Sermons on Ann Douglas Vaughan:

Living With Woodchucks

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. It isn’t ours and on no day of creation did God make "pests."

LIVING WITH WOODCHUCKS TEXT: Genesis 1:20-31; Luke 20:9-14 If you’ve been on my website or if you listen to NPR, which profiled the story a couple of weeks ago, you’ll know I have some history with woodchucks. My defense of the woodchucks when I served St. John’s became the stuff of local legend ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:20-31

Denomination: Methodist

Live It!

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

It isn’t enough simply to believe. Our faith must be lived to be an effective witness.

LIVE IT! TEXT: Colossians 3:1-17 Back in 2001, I had a conversation with a man named Tim, the bookkeeper at the place where I had rented a cabin, who told me about his past with the church. He grew up Irish Catholic, and as a child was very involved in the church. He was an altar boy, and he told ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

While It Was Still Dark

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

The greatest miracles are often done in the darkest times, when no one knows and no one is watching.

WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK TEXT: John 20:1-18 For those of us who practice Christian faith, the resurrection is the central, monumental event of history. Whether you’re the type of Christian that looks at it as historical reality or the type of Christian that sees it as a story of only spiritual ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

Golgotha

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Aug 18, 2003

The real wonder of Jesus is that he gave up the glory of God to become human.

GOLGOTHA TEXT: Philippians 2:5-11; John 19:16-22 Today’s location is not really a mountain, per se. It is a hill, across from Jerusalem’s Damascus gate, probably once a stone quarry. At some point someone noticed that the rocks in the side of the hill looked like a skull, and so it was named ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11, John 19:16-22

Denomination: Methodist

Communion Of Saints

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Aug 18, 2003

What we mean when we talk about the Communion of Saints

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS TEXT: Hebrews 12:1-4 This week we will begin looking at some of the questions you asked to hear sermons about. I received quite a few, so given the breaks we will take for special services and seasons, it will probably be ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-4

Denomination: Methodist

The Mountain Of Temptation

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Aug 18, 2003

The temptations of Jesus show the pattern of our spiritual growth

THE MOUNTAIN OF TEMPTATION TEXT: Matthew 4:1-11 We have a lot of jokes about temptation... “I can resist anything but temptation,” is a common phrase in all circles...religious and non. I think we do that because we’re nervous. We know it’s not just funny, but true, and maybe by making light ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Be Strong And Courageous

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Dec 3, 2007

Practicing our faith daily is the way to become strong and courageous.

Be Strong and Courageous Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Joshua 1:6-9 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, October 21, 2007 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Moses said to the Israelites, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:6-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When Memory Fails

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 15, 2009

When we can’t remember who we are, our baptism connects us to Jesus and each other, gives us our identity, and gives us a vision of eternity in difficult times.

When Memory Fails Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11 Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, January 11, 1009 Introduction: The baptism of Jesus is a text read and proclaimed every year. The account from Mark is simple and powerful. Mark 1:4-11 John the Baptizer appeared in the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Want Me To Follow You Where?

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 19, 2009

Jesus wants us to follow Him to the places where we need to grow. It won’t be easy, but the reward is great.

You Want Me to Follow You Where? Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; John 1:43-51 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, January 18, 2009 Introduction: Our scripture lesson today is found in the end of the first chapter of the gospel of John. You may remember that John’s Gospel begins with ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51, 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Called To Worship; Equipped To Serve

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 29, 2009

The work of a believer begins with worship of God. Although we benefit from worship, worship is for God.

Called to Worship, Equipped to Serve Psalm 62:5-12; Mark 1:14-20 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, January 25, 2009 Introduction: Mark’s gospel begins abruptly. In the first thirteen verses, we learn that John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Messiah, and that John ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Couldn't You Send Someone Else?

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Sep 4, 2008

God has a plan for us, and like Moses, we resist it, but God is persistent and patient.

“Couldn’t You Send Someone Else?” Romans 12:9-12; Exodus 3 and 4, Various Verses The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, August 31, 2008 Introduction: Today, we will continue the story of Exodus. We’ll hear the story of the burning bush and God’s call to Moses. Since the story ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lord Of Second Chances

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Sep 9, 2008

Throughout the Bible, God offers person after person a second chance. He’s offering you a second chance. Use it faithfully.

As people came into the sanctuary they were asked to take a stone from pails of stones. Immediately following the sermon, they were invited to come forward to place the stone representing their sin at the foot of the cross. I also took 8-1/2 by 11 sheets with a name for each Biblical person, taped ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Becoming Good Dirt

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jul 14, 2008

The Parable of the Sower teaches us not only what not to be, but what we can be to become fertile soil for the seed of the Spirit.

Introduction: The first recorded parable of Jesus is “The Parable of the Sower.” It is the only parable which Jesus explains line by line. One of the important things for us to understand is that fields in biblical times were not like our fields today which have been prepared by modern ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Deep In Our Hearts

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jun 9, 2009

Only God is permanent: our covenant with God becomes real when it moves from our brains to our hearts.

Deep in our Hearts Jeremiah 31:31-34 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, March 29, 2009 Introduction: Beginning in 598 BCE (Before Common Era), King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah and exiled many of its leading citizens to Babylon. The fall of Judah was complete in ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Apr 22, 2008

There’s plenty of room for us so let us follow Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Introduction: This passage is near the beginning of Jesus’ farewell address to the disciples. As scholar William Barclay writes: “In a very short time life for the disciples was going to fall in. Their world was going to collapse in chaos around them. At such a time there was only one thing to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-7, 3 John 14:8-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed