In Sermons:

"Sexual Sanity In A Morally Broken World"

Contributed by Bill Bowdle on Feb 5, 2018

Game of Human Sexuality is greatest "super-bowl" contest in our behavior. Proverbs has God's game plan for victory & shows us how to: 1 -Prepare for Temptation In Advance 2 - Know The Tempter’s Strategy to Defeat You 3 - Know the Consequences of Defeat..

========================================= Sermon: "Sexual Sanity In a Morally Broken World" Series: "Wise Living in a Foolish World" ========================================= REV. BILL BOWDLE Preached at Bethel UM Church, Bethel, OH 02/05/2011 Posted 2/6/2018 - Retired since 06/2014 Today’s ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:14-17, Proverbs 7:6-27, Proverbs 6:20-35, Proverbs 5:1-23

Denomination: United Methodist

"I Do Choose!"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Feb 1, 2018

A sermon about the radically inclusive love of Christ.

“I Do Choose!!!” Mark 1:40-45 Have you ever felt like an outcast? Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Many of us go through times in our lives when we feel like social piranhas. A month or so ago, Clair and I went to the mall. This is something we don’t do very often, but it was a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: United Methodist

Better Beginnings

Contributed by Bill Bowdle on Feb 1, 2018

BETTER BEGINNINGS for New Year help build our lives on better foundations, resulting in better endings. 1:RECOGNIZE GOD AS CREATOR (In beginning God..); 2: RESPECT GOD W. REVERENCE (Fear of God=beginning of wisdom) ; 3: RECEIVE CHRIST FOR NEW BEGINNINGS.

“BETTER BEGINNINGS” by REV. BILL BOWDLE ====================================== Retired United Methodist Pastor - Liberty Township, Ohio, Delivered this message at a nearby UMC during it's pastor's vacation on 01/07/2018 Genesis 1:1, Proverbs 9:10; John 1:1-4,12 ============= INTRODUCTION ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Is God Calling You?

Contributed by Ezekiel Ette on Jan 14, 2018

We all were called to serve God through the works of our hands and our intellect. No matter what we do, we are responding to our calling. God still calls each of us but we do not know how to receive God's message because we do not recognize the call.

The idea of calling or vocation outside of the priesthood is a protestant idea that came with the reformation. It was believed then, as at now, that we are called to different vocations in life and whatever we do is a result of our obedience to a divine plan. Therefore the carpenter was in service ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

"Can Anything Good Come From There?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 10, 2018

A sermon about good coming from unexpected places.

“Can Anything Good Come from There?” John 1:43-51 A week and a half ago I drove my mother back to Northern Kentucky. It’s a drive I have made many, many times. It’s a drive through the Cumberland Mountains of Northern Tennessee and Kentucky. I’ve driven it in the summertime and in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: United Methodist

Keeping New Year Resolutions

Contributed by Ezekiel Ette on Jan 7, 2018

When life is not going the way you want, it is human nature to review and promise oneself to redouble effort and do better. Here lies the root of the New Year resolution.

A New You in a New Year: How to Keep New Year Resolutions Mark 1 : 4 – 11 Welcome to a New Year and welcome to the first Sunday in the New Year. In the church Calendar, it is the Baptism of the Lord and the Epiphany. Today we celebrate with the Church universal the giving of the Christ child and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Denomination: United Methodist

"Heaven Torn Open"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 3, 2018

A sermon for Baptism of the Lord Sunday.

“Heaven Torn Open” Mark 1:4-11 Throughout the Old Testament, from the Fall in Genesis—forward—God is cloaked in mystery. Throughout the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness, Moses is God’s mouthpiece through whom God speaks. When the Tabernacle was set up, the Lord led the people by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Denomination: United Methodist

"Continuing The Journey"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 28, 2017

A sermon for the New Year.

“Continuing the Journey” Philippians 3:4b-15 What do you want more than anything else in the world? Is it a higher paying job? Is it a bigger house? Is it some “perfect career”? Is it to be the envy of your friends, co-workers; classmates? Is it to “know Christ and the power of his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-15

Denomination: United Methodist

"Christmas Meditation"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 21, 2017

A sermon about GRACE.

Christmas Meditation Luke 2:1-20 After reading through the Gospels and studying about the kind of companion Jesus was, and knowing what He taught about love for neighbors Mark Scandrette and his friend Joseph decided to try some experiments in radical openness to people. Riding the bus home ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist

God Is With Us

Contributed by George Durham on Dec 20, 2017

God is with us because he wants to be

GOD WITH YOU Matt.1:23 Look, the virgin shall conceive & bear a son, & they shall name him EMMANUEL," which means, "GOD IS WITH YOU." Once upon a time, a certain king was very rich & very powerful. He lived in a huge palace, & all the kings around him bowed before his might. While traveling ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

"The Humble Are Lifted Up"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 19, 2017

A sermon about humility.

“The Humble are Lifted Up” Luke 1:26-38 Last weekend, I read a post on Facebook by an old classmate from high school. It said that another classmate--named Sean Hodge--had passed away. Sean Hodge… Sean Hodge… It took me a minute or two, but I remembered Sean. I hadn’t known him very ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: United Methodist

"God Moved Into The Neighborhood"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 15, 2017

A sermon about being Christ to those around us.

“God Moved into the Neighborhood” John 1:1-5, 14 A couple of years ago on Christmas Eve, a teenager named Karla felt called to go to a nearby nursing home. She went from room to room, offering to read the Christmas story from the Gospels. After reading, she prayed with the residents and ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Rediscovering Our Sense Of Wonder

Contributed by George Durham on Dec 14, 2017

We've lost our sense of Wonder about God, & our relationship to others.

Recapturing the Wonder of Christmas: Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:6 New King James Version (NKJV) 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called WONDERFUL, Counselor, Mighty ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

"Jesus Lives In East Ridge"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 13, 2017

A sermon for a Community Thanksgiving Service

“Jesus Lives in East Ridge” Matthew 25:31-46 Some of you are involved in a Monday Evening Feeding Program, where at 4 p.m. we meet in the gym at East Ridge United Methodist Church and make sack lunches to take out to our hungry friends and neighbors. We mostly take the meals to the extended ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: United Methodist

"Righteousness Based On Love, Not Law"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 9, 2017

A sermon about Jesus' earthly father--Joseph.

“Righteousness Based on Love, Not Law” Matthew 1:18-25 What is the first image that pops into your mind when you hear the word “righteous”? Do you think of some fire and brimstone preacher with beady eyes who points his finger at sinners and declares them guilty in the eyes of an angry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: United Methodist