In Sermons:

Easter Joy

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 14, 2021

Easter Joy is the joy felt when realizing the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Easter Joy Psalm 30 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Let us begin by my asking you a question. What brings you the most joy in your life? (Pause) That does not seem on the surface to be a difficult question, or is it? You may have many joys in your life that may immediately come to mind. Perhaps it was ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

I Met Him And He Gave Me A New Heart Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Apr 11, 2021

Saul’s conversion into Paul is an example of the fact that no one is too far from God or too far beyond God’s reach or God’s power to save, to transform a person, and give them a new heart … a heart for Him alone.

Today, doctors can literally give you a new heart … well, new to you at least. It once belonged to someone else. Someday medical science may be able to give us a mechanical heart … but I truly believe that only God can give you a change of heart. When I say that, I’m not talking about this ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9, Galatians 1:12, Acts 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Living In Community

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 9, 2021

How did the people in today’s text handle their material things and wealth? Did they withhold any resources? Today we will look at the greed, grace and how strong their grip is in our lives.

LIVING IN COMMUNITY Acts 4:32 – 35 Acts 4:32-35  Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.  (33)  With great power the apostles gave their testimony ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35

Denomination: United Methodist

A Living Hope For Our Future

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 8, 2021

Peter tells us that we receive Living Hope through the resurrection of Christ. What is this living hope all about?

A Living Hope for Our Future 1 Peter 1:3-5 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Peter's letter starts with a doxology. A doxology is a short hymn to praise God. Imagine if we began all of our conversations, whether written, oral, or electronic, with praise to our God? We would be invoking the Holy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Denomination: United Methodist

"we Had Hoped..."

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Apr 7, 2021

A sermon about the Road to Emmaus and beyond.

“We Had Hoped…” Luke 24:13-48 All four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are absolutely consistent on this one thing: no one believes the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection when they first hear it. No one. And that includes Jesus’ own disciples, the ones who were closest to Him and spent ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-48

Denomination: United Methodist

I Met Him On The Cross Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Apr 4, 2021

The Perfect Lamb of God can and will make you into a new creation by the power of His blood and He will do this because He wants to be with you in your heart and in your life in the here and now … and He wants you to be with Him in Paradise forever.

The three men struggle as they carry their cross beams through the Jerusalem streets. Two of them wear signs around their necks that say “kakourgos” (kaw-coor-gos). The third prisoner lags behind … beaten and broken and so badly torn up that someone has to help Him carry His cross beam. His ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-43

Denomination: United Methodist

Life After Death Easter 2021

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Apr 4, 2021

“Life After Death” “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” –Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–68) Acts 10:34-43. The Message

Sermon: The first Easter was a wrecked scene of dispirited disciples in the shadows of an insurrection. This year Easter falls on April 4, the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. That early spring evening in 1968 was ten days before the Feast of the Resurrection. In 2021, the second ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

Denomination: United Methodist

Christ Is Risen!

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 1, 2021

Why don't people say "Christ is Risen" on Easter anymore? There is more concern about their Easter parties than on Jesus' resurrection. We cannot allow society to steal Easter from the church like it did with Christmas.

Easter Sunday 2021 Christ is Risen! Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz (Romans 6:4) It was not that long ago. I remember joining my young family for Easter worship, and I heard people greeting each other in an unfamiliar way. I thought that on Easter, you would greet someone by saying "Happy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:4

Denomination: United Methodist

"looking For Life In All The Wrong Places?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 30, 2021

A sermon for Easter Sunday.

“Looking for Life in All the Wrong Places?” Luke 24:1-12 The women come early in the morning with the spices they have gotten ready for anointing Jesus’ dead body. Why do they do this, do you suppose? Why bother? I suppose they are doing it for the same reasons we have viewings and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

"from Fear To Faith"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 29, 2021

A sermon for an Easter Sunrise Service.

“From Fear to Faith” Matthew 28:1-10 Let’s all think about this for a second? What are you afraid of? What is your biggest fear? What causes you, at least every once in a while, to wake up in the middle of the night, heart racing, mind going a million miles an hour? What is that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

"god's Power Found In The Cross"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 29, 2021

A sermon for Good Friday.

“God’s Power Found in the Cross” Matthew 27:27-56 The cheering crowds from Palm Sunday are gone. Now Jesus is alone, nailed to a cross, dying. The robbers crucified with Jesus cruelly mock Him. Those who pass by hurl insults at Him and shake their heads, as do the religious authorities who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-56

Denomination: United Methodist

I Met Him When I Had No Choice Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 28, 2021

Jesus stands before Pilate. It seems that Jesus is being swept away by the events surrounding Him but the TRUTH is that Jesus is the only one in control. It is Pilate and the Jewish leaders who are being swept up in a battle that they cannot see or control.

Governor Pilate stood on the balcony of the praetorium, his headquarters, and looked down at the mobs milling around in the streets below. “Ugh!” he thought. Jewish pilgrims, priests, vendors, thieves, rebels, beggars, prostitutes … rabble! … all crammed into Jerusalem’s narrow streets … and it ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40, Luke 23:13-15

Denomination: United Methodist

The Cross Of The World

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 26, 2021

The cross of Christ is a sign to His then followers and us today to take the message of the Gospel out to the world. Jesus' ministry was mainly to the Hebrew people who the LORD sent Him to first. Through the power of the cross and the Pentecost the world of the Gospel must be taken to the world

The Cross of the World John 12:31-36 Rev. Dr. Michel H. Koplitz Today we need to start or chat at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. We can read in the Gospels that Jesus was first sent to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus Himself tells us this in several different places in the Gospels. When we ...read more

Scripture: John 12:31-36

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus On Trial

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 25, 2021

Jesus stepped into a maelstrom and was brought before a court that was losing some of its power and was uncertain about its future given Rome’s growing power and the increasing fear and rising tension amongst the Jewish people.

I love the Gospel of Mark … well, I love all the gospels … but Mark reminds me of Joe Friday from the 1950s TV series “Dragnet.” Some of us older folks remember Sargent Friday’s famous signature line: “Just the facts.” Mark’s gospel is terse and to the point. He gives us “just the facts” and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:53-65

Denomination: United Methodist

The Doubting Thomas In Us

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 24, 2021

In this passage .... Thomas ... is struggling with his lack of faith. .... I want you to think about how the Gospel of John mentions Thomas in three different ways, Thomas the courageous believer, Thomas the inquisitive and Thomas the doubter.

THE DOUBTING THOMAS IN US (Easter season) Text: John 20:19-31 John 20:19-31  When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: United Methodist