In Sermons:

Jesus' Legacy Of Love (Sixth Sunday Of Easter May 5, 2024)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on May 4, 2024

Jesus' commandment to love one another was a legacy to Jesus' disciples then as much as it is also a legacy to Jesus' disciples today and in every generation.

JESUS' LEGACY OF LOVE Text: John 15: 9-17 John 15:9-17  I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love.  (10)  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  (11)  "I have ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Where Can I Put My Stuff?

Contributed by Ken Sauer on May 1, 2024

A sermon about priorities.

“Where Can I Put My Stuff?” Luke 12:13-21 In a monologue, a comedian talks about our obsession with the accumulation of material possessions, and the modern anxiety for which it is both the cause and result: “You got your stuff with you?” he asks his audience. “Guys have stuff in their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Make A Big Splash

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 30, 2024

If the church wants to become well known in its town or area it needs to become known as a solver of a local problem that no on else has tried to solve.

Make a big splash Luke 4:31 – 37 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Luke 4:31 And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:31-37

Denomination: United Methodist

A Eulogy For A Young Person Who Died Of A Drug Overdose

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Apr 28, 2024

Perhaps this can help those trying to come up with something to say in devastating circumstances.

A Eulogy for a Young Person Who Died of a Drug Overdose God brought Ware and Maggie Hart to Red Bank United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, TN a year or two before the Pandemic, and we immediately became close. Ware is the only person who has ever referred to me as Rabbi. At Ware’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:16-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Don’t Shoot The Messenger

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 23, 2024

Why do people today act like the people described in Luke 4:13-30 when Jesus addressed the synagogue?

Don’t Shoot the Messenger Luke 4:13-30 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16 And He came to Nazareth, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:13-30

Denomination: United Methodist

Everyone Needs A Savior

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Apr 17, 2024

A sermon about Jesus' love that lays down its life for us.

“Everyone Needs a Savior?” John 10:11-18 Who can we trust? I mean who can we really, really trust? We’ve got politicians who are willing to say and, in some cases, do just about anything to get our vote. And how about corrupt preachers and evangelists who are out to steal the money of their ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: United Methodist

How To Survive Satan’s Attacks

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 16, 2024

Jesus' temptation in the desert gives us ways to fight off Satan's attacks

How to survive Satan’s Attacks Luke 4:1-13 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist

How Shall We Live

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Apr 15, 2024

how do we deal with Doubting Thomas, a disciple and a man whose insistence on tangible proof serves as a beacon of realism amidst the fervent belief of his peers.

How Shall We Live SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B ”When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: United Methodist

How Shall We Live With The Blues

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Apr 15, 2024

Psalm 4 confronts the reality of existential weariness and challenges within the church and leadership, urging a return to the Blues sensibility that acknowledges suffering and seeks faith, peace, and hope in God's promises amid life's storms.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B How Shall We Live With The Blues Easter is such a joyous, colorful, and vibrant celebration! Now in Eastertide, this second Sunday after Easter this third Sunday of Eastertide, Christ is still risen! The Creation is still waking up! This Sunday provides us with ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Hope For Troubled Hearts

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Apr 10, 2024

Trusting in Jesus is the only true cure for a troubled heart.

“Hope for Troubled Hearts” John 14:1-14 Over the past few years, I have heard this phrase used to describe what’s going on around us: “The world is on fire.” You and I are living through an extraordinary period of global conflict. In Europe Russia and the Ukraine are in the midst of one of ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-14

Denomination: United Methodist

The Blood Church Warning

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 9, 2024

Families that use biology to determine membership should realize by now that they wrote their epitaph. We need to create a SPIRITUAL family, not a biological family.

The Blood Church Warning Luke 3:23-38 Rabbi Dr. Rev. Michael H Koplitz Luke 3:23 aWhen He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:23-38

Denomination: United Methodist

"let Me Tell You What Love Can Do"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Apr 2, 2024

A sermon about the transforming and never-failing love of Christ.

“Let Me Tell You What Love Can Do” John 21:1-19 Let’s go back three years before our Gospel Lesson for this morning. Jesus had gone out and selected 12 men. They were your average everyday kind of guys...and Jesus found them doing your average everyday kind of things... ...and when Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: United Methodist

How Can We Relate To Jesus Baptism?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Apr 2, 2024

What do I do as a newly baptized Christian? This also applies to Christians who have become apathetic. They need to think about what their baptism meant. For Christ it meant to go out to do God's work.

How can we relate to Jesus baptism? Luke 3:21 – 22 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H Koplitz 21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:21-22

Denomination: United Methodist

Return To Sender.

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Mar 29, 2024

let us take a moment to ponder the depth of these words. Not tomorrow, not next week, not in some distant future, but today! During our trials, our tribulations, and our struggles, Jesus offers us immediate access to paradise, to the very presence of God Himself.

RETURN TO SENDER. And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”"Luke 23:43, ESV. Brothers and sisters, today we gather in the presence of the Almighty, holding onto the promise that resonates from the lips of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In the midst of agony ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:43, Psalm 23:6

Denomination: United Methodist

"what Are We To Make Of This?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 25, 2024

A sermon for Easter morning.

“What are We to Make of This?” John 20:1-18 Several years ago, National Geographic put out a map of the history of the world, and it was a Big Map! Anyhow, on this map, the history of the world or the history of civilization was divided up into two categories… …and the dividing line or the ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: United Methodist