Sermons on Are We:

Serving In One Accord Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Aug 19, 2009

Spiritual renewal is not just an exercise to make us feel good; it is God’s way of making us better servants.

Last Tuesday, as I began to prepare for this second message from Zephaniah, a prophet who lived some 2600 years ago, I was searching for a way to connect his words with our own experience, but I was not making progress. By mid-afternoon, I had stalled, so I got up from my desk to do something ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:1-13

Denomination: Brethren

Lessons From Lamentations Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Jul 21, 2008

Through calamities and suffering we can learn about God’s judgement, about our own sin, and about God’s renewing power.

Lessons from Lamentations Lamentations 3:1-3; 19-24; 40-42 For the past couple of weeks, we have been inundated with reports of the floods in the Midwest. The reports about Iowa are of special interest to Sue & me, since we come from there, so we perked up our ears when we heard names of ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-42

Denomination: Brethren

Hold The Ropes Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Aug 25, 2008

Like the paralytic in Mark 2, school kids need someone to hold the four ropes for their encouragement and success in school.

Holding the Rope Mark 2:1-12 One of the stories we read in VBS was the story of the man who was completely helpless. He couldn’t walk; he couldn’t use his hands. The only way he could get anywhere was when his friends carried him. Then the news got around that Jesus was healing people. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Brethren

God's Call On Your Life Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Sep 10, 2008

The unique literary structure of Ezekiel’s vision points to the importance of ingesting God’s word in obedience to His call

God’s Call on your Life Ezekiel 2:8 – 3:4 If you haven’t read from Ezekiel recently, these verses probably strike you as the strangest thing you have read in a while. Here is the story of a man whom God told to eat a scroll – paper, ink, and all. And he says it was sweet as honey. I ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

A Word From God's Sentinel Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Sep 24, 2008

God calls his church to broadcast his warnings loud and clear in today’s world. He wants our hearts to be broken by the careless, godless people who are paying no attention to God’s warning signs and he wants us to take seriously our responsibility to do

A man living on the first-floor of an apartment got upset every night because the guy living above him dropped his shoes on the floor when he got ready for bed. Every night, the same thing happened. First, the noise from one shoe, then the noise from the other. Finally, the man downstairs ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:16-19

Denomination: Brethren

When Shipwreck Threatens Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Nov 26, 2007

Scripture offers three anchors when life is headed for shipwreck

Last Tuesday, I began preparing this sermon. During that day, three people experiencing shipwreck came sailing into my life. Let me tell you about one of them. His name is Bill. I decided to replace the broken door on the church storage shed while the weather was still warm and was crossing ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:20-25

Denomination: Brethren

The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Oct 8, 2008

In Ezekiel 34, using the language of promise, God introduces a new plan for shepherding his people which we see fulfilled in John 10. Jesus, the Good Shepherd still calls his sheep.

The Good Shepherd Ezekiel 34:1-6; 11-16;23-24; 30-31 Children’s Story Just before school started, I invited four kids from next door to go with me to the city library. These kids ranged from 7 – 10 years old and had never been to the library. We went upstairs where they have all the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-31

Denomination: Brethren

The Rattling Of Bones Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Oct 27, 2008

Only the Spirit of God can reverse the process of spiritual death and can make dry bones live.

This is a crazy time of year with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all stepping on each other’s toes. You have probably noticed the Halloween display at the corner of Elm and Metcalf with its grave stones and skeletons. According to Monday’s paper, the owner says she enjoys setting it up and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Brethren

When Death Invades A Congregation Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Oct 27, 2008

Paul provides three insights for a congregation faced with the death of one of its members.

Friday was a difficult day for this congregation when we learned that a person who often worshiped with us had suddenly passed away. We all recognize that life can be cut short at any time, but when it happens without warning to a person so young, whose family we have come to appreciate, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Brethren

18 Principles For Church Life Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Nov 11, 2008

In Paul’s closing words to the Thessalonians, Paul offers 18 principles for healthy church life regarding leaders, ministry, worship and the Holy Spirit.

For the past several weeks we have focused on a letter that missionary Paul wrote to a young church he started in the city of Thessalonica. He wrote this letter in 50 A.D. and, of all the books in the New Testament, this one was written first. When he gets to the last part of his letter, Paul ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Denomination: Brethren

Seeking The Son

Contributed by Wes Richard on Mar 31, 2008

As people of the resurrection we should be seeking the Son even as new flowers seek the sun and a compass needle orients itself to north.

One of the little surprises I enjoy every spring is seeing the sprouts of new life burst out of the ground. Some of you may have noticed the little crocuses by the front door of the church. Already before the snow was completely gone, I saw their green shoots breaking through the soil. And even ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1

Denomination: Brethren

Four Principles For Following Jesus Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Apr 1, 2008

What might happen if our church were to follow the Starbucks example and temporarily close its doors to examine the way we follow Jesus?

Starbucks Opens A new Starbucks has opened, of all places, at St. Rita’s Medical Center. We had never tasted Starbucks coffee, so last Wednesday we stopped in to see what it was like. With all the flavors and sizes and prices up on the board, it wasn’t easy to decide what we would order ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-6

Denomination: Brethren

Seek The Welfare Of The City Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on May 27, 2008

Jeremiah’s message to seek the welfare of the city applies to the church’s urban setting of drugs, violence, and alienation.

Drugs bring Death Unless you have been out of town for a long time, you know that lots of things have happened in our city during the past several months. Some are hopeful, some confusing, and some are troubling. In addition to recent acts of violence, we hear charges of racism, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Denomination: Brethren

Tell Me The Story Of Jesus: The Messiah Series

Contributed by Wes Humble on Apr 15, 2010

Tell me the story of Jesus, the Messiah

A bus driver and a pastor were standing in line to get into heaven. The bus driver approached the gate and St. Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a bus driver. Since I’m in charge of housing, I believe I have found the perfect place for you. See that mansion over the hilltop? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: *other

Tell Me The Story Of Jesus: The Man

Contributed by Wes Humble on Apr 15, 2010

Tell Me the Story of Jesus: The Man

This is the second sermon in a series introducing Jesus Christ and His time on earth. Today we look at Jesus just as His three years of ministry are getting started. We know this story as Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. There is a story told about a little boy in a grocery store that I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: *other