In Sermons:

Diamonds In The Rough

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 3, 2021

We will explore how we are "diamonds in the rough". The biggest takeaway from today's message is that when we fully rely on God, He can turn our struggles from hurdles and obstacles into stepping stones.

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH 1 Timothy 4:10-12  For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.  (11)  These are the things you must insist on and teach.  (12)  Let no one ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:10-12

Denomination: United Methodist

"the 'god' That Can Never Be Satisfied"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 2, 2021

A sermon about trusting God.

“The ‘god’ that can Never be Satisfied” Matthew 6:24-34 Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters… …You cannot serve both God and money.” The word translated as “money” here is “mamona.” The King James Version of the Bible brought “mamona” into the English language as a new word: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Denomination: United Methodist

What Happened To Praise For The Lord?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 2, 2021

Why don't people praise the LORD as was done in past generations? An interesting question to explore.

" What Happened to Praise for the LORD?" (Pastor's sermon blog from the sermon for December 27, 2020 – Michael H. Koplitz) Psalm 148 1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

What Do The Magi's Gifts Mean Today?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 2, 2021

The gifts that the magi presented to the baby Jesus have metaphorical meaning. What do they mean today?

The story about the three magi visiting the baby Yeshua is a problematic story. If such an event took place, why is it only found in Matthew's Gospel? The idea of three magi traveling from Persia to Judea is fascinating. The narrative says that they followed the Bethlehem star. Many people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Water Is Thicker Than Blood

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 2, 2021

Water is what brings Christians together. Our baptism by water makes us all family. The bonds of the branches to the vine should be stronger than blood bonds.

The old saying that “blood is thicker than water” was being upended in this narrative. In this case, one can say that water is thicker than blood. Water is referring to the initiation rite of baptism. At that ceremony, the person being baptized with water becomes a member of the Christian family. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:31-35

Denomination: United Methodist

Guilt By Association

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 2, 2021

Have you ever been deemed guilty of something only because of someone you know or a relative? This message examines that human trait and why it is a mistake to do.

Guilt by association comes to mind when reading this narrative. Jesus was rejected as a teacher of the Word of the LORD because the culture of His day said so. The first point is that the people of the town He grew up in rejected him as a religious man because centuries of culture guided them. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Denomination: United Methodist

Revolutionary Patience

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 2, 2021

An alternate interpretation of the sower and seed parable is offered.

Binding the Strong Man – A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus authored by Ched Myers is a fascinating look at Jesus' life and His words. It is an entirely different method than the usual Christian commentaries. The story of the sower of the seed is always seen as a spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-9

Denomination: United Methodist

Spiritual Growth And Learning Is A Life-Long Adventure

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

No matter what your age spiritual growth and learning is for a lifetime. The more you investigate the more you will want to learn more.

Parables can take on many different interpretations. One way to examine this parable is that Yeshua was talking about spiritual growth. Yeshua met many people during His ministry, and they immediately followed Him. Why? They determined that Yeshua was the Messiah that the LORD had promised to His ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:26-29

Denomination: United Methodist

To Sin Or Not To Sin

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

God gave us free will to be faithful to Him or not. It is choice that we all have.

The Law of Moses was given by the LORD to the people of Israel so that the people could live with high morals and ethics. During the prophet's times, the LORD would send messages to Israel and Judea's leadership through prophets. The prophets' common thread is that the government ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-32

Denomination: United Methodist

Spiritual Warfare

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

We must band together as an army to fight the evil of Satan. Satan is roaming free in part because the church is so fractured that it cannot come together for this cause.

The church interpretation of the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6:33-44 has always been about the miracle that only Jesus could take five loaves of bread and two fish and make it feed all those people. Unfortunately, this methodology of telling people the meaning of Scripture as black and white does ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:33-44

Denomination: United Methodist

You Cannot Silence What Is Just And Right

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

Jesus healed on the Sabbath. Where in the Bible does it say that you cannot do that? The question of what you can and cannot do and when is the debate.

It is the Sabbath, and Yeshua went to the synagogue as all pious Hebrews did in His day. Mark’s author sets up the event by telling us that “they” were watching Him, observing what Yeshua was going to do. Why are they watching Him? At this point in the Gospel, the leaders of the various sects of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

What And Who Do You Believe In?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

What do people believe in today? There are many Christians that say they believe in Christ but their actions say something else. Are you showing Christ to the world?

Why would people think that a tzitzit could heal them? People in Jesus’s day were superstitious. Amulets and unique clothes were considered to have divine powers. Jesus was like the prophets of centuries earlier. These men and women could perform such things. Messianic tradition says that the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:53-56

Denomination: United Methodist

Scripture Or Tradition

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

When is it time to challenge church leadership as to whether or not they are following the Scripture? The last was 1517 and we called that the Reformation. It is time for another Reformation.

Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 7:1-13 For 2000 years, the church has been creating ordinances for the people of God to follow. Many of these ordinances are not based on biblical Scripture but on the theological beliefs developed over the centuries. For example, in the Catholic Church, a priest ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist

To Follow Or Not To Follow

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

Who do you follower? Two followers of Jesus could be discussing an issue that appears to be allowed in the Bible? An even larger question is what do you do when two pathways are before you??

The LORD gave us His Word as a guide for us to have a spotless life. There are so many rules and regulations that it is virtually impossible to live on Earth and not break a code here and there. The LORD established forgiveness into His system because He was aware that this would indeed happen. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:14-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus Came For Everyone

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jun 1, 2021

Jesus established His church to be open to all who wanted to worship Him. Why does today's not believe this? As a Jewish convert and pastor I have been on the receiving end of Anti-semitism in church.

Jesus’ attitude and language used in the narrative can be shocking to the reader. How can our Lord and Savior treat anyone in the way He is portrayed in this narrative? The pagan woman was looking for her daughter to be cured. Instead of immediately helping her, He calls her a dog, thus insulting ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: United Methodist