Sermons on Bishops:

Celebrate Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 3, 2015

David becomes king over all Israel. He brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with song making Jerusalem a place of worship.

“Celebrate” 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 6:1-5 INTRODUCTION Today is a day of Celebration. Our scripture reading for today celebrates David’s anointing as king of Israel and his bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Historically this is Reformation Sunday—a day when we ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The End And The Reward Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 12, 2016

Paul is not focusing on sinful behavior we should avoid, but on exemplary behavior we should practice.

24th or Last Sunday of the Year 2016 Extraordinary Form The five hundred year period since the end of the Renaissance has been marked by two events we Catholics can realistically call religious catastrophes. The first, of course, was the Protestant revolution most agree was begun by Martin Luther ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:15-35

Denomination: Catholic

Not For Shameful Gain

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 17, 2018

There are all kinds of examples, great ones and poor ones, among the popes.

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter 2018 Reformation/Revolution Today’s Catholic feast celebrates the “chair” or authority given by Christ to St. Peter and his successors, one that has its foundations in the Old Testament. We see St. Peter as the vicar, or maybe viceroy or even “chief of staff” of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4, Matthew 16:13-19

Denomination: Catholic

Party On! Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 31, 2019

We all know that there were parties last evening, some that lasted well into the morning hours. But I venture to say that these parties were not celebrations of religious faith, such as the ones implied by today’s Scriptures.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Party On! Today’s Scriptures are so brief that if our minds are not focused, we might not remember any of them. I’ve wondered if that was an act of mercy on the part of those who back in the 1960's put together the three-year cycle of readings, and saw New ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21, Matthew 11:19

Denomination: Catholic

Ministry Leaders Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Jun 5, 2021

Who is qualified to be a ministry leader?

Let us continue to worship with the Word of God. Open your Bibles to 1 Timothy 3. The letter by the Apostle Paul, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, was written to Timothy who was left in Ephesus to minister for the Gospel of Jesus Christ about 2000 years ago. Ephesus back then was a pagan ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:8-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Training In Godliness Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Jun 14, 2021

Do not forsake your first love for Jesus Christ and so, train for godliness everyday!

Let us continue to worship with the Word of God. Open your Bibles to 1 Timothy 4. About 2000 years ago, the Christian Church in Ephesus was growing and Timothy was appointed to lead. We noted God protecting His Church by listing qualifications for Overseers (Bishops, Pastors, Elders of today), ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ash Wednesday: Confronting Our Sins, Embracing Our Vulnerabilities

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Apr 6, 2020

Ash Wednesday sermon about confronting our sins, but how that is a call to vulnerability by the Holy Spirit

Ash Wednesday: At one time Advent was my favorite season of the church year. The happiness, the joy of anticipation, the hope of a manger, the birth of a child… it all added a hopeful newness to my soul. But our culture ruined Christmas with the rabid consumerism and those lame made for TV ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6

Denomination: Episcopal

Twenty-Third Sunday In Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 23rd Sunday, Year A --The Matthew 18 Process

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 17, 2020

Avoidance of conflict prevents persons from discovering God's will in their personal and institutional lives.

Palmer Chinchen tells of the time when he went whitewater rafting down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. The guide gave them some very important instructions after they put on all their safety gear. He began with “When the raft flips.” Notice the guide didn’t say “if the raft flips.” “When the raft ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20, Ezekiel 33:7-9

Denomination: Catholic

Paul's Parting Words

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Oct 6, 2022

Paul shares last words to Timothy and us.

Paul’s Parting Words 2 Timothy 1:1-14 1. Many have given us Last words such as NC State head coach Jim Valvano's "Don't Ever Give Up" • Martin Luther King’s last words ““Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Shall We Have Justice For The Elect?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 14, 2022

If even a corrupt judge will wither under incessant pleading, can we not expect the most just of judges, God, will give us what we really need?

29th Sunday in Course 2022 We should all remember the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert around Sinai for forty years. That was God’s way of purifying them before bringing them to the land of promise, Canaan. As they moved around, they ran into various other nomadic tribes, and one of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Psalm 121:1-8, Exodus 17:8-13

Denomination: Catholic

Are You Noble Or Gullible

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 10, 2021

Do not dig in the sewer to find truth. Seek the pure water of the Word.

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:11, Revelation 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Inclusion Is What We Need, Not Power Hungry People

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Aug 11, 2021

Jesus rebuked His disciples because they wanted to keep the power of healing for themselves. This is happening in church today even though Jesus said it is wrong!

I think that it is sad that when I read this narrative, it made me think about the control the church has held over people for almost 2000 years. The church used only one verse, thus out of context, to control people. Catholics could not own a Bible until 1964 CE. The idea that a person has to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-41

Denomination: United Methodist

Different Sheep For A Very Different Shepherd Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 28, 2023

We must think of Jesus as Shepherd in a new way, lest we just think of a fellow in a robe and beard cuddling a little lamb.

Fourth Sunday of Easter 2023 We have a great privilege this week. Today is, as most of you know, Good Shepherd Sunday, and not just for us Catholics. But in the weekly readings, we are also given texts telling us more about our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Still, lest we just think of a fellow in ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10, 1 Peter 2:20-25

Denomination: Catholic

The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ: Corpus Christi

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Apr 29, 2024

Being inspired by the Eucharist by two women.

Corpus Christi Sunday is about clarifying and being inspired by the Eucharist: E.g., During the Fraction rite at Mass, before the “Behold the Lamb of God,” I break the large consecrated host and put a particle into the Chalice. However, since the altar microphone is an older model, it must be ...read more

Scripture: John 6:54

Denomination: Catholic

What's In A Name--The Divine Name? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 9, 2024

Jesus is standing between the Father and the people, very much like Moses on Sinai or in Jordan before they cross over into the land of promise.

Seventh Sunday of Easter 2024 Today we celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter, so we have had six full weeks since our Resurrection day. Most US Catholics today celebrate the Ascension of Jesus, but we operate here on the calendar that prevailed for almost two thousand years, until the US bishops, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:7, Acts 1:15-26, 1 John 4:11-16, John 17:11-19

Denomination: Catholic