Sermons on Deacon Selection:

Re-Creating The Effective Pastoral Minister Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 6, 2015

It is important that those involved in pastoral ministry be focused on their goal, not on their comfort.

Thursday of the third Week in Lent Joy of the Gospel Jesus shares with us today an unforgettable phrase: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” The image this summons up is of a shepherd and His flock. Jesus came to gather together the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:14-23

Denomination: Catholic

We Witness Despite Persecution And Exile Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 8, 2018

Preaching and living a lifestyle conditioned by the precepts of the Gospel is not a particularly popular path, and may get you shunned, even exiled.

Thursday of 23rd Week in Course 2018 St. John Chrysostom Today I am celebrating the sixteenth anniversary of the ordination of the diaconate class of 2002, and therefore my own ordination. As a preacher, it’s particularly happy to be ordained on the feast of St. John Chrysostom, who is the patron ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

What We Learn At Cana Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 1, 2018

When the wedding planner–maybe you’ve dealt with one sometime–tasted it, he pronounced it καλὸν, beautiful.

2nd Sunday after Epiphany 2018 Extraordinary Form It’s been almost thirteen years since Carolyn and I spent nearly two weeks in the Holy Land on pilgrimage, but many of the memories continue to enrich my study, prayer and preaching. The visit to Cana figures large in those recollections, and every ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Our Calling To Make Holy Families Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 6, 2019

Our task in our families is to become saints ourselves and to nurture our loved ones to sainthood.

Tuesday of 5th Week in Lent 2019 St. Waltrude A number of years ago I was privileged to teach a speech course to some deacons in training, and I asked them to speak for a few minutes on their thoughts on the realization that they were mortal–that the life they now lead would end. I think I said ...read more

Scripture: John 8:21-30, Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-15

Denomination: Catholic

Bringing People And Churches Together Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 20, 2019

In this day of conflict and disunion, we need to recover this sense that we are all one family of God, to dedicate ourselves to peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Tuesday of the 16th Week in Course 2019 St. Liborius I suppose like many Baby Boomers one of the most memorable films of my lifetime was the Cecile B DeMille epic The Ten Commandments. It was his second stab at commemorating the Exodus, and his only one both with sound and color. Who could forget ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:46-50, Exodus 14:21-31, Isaiah 11:10-12

Denomination: Catholic

What Is The Bread Of Life?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 14, 2018

The passage we read from the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel has from earliest times been used to explain the orthodox teaching on the Eucharist.

We all know what a eunuch is, and such men were common in the various courts of Biblical times. What was valuable about them to the kings of the Middle East is that they could be trusted–if they were trustworthy at all–even with the kings’ wives and children. There would be no question of bad blood ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40, John 6:44-51

Denomination: Catholic

What Draws Humans To Christ And His Church?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 25, 2020

Christians the world over will reimagine a world that is based on the teachings of Christ and the Church.

Tuesday of the third week of Easter 2020 Whenever authorities take exception to a popular movement, and try to stamp it out, if the movement is actually doing good they end up squishing it out all over the place. A few days ago our reading from the Acts of the Apostles featured the warning of Reb ...read more

Scripture: John 6:30-35, Acts 7:51-60, Acts 8:1, Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Catholic

Are Churches Nurturing

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Oct 29, 2017

Getting back to basic gospel preaching

Are Churches Nurturing 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 As we read through Paul’s epistle today, and dwell on just what he is trying to tell us, we find some areas of the church that just might need a little work. You see whether overtly or not churches for the most part are viewed in terms of success by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Galatians 1:11-12, John 14:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Religion Weighed And Found Wanting

Contributed by Dotun Jegede on Jun 9, 2020

Man has been called a religious animal. The Encyclopedia of religion and ethics lists hundreds of ways in which men have tried to satisfy their religious longings and feelings.

Man has been called a religious animal. The Encyclopedia of religion and ethics lists hundreds of ways in which men have tried to satisfy their religious longings and feelings. They have worshipped the sun, moon, stars, animals, trees, human: earth, fire, and water: idols of wood, stone, and tree; ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:19-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fruit

Contributed by Grant Adams on Jun 10, 2020

There can be no fruit until there are roots. The fruit is a result of the roots. No roots, no fruit.

How would you define fruit? What is fruit? W.E. Vines says, “Fruit is the visible expressions of power working inwardly and invisibly. The character of the fruit being evidence of the character of the power producing it.” God has some established principles, and this is one of them I want to share ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:16-20

Denomination: Baptist

A Regular Reminder

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 2, 2014

The Lord's Supper is a powerful, practical reminder of the Lord, the Mission, and the People of God.

A church had an unusual ritual every Sunday morning. Before the church sang the Doxology, they would stand up, everyone turned to the right facing a blank white wall, and they sang. Every Sunday without fail they did this. A newcomer to the church was confused by this and asked, "Why do you do ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:23-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Watchman

Contributed by Leroy Meadows on Jul 3, 2021

Pastor's are you a watchman?

7/3/2021 1/3 Watchman Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. The church of today has fallen asleep. look at our Government all is devilish evil they areworking for Satan. the church gives Israel ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:10, Ezekiel 33:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

"salt Of The Earth" And "light Of The World" Series

Contributed by Vinicio Jimenez on Feb 6, 2026

Jesus is not offering a compliment. He is giving a mandate. He is defining both our identity and our mission.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls his disciples “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–16). He is not offering a compliment. He is giving a mandate. He is defining both our identity and our mission. These images tell us how believers are meant to live within the world: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

The Heartbreak Of Unwarranted Hatred Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Apr 23, 2025

The Bible, offers numerous examples of individuals who faced such unjust animosity.

In the realm of human relationships, few wounds cut as deep as the hatred of those who bear us malice without reason. The Bible, offers numerous examples of individuals who faced such unjust animosity. Consider the story of Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob. Despite his innocence and dedication to ...read more

Wisdom Or Foolishness Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on May 31, 2003

The Christian message is foolishness to our world. But God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom. Christians can only boast in God, and not in ourselves. And Christians maturity is about having God’s Spirit, not our own wisdom. It’s about having the mi

By Guerin Tueno Imagine yourself a member of God’s heavenly selection committee. God has given us the job of putting together a profile of the sort of person that Heaven’s looking for. What sort of person should we be keen to select? Smart people? – God knows everything. Surely he’ll want to ...read more

Denomination: Anglican