Sermons on Beth:

An Honest Prayer

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Aug 8, 2007

Prayer is a conversation with God in which we need to both speak and listen.

An Honest Prayer I can’t remember if I’ve told you all this before, but early in my pastoral calling I attended a conference that I was very passionate about. It was a conference talking about the spirituality of children and how we can help our children grow in their faith and in their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Unfinished Story

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Apr 14, 2009

We have received the same message at the empty tomb as the women did. What will we do with it? Keep it a secret? Run away in fear? Go and tell?

The Unfinished Story Mark 16:1-8 Easter 2009 Do you know the best way to make sure news spreads quickly? Tell someone NOT to tell anyone else! That’s what makes gossip so tempting. We love to hear and share stories about others, especially when we’re not supposed to! Throughout the gospel of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Will It Take?

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Apr 28, 2009

The disciples were confused and didn’t really believe the resurrection. Yet in each gospel account Christ gave them proof so they could believe. What proof do we need to really believe what we say we believe?

What Will It Take? Luke 24:13-49 Easter 3B “Forget what you learned in elementary school--the earth is flat as a pancake. All that stuff about the earth being round and the sun being the center of the universe is a big joke,” insisted C.K. Johnson in a 1979 interview. Mr. Johnson was president ...read more

Scripture: John 24:13-49

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

If You Give The Church A Penny...

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Sep 15, 2008

This stewardship sermon is a play on the children’s book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." Main idea of the sermon is tithing our TIME.

If You Give the Church a Penny… 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Laura Joffe Numeroff is the author of a beloved pre-school classic entitled, “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.” Now, some of us may be quite familiar with the book, but others may not… So, let me begin this morning by reading this classic to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Playing The World's Games By God's Rules

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Sep 4, 2007

In this parable, Jesus is teching those at the banquet how to play "musical chairs" using God’s rules not the rules of the world.

Playing the World’s Games by God’s Rules 22nd Sunday of Orinary Time, 2007 Children’s Sermon tie-in - Luke 14:11 - Using the game of "Chutes and Ladders" we discussed and how sometimes when you think you are going to lose you land on a ladder space and move forward and sometimes when you think ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Grass Is Always Greener (On The Other Side Of The Sea)

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Feb 4, 2008

God rescued the Israelites through a series of miracles- but when the going got tough, the Israelites always wanted to return to Egypt.  When our going gets tough, do we trust God to provide or do we long for the "good ol’ days" of Egypt?

The Grass is Always Greener (On the Other Side of the Sea) Exodus 15:22-16:9; 16:35; 17:1-7 I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but some people are just never happy! No matter what you do – it’s just not right. These people can always find something to complain about! When I waited tables, I was ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Are You Doing Here?

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Aug 11, 2009

God twice asks Elijah, "What are you doing here?" This is a good question for us to be asking ourselves - why have we come into the presence of God... even if, like Elijah, we are suffering from burn-out and trying to escape the craziness of life.

What Are You Doing Here? 1 Kings 19:1-15 One of my new favorite devotional books is titled: An Eclectic Almanac for the Faithful. And I have to admit, I only picked it up at first because of its intriguing title. However, it has become a storehouse of prayer fodder and ideas for contemplation. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

S.d.g. Living

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Aug 17, 2009

J.S. Bach signed most of his sacred music "S.D.G." (Soli Deo Gloria). 1 Kings 3:1-15 and Ephesians 5:15-20 encourage us to live an S.D.G. life style - a life that gives glory to God alone.

S.D.G. Living 1 Kings 3:1-15 & Ephesians 5:15-20 20th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year B It’s hard for me to imagine a world without music. And it’s even more difficult to imagine worshiping our Savior without the joyful sounds of singing. One of the greatest composers of sacred music was Johann ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Tradition For Tradition's Sake

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Aug 31, 2009

Too often our living and worship become steeped in tradition and ritual. This sermon is a call to examine what we do and more importantly WHY we do it in an attempt to keep us from elevating the traditions of men above the law of God.

Tradition for Tradition’s Sake Mark 7:1-23 (This message was preceded by singing "Joy to the World" as the opening hymn and the theme of "tradition" was introduced by a video clip of Fiddler on the Roof - from the prologue 1:55 (as the fiddler begins to play) through 3:57 (as Tevye says, "...and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Can You Believe It?

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Nov 8, 2007

What does the resurrection/heaven mean for us? Can we believe it without seeing it? Do we really trust in the promises of Christ?

Can You Believe It? Luke 20:27-38 32nd Ordinary, Year C In an attempt to disprove or discredit God the Creator Almighty, the atheist may ask the Christian, Can God create a rock so big that he can’t lift it? Now we’re trapped… If you answer, “No, God can’t create a rock so big that he can’t ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When We Get There

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Nov 3, 2008

An All Saints/Souls Communion sermon that encourages living in anticipation of getting to our eternal destination.

When We Get There Matthew 5:1-12 & Revelation 7:9-17 There are times when I look back at my childhood and think, My parents must have been crazy! It was nothing for us to be enjoying a quiet Saturday morning and mom and dad would decide we needed to go do something. So, we’d pack a picnic ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unquenchable Joy

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Nov 3, 2008

God’s unquenchable joy flows in our lives every minute of everyday – but we have to stop and recognize it before we can share it

Unquenchable Joy Luke 7:11-17 & Ephesians 3:16-21 Did you know that in America nearly 90% of people say they believe in God? But only 45% of people who believe in the Christian God are regularly in worship! In other words, 55% of our brothers and sisters in Christ rarely come to the family ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Choice Is Yours... Choose Wisely

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Nov 10, 2008

32nd Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A Joshua 24:14-24 & Matthew 25:1-13 Making a choice to serve God for the "long hull" is the most important choice of our lives.

The Choice is Yours… Choose Wisely Joshua 24:14-24 & Matthew 25:1-13 One of the greatest abilities that separates humans from the rest of God’s creation is our ability to recognize alternatives, to weigh options and their possible consequences and then to make a informed decision. As we look ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In The Master's Service

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Oct 9, 2007

27 Ordinary, Year C, Worldwide Communion A sermon to remind us not to question the job that God has called us to do.

Luke 17:3-17 & 2 Timothy 18-14 *** Children’s Sermon - play "Simon Says" and discuss what happens if you do something that Simon didn’t say to do. Are you "out" of the game forever? How is this like life in Christ? How is repentance and forgiveness like getting a second chance? *** So, until ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:3-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What's Written On Your Heart?

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Oct 23, 2007

29th Sunday, Ordinary Time Year C More important than GOd’s words on monuments, t-shirts or bumper stickers is God’s word embodied in our thougths, words and actions.

What’s Written on Your Heart? Jeremiah 31:23-34; Luke 18:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 The date was August 28, 2003, and the following is a portion of the article that appeared originally in the New York Times and then in other papers around the country. The author – reporting from Montgomery, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:23-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed