Sermons on Garrison Keillor:

Culture Shifts:the 'progressive' Generation

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jan 21, 2002

Our culture would have us to believe there is a sea of ’truths’ to choose from in determining our beliefs and ethics. The 10 Commandments hold for us ultimate truth & meaning from an ancient past towards an eternal future.

Exodus 20:1-11 Bibliography: Culture Shifts, Lesson 4 Over the last several weeks we have been exploring the changes that have taken place in our culture over the last forty years. Many have begun this new year with commitments (New Year Resolutions, if you will) to strive towards being more ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Culture Shift: Casualties Of War

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Feb 5, 2002

The story of the rape of Dinah is one that makes us feel uncomfortable. What does such a story have to do with revealing God to us? This sermon explores living as faithful Christians in an ever increasingly violent world.

Bibliography: Culture Shifts, lesson 5 Our Bible story makes us feel uncomfortable. We are not really comfortable with it being in the Bible. Its a story that seems rather out of place and it doesn’t seem like it belongs. What is it doing in a book that talks about the relationship of faith ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31

Denomination: Methodist

I Was Lost, But Now Am Found

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Feb 5, 2002

As we move closer to Easter, this sermon explores the place of repentance in the life of faithful Christians

Bibliography: Finding Christ, Finding Life, Repentance Do you know the story of John Newton? Newton was born in London July 24, 1725, the son of a commander of a merchant ship which sailed the Mediterranean. When John was eleven, he went to sea with his father and made six voyages with him before ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

"Keep Going!"

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Mar 11, 2002

Speaking to those who are ’sure’ in their faith (not mature, but sure), Paul directs our attention to the Israelites in the wilderness who thought the same thing. We are invited to examine our faith journey.

Bibliography: Finding Christ, Finding Life: covenant & community Tonight I am speaking to those who are sure in their faith. Notice I said those who are sure in their faith, not those who are mature in their faith. Although sometimes the two terms go together, tonight we make a distinction ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

The Devil Made Me Do It!

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Mar 11, 2002

Set against the motif of a melodrama, the temptation of Jesus is examined through our temptation to be self-centered, to compromise Christian ideals, and to avoid self-sacrifice and suffering

Bibliography: Finding Christ, Finding Life: Temptation When I was younger - much younger, I put all my energies into acting and the theater. I remember when I was 14 and my family moved from the metropolis of Pasadena, TX. to a small town in rural Arkansas. I was devastated that there were no ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

Abraham: The Call

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jul 11, 2001

The call of Abraham is addressed in three elements contained in the following statement: ’God calls ordinary people.’

There’s a children’s Bible song called “Father Abraham.” The words speak of Abraham having many children, and also speaks of you and I being Abraham’s children. It reminds me of a couple back home. They adopted two children because they believed they couldn’t have any biologically, but then they ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4, Genesis 12:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

Joseph, God, & Success Series

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Aug 18, 2001

How do you measure success? This sermon explores the contradiction in between the success God gives him and his position.

Genesis 39:20-23 Bibliography: (www.sermonillustrator.com: success) Someone once asked Paul Harvey, the journalist and radio commentator, to reveal the secret of his success. “I get up when I fall down,” said Harvey. John D. Rockefeller Jr. remarked, “The secret of success is to do the common ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:20-23

Denomination: Methodist

Three Women & A Baby

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Aug 18, 2001

The story of salvation as told through the three women who played a part in saving the life of baby Moses.

Exodus 2:1-10 Tonight’s story looks at the birth of one of the greatest leaders recorded in the Old Testament, and a patriarch in the story of the Jewish and Christian faith. Tonight’s story is that of the birth of Moses Ironically, Moses is not the main focus of tonight’s story. Rather, the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Aug 18, 2001

This sermon embraces the uncomfortable ideas of wrestling with God, God self-limitation in the struggle, and change that occurs.

Genesis 32:22-32 Our Bible story needs a little prefacing this evening. Its kind of like the original Star Wars Triliogy - we’re coming in to the story at Episode VI. In recent days we’ve been taking a look at some Old Testament characters, and tonight we turn our attention towards Jacob - the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Methodist

God's People Without A Home

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Sep 8, 2001

There are similarities between the Israelites at the crossing of the Red Sea and those outside our church families.

In 1997, 20th Century Fox released an animated musical about Anastasia, lost princess of Russia. In the film, we first meet Anastasia leaving an orphanage that has been her home for the last ten years. She has forgotten her identity, but she knows she has one. She longs for a family, but she is ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

Leaving Egypt Behind

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Sep 8, 2001

Prepare, Don’t Wait, Keep Watch. These three elements of the Passover are commemorated in each of us as we continue to leave Egypt behind.

Paul Harvey tells the story of an old man and the gulls: “It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

The Land Of God's Promise

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Sep 8, 2001

We are the land of God’s promise. In the call of Moses, we see God’s concern for the pain and condition of our lives.

Charles Gerkin in his book shares the story of Margaret and Robert Algood. This once vibrant and active couple had been suffering with increasing difficulty through a drastically altered life since Robert has suffered a stroke several years ago. Robert had once been physically active and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

We Shall Overcome

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jul 17, 2002

This sermon is the 4th in a series on Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paul explores the Christian response in light of suffering.

Bibliography: Willie Wonka, When God Interrupts - Craig Barnes, All You Really Need To Know About Prayer...-Louise Perrotta, Martin Luther King, William Barclay The other night as we were channel surfing, we came across one of my favorite movies from my childhood, and the boys and I sat down to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-39

Denomination: Methodist

Know It By Heart

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jul 17, 2002

This is the 5th sermon in a series on Paul’s letter to Romans. Knowing Christ by heart is not rote memorization. Its a different way of knowing.

Bibliography: Two Roads Diverge in the Woods, The Blue Bird Travel back to your days in high school English class. Do you recall a poem by Robert Frost titled, The Road Not Taken? Listen to this poem: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Living Sacrifices

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jul 17, 2002

This is the 6th sermon in a series on Paul’s letter to the Romans. The problem with living sacrifices is they keep getting down off the altar.

“living sacrifices” Now that’s an interesting turn of phrase. It sounds like an oxymoron. Living and sacrifice don’t really seem like they go together, do they? When I think of the word ‘sacrifice’, certain images come to mind. I think of a play made in baseball, where one player is tagged out ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-13

Denomination: Methodist