Sermons on Clergy Appreciation:

Train Your Successor

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 15, 2023

Here is how Jesus kept His ministry going after His ascension.

Eleventh Sunday in Course 2023 Over the years, I have been blessed to function in a number of leadership positions both inside and outside the Church and school systems. One lesson my mentors–the effective ones, anyway–taught me is to “train your successor.” That is a little scary for most people, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:2-6, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:36-38, Matthew 10:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Priesthood Of All Believers (Part 1)

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: God has always wanted all his people to be priests.

Thesis: God has always wanted all his people to be priests. Intro.: 1. < Read Exodus 19:1-8 > a. God is ready to make Israel his covenant people. b. God's intent was for Israel to be "a kingdom of priests." 2. That didn't happen--why not? < Read Exodus 20:18-21 > a. Twice we are told: "The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10

The Witness Of John Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 27, 2011

John, and we, need to be prophets to our cultures.

Martyrdom of John the Baptist August 29, 2011 Testimony of the Saints Popular culture almost always gets everything wrong. Thus today’s celebration, which in the pre-Vatican II liturgy was a feast, not a memorial, is totally misinterpreted by pop culture. In the view of the secular world, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:17-29

Denomination: Catholic

How Much More Will God Give His Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 7, 2017

If there is evil in our lives, God has to permit it to happen, or it wouldn’t. But God never wills evil. He only wants our good.

Thursday of 27th Week in Course 2017 Reformation/Revolution Who among us has not looked on some captain of industry or some venal politician and wondered why “evildoers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.’” as the people did in Malachi’s day? Sometimes it does seem vain ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13

Denomination: Catholic

Eusebius Versus Arius: A Critical Defense Of The Faith

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 27, 2018

The word "consubstantial" is so important that we either bow or kneel when we commemorate the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb during that prayer.

Thursday of 17th Week in Course St. Eusebius of Vercelli Today’s Scripture gives us two parables, one from Jeremiah and the second from Jesus Himself. Jeremiah visited a potter, probably a novice potter, because what he threw on the wheel turned out badly. But one thing every potter learns is that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Matthew 13:47-53

Denomination: Catholic

Prepare To Share Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 6, 2016

"To interpret a biblical text, we need to be patient, to put aside all other concerns, and to give it our time, interest and undivided attention."

Thursday of 18th Week in Course This day we commemorate St. Clare of Assisi, the friend of St. Francis who founded the second Order of Franciscans for women religious, or the Poor Clares. As we look at the first reading about Ezekiel digging a hole in the wall of his house, we are reminded that ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 12:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

The Special Role Of The Laity Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 2, 2015

Lay people in the Church, especially women, serve a vital role in spreading the Gospel and building community.

Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter 2015 Joy of the Gospel Both of our readings today are concerned with what the Catechism calls “The Christian Life,” or the moral and virtuous way of life. Paul and Barnabas were traveling through the lands of what is now Turkey and Greece, going to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:17-21

Denomination: Catholic

Attaining The Countenance Of Jesus

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 1, 2014

Love is always lived out in body and in spirit

Thursday of Fourth Week in Course Lumen Fidei All of us long for a world, a culture, of perfect justice, of perfect peace, where everyone is centered on doing the will of God, and no one is impoverished in spirit, soul or body. David got it, and the apostles preached it. When Jesus sent them ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:7-13

Denomination: Catholic

A Christian Approach To Technology

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Jul 28, 2014

A Christian Approach To Technology

In Jurassic Park, the chaos theorist played by Jeff Goldblum quipped that scientists were in such a hurry to find out if they could that they never took the time to consider whether they should when it came to resurrecting extinct dinosaurs through genetic cloning technology. The comment was quite ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Some Actions Are Always Wrong So What Do We Do? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 19, 2021

Murdering the innocent is always gravely immoral. Thus we have been taught since the first Christians accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and celebrated communion together.

Homily Monday of 12th week in ordinary time If we are to understand what the Lord is saying to us today, and more importantly what He is not saying, we need to find the key word in the Gospel: it’s “hypocrite.” A hypocrite is someone who calls sin a sin in other people, but ignores the sin in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9, Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

Do Not Be Fooled

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 20, 2009

There is a difference between worldly knowledge and godly wisdom.

Do Not Be Fooled, Galatians 6:1-10 Introduction Job 28:18 says, “No mention shall be made of coral or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.” In Matthew 13:46 Jesus says of a man in a parable, “Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Denomination: Christian Church

"how To Read Your Bible"

Contributed by Christopher Arch on May 21, 2020

This was a message given at the start of a new year to encourage reading the Bible.

Title: How to Read Your Bible in 2020 Script: Dt. 30:15-20 Type: Expos./Theme for New Year Where: GNBC 1-12-20 Intro: Our theme for this year is: “20/20 Vision” with an emphasis on encouraging each and every one of us to ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Promise Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 28, 2015

In Ephesians 2:11–12 Paul shows the need for the work of Christ, the Promise of the Gospel of reconciliation, for Jew and Greek by First, Describing the former Social (Ephesians 2:11) then Spiritual alienation of Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:12).

One of the most striking developments in middle eastern politics as of late is the statement by Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu, at the end of his reelection campaign. In the last gasp of the campaign, Netanyahu announced a change of mind. He was now opposed to a Palestinian state. He’s ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-12

Denomination: Other

The Weapon God Supplies Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 8, 2009

The words of the Word are the sword God has given to each Christian to defend the territory assigned. We must learn the Word and employ the Word, if we will successfully resist the evil one.

“Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” God’s Word is the sole weapon provided to His people to enable them to fulfil His charge to stand firm on the ground that He won through sacrifice. Whenever we think of the Bible, we seldom think of it in militaristic terms. However, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Denomination: Baptist

Experiencing The Essence Of Worship Series

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 13, 2002

Isaiah’s worship experience demonstrates to us four actions that should comprise the essence of our worship.

EXPERIENCING THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP Isaiah 6:1-13 INTRODUCTION It was to be a special Sunday morning – my brother-in-law was being ordained to the ministry at his home church. I was preaching and my wife would give special music. The auditorium in the church is long and narrow, with a platform, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ