can be viewed allegorically as the balance between blessings and judgment. The FRUIT is the blessings and we certainly can always use blessings.

Blessings and Judgements – The Symbolism of the Fig Tree Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 11:12-14 12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Funeral Sermon Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Oct 25, 2021

“I am the resurrection and the life. ... everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25). Martha believed it ... and I hope and pray that when the New Jerusalem is ready and Jesus commands all who believe in Him to awaken from their sleep that you are there too, amen?

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem … to die … when He received word that His friend, Lazarus, was sick. Jesus’ reaction was strange. He didn’t rush off to Bethany to heal His friend. “This illness does not lead to death,” says Jesus, “rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-6, John 11:28-32, John 11:38-44, John 14:1-3

Denomination: United Methodist

Heaven And Earth Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Oct 24, 2021

The cross reminds us that God doesn’t intend for this fallen world, with its death, disaster, and corruption, to be our home forever.

Weather! It’s everywhere, amen? Duh … pretty obvious. We’re surrounded by it. No matter where you go, you’ll encounter … weather … and it has a pretty big impact on our lives. We wake up in the morning and look out the window or turn on the radio or TV or go on our computers and look up the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 46:10-11, Genesis 6:5-6, Exodus 19:11, Exodus 19:16-18, Luke 13:2-5, Psalm 29:1-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

"greed"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 20, 2021

A stewardship sermon.

“Greed” Luke 12:13-21 In our Gospel Lesson for this morning, Jesus is starting to gain a lot of followers. He is becoming influential. Crowds are surrounding Him and hanging on His every Word. Most people view Him as being a Jewish Rabbi and it was normal, back then, for Rabbi’s to settle ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus Is Your Number One Fan

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 19, 2021

Passion week is like watching a sports team have a good start to the season, then it goes sour, but in the end, they win the championship games. Jesus is your #1 fan who will never leave you no matter what you do.

Jesus is your number one Fan Mark 11:1-11 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 1 As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, 2 and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist

The Patent On Parenting And Grandparenting

Contributed by Julia Cramer on Oct 17, 2021

Practical Advice on Parenting put in Acrostic form to aid in easy understanding and retention.

The Patent on Parenting and Grandparenting What’s the best way to know if you are a parent? Admitting that sometimes you wash with baby wipes in the morning to save time. It’s driving around at 3 am in the morning, listening to soft Christian music, so little Johnny will finally fall asleep and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Denomination: United Methodist

Out Of The Whirlwind: Born To Trouble Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Oct 16, 2021

What job encounters in our text this week is a god who overwhelms and transforms him, even in the depth of his pain.

There’s nothing wrong with once in a while leaving the place of worship awestruck. It would become tiring on a weekly basis, but now and then, it is good to tremble at the threshold of the throne of God. I wonder this morning Wesley Does anyone come to worship expecting to encounter the living ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:1-11, Job 38:31-41

Denomination: United Methodist

"james And John Call 'shotgun!!!'"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 12, 2021

Jesus calls us to be radically different than the world.

“James and John Call ‘Shotgun!!!’” Mark 10:35-45 Did anyone else grow up calling “shotgun” when heading toward the car you were about to ride in? If you called “shotgun”, you got the privilege to sit in the passenger seat in front, next to the driver. And the first one to call shotgun got ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: United Methodist

Bitter Complaints: Born To Trouble Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Oct 10, 2021

Job speaks his prayers out loud in our text for this week. He shares his brokenness and mostly his feeling that God is not listening any longer.

MAIN TEXT: In a way, a lot has transpired between last week’s reading and this one. In another way, nothing much has changed. Job is still on the ash heap. Job is still iN A place of bitter complaints. The companions who sat in silence with Job for seven days (2:13) now try and blame Job for his ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:1-9, Job 23:16-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Praise God Because You Love Him

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 10, 2021

Why do we praise God? We do this to demonstrate our love for what God has done, is doing, and will do for us. It is a sign of appreciation

Praise God Because You Love Him Revelation 19:1-7 Michael H. Koplitz I think that one of the most challenging jobs out there is being a parent. If I were to rate the two parental jobs, being the mother or the father, I think being the mother has to be the toughest. I know as a father that I would ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:1-7

Denomination: United Methodist

The Cleansing

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 10, 2021

This is an outline for a sermon based on Revelation 18-19:10. Do you need to cleanse your sou from the sins of the world? If so you must do it now.

Sermon Outline Revelation 18-19:10 Michael H. Koplitz 1. ‘Theological Method’ – used to read scripture as defined by Helmut Thielicke – modified. • Recognizing that the Bible has been given directly to me from God. • Understanding what God is saying to me. • I must become involved with God’s Word ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

Watch Out For Evil Doers

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 10, 2021

Evildoers surround us. Believers in Christ have the Holy Spirit, which helps us to avoid evil doers. They will lead you to sin if you allow them.

Watch Out For Evil Doers Revelation 17 Michael H. Koplitz When Andrew was much younger, he decided he wanted to play baseball. The first year that he played baseball was actually tee-ball. In the second year that he played in the West Manchester township league, the coach from each team would ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

All Mine Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Oct 10, 2021

The “false prophet” or “Antichrist” will perform great signs and will deceive the inhabitants of the earth, including bringing peace on earth … but that “peace” will come with a price.

[Play “Imagine” by John Lennon.] Wow. Sounds like “Heaven on earth,” doesn’t it? “Nothing to kill or die for” … “No need for greed or hunger/A brotherhood of man” … “Imagine all the people/Living life in peace … Sharing all the world … And the world will live as one” ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 13:11-17, Genesis 10:8-9, Revelation 13:2-4, Revelation 13:7-8, Daniel 2:39-45, Daniel 2:31-36, Daniel 2:27-28, Genesis 11:3-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The First Rapture?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 10, 2021

Is there a rapture in chapter 14 of Revelation? Sometimes we read something into the Scripture because church tradition decided it was there years ago.

The First Rapture? Revelation 14 Michael H. Koplitz Chapter 14 brings us to a point where I need to explain a common problem in biblical studies. It is called harmonizing. When we read a story in the Gospel of Mark, it is normal for us to recall what the other gospels say about the same story. ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Modern Beast

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Oct 7, 2021

What are some modern-day Satan's? Let's start with greed, which multiplies into the wealth of all kinds. Sometimes the beast is inside of us. We must learn to control our inner beast.

Modern Beast Revelation 13 Michael H. Koplitz In the thirteenth chapter of the book of Revelation, we come to read about two more beasts who will plague the earth. We left chapter 12 with the dragon, who is Satan, being hurled out of heaven and Satan’s vow to attack those who love God and follow ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist