Sermons on Bertrand Russell:

Refiner’s Fire

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Dec 5, 2009

Advent #2 - What to do about the heat in your life

1See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4

Denomination: United Methodist

Two Prophets Appear To Be Wrestling; It’s A Strange Dance!

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Dec 10, 2009

How do you reconcile judgment and joy?

14Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. 16On that day it ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:14-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Part 5 - Why Not Tell The Truth? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 12, 2010

People ask all sorts of questions about God.

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25 (NRSV) [1] You have probably never seen a more purely uncomplicated presentation of the Gospel than the scene we’re about to watch. In Disney’s 1940 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25

Denomination: United Methodist

Part 6 - Why Don’t I Have More Self-Control? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 19, 2010

We do what we don’t want, and vice versa...Why?

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:14 - 25 (NRSV) [1] We are still grappling with some of life’s “why” questions. Today’s question is #6 in the series – a riddle that is arguably one of the simplest and most basic; at the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: United Methodist

Part 7 - Why Does Bad Stuff Happen To Good People? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 26, 2010

We all ask it....why? And "why me"? Is there an answer?

Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. Job 1:1 (TMSG) --- No rest for me, ever—death has invaded life. Job 3:26b (TMSG) Why does bad stuff happen to good people? This question is such a ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Part 9 - Why Was Jesus Crucified? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Mar 11, 2010

Questions that trouble us...why the pain, beatings and blood?

Children have a unique perspective that allows them to keep everything “less scary” in their world. A little boy got concerned when his Daddy, a minister, didn’t come home by the usual time. He finally asked his mother, “Is Dad going around visiting all the sick ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:22

Denomination: United Methodist

Praise The Lord; Come And Dine!

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Dec 23, 2009

Communion Meditation - 11 characteristics of a life lived in Christ.

1Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! 3Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! 4Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5Let them praise the name of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: United Methodist

It’s A Long Walk To The Limits Of Love

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Dec 31, 2009

Loving each other in the body of Christ requires a long walk...but it’s worth it.

Norman Vincent Peale used to tell a story about a missionary in Africa who received a beautiful seashell as a gift from a student. He had walked a long way to the coast of Africa to get the special shell for his teacher. "You’ve traveled so far to bring me such a wonderful present," the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:11

Denomination: United Methodist

Why Does God Allow Pain? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 8, 2010

If God really is there and loves me, why do I still hurt?

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Jeremiah 15:18a It’s always helpful at the start of a journey to know where you’re headed! Let me share some of the “roadmap” for our series on ‘WHY’ – the questions people ask. The well-known artist and songwriter Bill ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:18

Denomination: United Methodist

Part 2 - Why So Much Anger? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 15, 2010

Anger is in every part of life; why?

We encounter so much anger in everyday life that most of us have become somewhat desensitized to it. Everywhere you go, and in every realm of existence there is anger – some is miniature in its impact, some wildly excessive. And some of it is our own! • It is a fact of life in business places and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:6-7

Denomination: United Methodist

Part 3 - Confrontation; Why Bother? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 21, 2010

Is it really necessary, all this honesty with other people?

Jesus said, “I am the…truth….” This is truth with a capital T. [1] And if we subscribe to that, Paul’s follow-up text in Ephesians 4:25, to speak that “capital-T” kind of truth to each other, cannot be ignored. Truth spoken is often confrontational. The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25

Denomination: United Methodist

Part Four - Why Can’t I See Or Hear God? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 28, 2010

Safer to have a God you can control!

1Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Denomination: United Methodist

The Last Enemy

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Mar 31, 2010

The real public enemy #1 is not the abysmal state of the economy or AIDS...it is DEATH

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Denomination: United Methodist

Peace

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Apr 8, 2010

What exactly did Jesus mean when he said "Peace be with you"?

19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: United Methodist

Peace Is Just On The Other Side Of The Boat

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Apr 16, 2010

Guilt murders peace...How Peter's relationship to Jesus is our answer for true peace

1After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: United Methodist