Sermons on Ann Jeffries:

The Bronze Serpent

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Jun 5, 2003

How the Bronze Serpent of Moses and the Cross are connected.

THE BRONZE SERPENT TEXT: Numbers 21:4-9 If somebody mentions snake stories in the Bible, the first one that pops into most people’s minds is Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, getting tricked into disobeying God by a clever snake. Those who might remember this little story from Numbers about ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:11-16

Denomination: Methodist

Water Into Wine

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Jun 5, 2003

The miracle at Cana is a sign of the mission of Jesus: transformation.

WATER INTO WINE TEXT: John 2:1-11 The story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, I think contains one of the most powerful messages in all of Scripture. But it seems that a lot of times, people get snagged on one of the ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Restorative Justice #5: Abigail, The Peacemaker Series

Contributed by Anne Grant on Oct 22, 2001

In a culture that said women had no power, Abigail successfully leads a peace delegation and stops a war between the two most powerful men in the region. We, too, must use our power to make peace.

Restorative Justice #5: Abigail, The Peacemaker 1 Samuel 25:2-44 Trinity United Methodist Church, Providence October 21, 2001 Rev. Anne Grant We displayed a transparency that said: USE YOUR POWER TO MAKE PEACE 1. Beware of anger. 2. Act with holy boldness. 3. Humble yourself. 4. Be ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26, 1 Samuel 25:2-44

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

The New Math

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

God’s power plus our resources equals the needs of the world.

THE NEW MATH TEXT: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Luke 9:12-17 In my school years, I discovered that I was very good with words. I read well above my grade level, and the first drafts of papers were usually the only ones I needed to do. Math, however, did not come so readily. I dreaded math classes, and as soon ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:12-17

Denomination: Methodist

Apart From The Law

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

The law is important, but only in the context of grace.

APART FROM THE LAW TEXT: Is. 40:1-5; Rom. 3:19-24 In the New Testament portion of our Daily Walk readings, we are moving from the book of Acts, which told us about the formation of the early church, into the writings of Paul. The writings of Paul in the New Testament begin ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-24

Denomination: Methodist

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

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

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

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

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