Sermons on Ad Orientem:

Forcing People To Be Good, Can It Happen? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 15, 2021

It’s alien to Christ’s life and law of love to force compliance. One cannot and may not try to force sanctity or even basic justice on another.

Sophomore year in high school. We were assigned to study world history at that time, and we were using a Christian textbook, which rightly saw Jesus Christ as the center of all history. We even date years before and after the birth of Christ, even though the time line is about 3 years off what was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15, Mark 12:30-31, Matthew 19:20-22, 1 Timothy 6:8, Genesis 1:25-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Parable Of The Pounds.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 28, 2021

Faithfulness, the economy of heaven.

THE PARABLE OF THE POUNDS. Luke 19:11-27. A notorious collaborator, who had been both a tax-collector for the occupying enemy and a thief, had just had his life turned around by Jesus. ‘This day is salvation come to this house,’ announced Jesus. ‘For the Son of man is come to seek and to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Shema.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Oct 30, 2021

The Shema is said twice a day by the Jews. It was important to Jesus because it covered all the 10 Commandment in an easy way to remember and apply them to our lives. They are easy to learn and God uses them to either accept our offerings and sacrifices or not. This isn't salvation.

Sermon Title: The Shema. Scripture Text: Mark 12:28-34 Illustration: I was teaching the Senior Youth. I told them I could say the 10 commandment without saying them without memorization. Can you? In our text today, as usual, they were trying to trip Jesus up to entrap Him. Asking ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Grace

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Apr 6, 2024

The text tells us that Grace was upon them all and lets is look at what Grace has done.

Grace was upon them all Acts 4:32-35 1. Despite our bad deeds, bad ways, bad living God gives good I call this grace. • First of all we never get what we deserve at the hand of God • What we do get is God Grace • The United Church of Christ came out with slogan, “God is still ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35

Denomination: Methodist

Worth The Effort Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 14, 2020

It takes great effort to build up (edify) believers with the Word of God, both on the part of those who teach and those who learn. But it is worth it.

Worth the Effort (Acts 20:1-12) 1, This week, I watched part of a White Sox baseball game from two weeks agon on youtube. It was nice to be able to fast forward and see the more interesting moments. Which brings on a joke. 2. Have you heard about the first baseball game in the Bible? In the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Sacrifice To End All Sacrifices

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 21, 2019

The adequacy of the Blood of Christ.

THE SACRIFICE TO END ALL SACRIFICES. Hebrews 10:1-18. The Law is but a “shadow” of “good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). As such the Law, though good in itself (cf. Romans 7:12), serves only as a schoolmaster pointing us to Jesus (cf. Galatians 3:24). The round of sacrifices represented here ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Claims Our Devotion? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 18, 2020

Our devotion is not to a book, not even to a church building, and not even to our fellow parishioners. We derive our identity as Catholics from our devotion to the lord of the Sabbath, the lord of our lives, Our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

Feast of St. Agnes 2020 Tuesday of 2nd week in Course For generations after the Hebrews settled in the Holy Land, they acknowledged only God, the Lord, as their leader. But in the time of the prophet-priest Samuel, these tribes began to worry him about a king. The whole point of the covenant God ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

A Sharp Sword, A Polished Arrow Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 4, 2020

When the God-man is troubled, He is troubled like nobody before or after Him.

Tuesday of Holy Week 2020 A sharp sword, a polished arrow The Church today asks us to contemplate Our Lord Jesus Christ on this Tuesday after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. First we hear the words of Isaiah, written hundreds of years before as a contemplation of the ideal Israel, who was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-6, John 13:21-33, John 14:1, Matthew 2:3

Denomination: Catholic

Ash Wednesday: Confronting Our Sins, Embracing Our Vulnerabilities

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Apr 6, 2020

Ash Wednesday sermon about confronting our sins, but how that is a call to vulnerability by the Holy Spirit

Ash Wednesday: At one time Advent was my favorite season of the church year. The happiness, the joy of anticipation, the hope of a manger, the birth of a child… it all added a hopeful newness to my soul. But our culture ruined Christmas with the rabid consumerism and those lame made for TV ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Episcopal

No –isms Here!

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

there are no ISMS' in God's Kingdom

In this election year, we have constantly heard mean, nasty, degrading speeches as part of the Republican debates and primary election ads. We have heard: • women reduced to human incubators by removing their ability to make decisions about their own bodies, • candidates accused of infanticide ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

James: The Practical Book Series

Contributed by Eric Grenier on Feb 6, 2018

Why do we study a book of the Bible!

The Practical Book James 1:1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes” Jewish believers scattered abroad. I. Why Study through a book of the Bible? A. God wrote it that way 1. Chapters & verse numbers first started 1551 2. ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Time Is Fulfilled

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 11, 2018

Isn’t it true that when humans fail, sin, even commit the most awful injustices, God’s mercy is ever present, ever able to forgive when we repent?

First Sunday of Lent 2018 We come to Mass on the First Sunday of Lent, full of energy that has not diminished since we crowded the churches on Ash Wednesday. We know that the Word of God on this special Lord’s Day reminds us of the Lord Jesus’s battle with the Enemy of mankind, the one Scripture ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15, Genesis 9:8-15

Denomination: Catholic

Grace To Give

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 18, 2018

The spontaneous voluntary sharing of the early church.

GRACE TO GIVE. Acts 4:32-35. The first reference to the voluntary sharing of the early church occurs soon after Pentecost, when the believers in the Jerusalem church (3,120 members plus daily additions) were said to be ‘together, and had all things in common, sold their possessions and goods, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Depression: Madness In The Palace 1 Series

Contributed by Oladayo Oladosu on Jul 28, 2019

Depression is a complex and dangerous mental health condition that cuts across every facet of humanity and often seems so tacit in description and definitions.

Depression: Madness in the Palace I Samuel 15:24 –16:1; 14--18 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. I Sam. 16: 14-15 (KJV) Depression is a complex and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

A Prosperous Hand Is Seldom Pious

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 13, 2019

Should we not resist to flaunt wealth or even seek it as a pastor when the world and even poor Christians think we lack integrity loving mammon rather than God?

"Piety and prosperity seldom go hand in hand..." "We live in a day when the temptation to the indulgence of the flesh is very great. Luxuries are common. Piety and prosperity seldom go hand in hand, and in many a case the prosperity that piety and power have brought has been the ruin ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3, Luke 16:10-13, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, Philippians 3:17-19

Denomination: Baptist