Sermons on Hawk:

The Heart Of A Servant Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Sep 12, 2007

Service is a critical tie that binds us to one another in love, and is one of the most vital ways that we can nurture greatness in both ourselves and our community. So how do we go about serving in the loving way that Jesus encouraged?

When you think about serving others—why do you do it? Because I have to is the common response. What if I told you today that you could serve because you want to not because you have to? Serving from the heart is the theme of the study that we are looking at during Sunday School for the next few ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Methodist

We Are Co-Creators With God

Contributed by Don Hawks on Apr 20, 2008

There is great Biblical emphasis on the reality that God often comes to us most clearly in the midst of our work.

INTRODUCTION: ATTITUDES ABOUT LIFE’S WORK • “Here lies Tammas Jones. Born a man. Died a grocer.”-- An epitaph on an old tombstone in Scotland. • “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” -- Henry David Thoreau • “Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Denomination: Methodist

In Less Time Than The Blink Of An Eye

Contributed by Don Hawks on Feb 3, 2008

A sermon for Transfiguration Sunday about the transforming power of Christ’s Spirit

In today’s Gospel Lesson, on the Mount of Transfiguration, the awesome power and glory of God was mysteriously revealed in Jesus Christ. That scene is described in this way in The Message version of the event: Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

The Devil's Sunday

Contributed by Don Hawks on Feb 3, 2008

A sermon for the First Sunday of Lent about the temptation of Jesus and the implications for your life.

INTRODUCTION: WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS THE DEVIL’S SUNDAY? • The first Sunday of Lent for 19 centuries on the church calendar has focused on the temptation by the devil of Jesus. • Much of the symbolism of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness comes from the Hebrew Scripture story of the Exodus (vv. 1 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Window Of The Soul

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jan 20, 2008

You can be more than you think in the present moment by opening your heart to the Spirit of Christ who has taken away the sin of the world.

Today I want you to hear this from the opening pages of the Scripture: Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness… So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Gn. 1:26, 27). According to an ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-36

Denomination: Methodist

Prescription For A Meaningful Life

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jan 20, 2008

The Baptism of Jesus and his calling provides a model for responding to our calling through our baptism.

And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ – v .17 ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ (Lk. 3:11). The story of Jesus’ baptism raises questions meaningful to my own baptism: • "What ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Methodist

Salvation Sunday

Contributed by Don Hawks on Feb 17, 2008

Salvation is more than words or concepts. Understanding salvation is a matter of experiencing it.

I. Today I have a new sermon, but I have an old message-- the message of salvation. Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus - where, he says to Nicodemus— "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." II. What do these words mean—how do you explain ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

Speaking Of The Devil

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 20, 2008

The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one. (Matthew 13:37-38)

Speaking of the devil ... There was a young seminarian who was taking an oral examination for his ordination process. During the questioning, one of the examiners asked him if he believed in a personal devil. "No," he replied, "I do not believe in the devil." Hearing this, the examiners began ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Methodist

What Am I Looking For?

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 29, 2008

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field...The kingdom of heaven is like ... finding one pearl of great value, .... the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind"

A certain man went to Church one Sunday. He frowned when the organist missed a note during the opening hymn. He gave a mean stare at two teenagers talking to each other when the congregation was at prayer. During the Scripture Readings he kept looking impatiently at his watch. When the collection ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Denomination: Methodist

What To Do With Leftovers

Contributed by Don Hawks on Aug 2, 2008

DO you have an attitude of scarcity or by faith an attitude of abundance?

When I was a boy growing up my mother use to tell me not to leave any food on my plate. She’d encourage me to think about all those poor starving children in some foreign country who didn’t have anything to eat. I loved my mother who has transitioned from this life but I never could understand the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Denomination: Methodist

Let Freedom Ring!

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 5, 2008

Opening Sermon at Oakton UMC

Let Freedom Ring! 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Matthew 11:25-30 "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28 Shall we pray: O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by the words of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: Methodist

What Do I Expect To Hear?

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 13, 2008

A Sermon for Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time(A) "As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit" Matthew 13:23

let me ask a question of all you who are here today—What did you come expecting here to hear? In a fascinating story of his journey across the United States with his pet dog, John Steinbeck tells of a Church service he attended during his travels in the State of Vermont. Tongue in cheek, he says, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Methodist

David And Goliath Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jun 22, 2007

With God’s help it is possible to take on all the giants of life that I face.

(Answers to Blanks at end of outline) INTRODUCTION: • The story of David and Goliath illustrates how to take on the giants in your life. • These favorite Bible stories we have been reading and discussing are more than just children’s stories; they have powerful messages for all of us in our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-51

Denomination: Methodist

Jonah And The Whale Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jun 22, 2007

Despite his tendency to do all those human things—to run away, to try to avoid responsibility—eventually he gets a new life.

Read Jonah 1:1-17; 2:1, 9-10 from "The Message" God says GO! Jonah says NO! God sends a storm to remind Jonah who is in charge. Jonah is thrown overboard by the others on the ship. Jonah makes the choice to keep trying to run from God. And you know what happens when Jonah is thrown ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Steps To Living Life At Its Fullest Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jun 22, 2007

DOES GOD DESIRE THAT I HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE, THAT I LIVE LIFE AT ITS FULLEST?

Sermon Outline and Notes Bridgewater United Methodist Church October 15, 2006 John 10:9-11 …. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” DOES GOD DESIRE THAT I HAVE AN ABUNDANT LIFE, THAT I LIVE LIFE AT ITS ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9-11

Denomination: Methodist