Sermons on Joachim And Anne:

There's Just No Escaping

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Jun 5, 2003

There is no escaping the presence and reality of God.

THERE’S JUST NO ESCAPING TEXT: Psalm 139:1-18 Some of you know that I felt my call to the ministry when I was 14 years old. I was giving the sermon--my first--for Youth Sunday in the North Scituate Baptist Church in Scituate, Rhode Island. It ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

The Bronze Serpent

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Jun 5, 2003

How the Bronze Serpent of Moses and the Cross are connected.

THE BRONZE SERPENT TEXT: Numbers 21:4-9 If somebody mentions snake stories in the Bible, the first one that pops into most people’s minds is Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, getting tricked into disobeying God by a clever snake. Those who might remember this little story from Numbers about ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:11-16

Denomination: Methodist

Water Into Wine

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Jun 5, 2003

The miracle at Cana is a sign of the mission of Jesus: transformation.

WATER INTO WINE TEXT: John 2:1-11 The story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, I think contains one of the most powerful messages in all of Scripture. But it seems that a lot of times, people get snagged on one of the ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

The New Math

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

God’s power plus our resources equals the needs of the world.

THE NEW MATH TEXT: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Luke 9:12-17 In my school years, I discovered that I was very good with words. I read well above my grade level, and the first drafts of papers were usually the only ones I needed to do. Math, however, did not come so readily. I dreaded math classes, and as soon ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:12-17

Denomination: Methodist

Apart From The Law

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

The law is important, but only in the context of grace.

APART FROM THE LAW TEXT: Is. 40:1-5; Rom. 3:19-24 In the New Testament portion of our Daily Walk readings, we are moving from the book of Acts, which told us about the formation of the early church, into the writings of Paul. The writings of Paul in the New Testament begin ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-24

Denomination: Methodist

Living With Woodchucks

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. It isn’t ours and on no day of creation did God make "pests."

LIVING WITH WOODCHUCKS TEXT: Genesis 1:20-31; Luke 20:9-14 If you’ve been on my website or if you listen to NPR, which profiled the story a couple of weeks ago, you’ll know I have some history with woodchucks. My defense of the woodchucks when I served St. John’s became the stuff of local legend ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:20-31

Denomination: Methodist

Live It!

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

It isn’t enough simply to believe. Our faith must be lived to be an effective witness.

LIVE IT! TEXT: Colossians 3:1-17 Back in 2001, I had a conversation with a man named Tim, the bookkeeper at the place where I had rented a cabin, who told me about his past with the church. He grew up Irish Catholic, and as a child was very involved in the church. He was an altar boy, and he told ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

While It Was Still Dark

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Oct 30, 2006

The greatest miracles are often done in the darkest times, when no one knows and no one is watching.

WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK TEXT: John 20:1-18 For those of us who practice Christian faith, the resurrection is the central, monumental event of history. Whether you’re the type of Christian that looks at it as historical reality or the type of Christian that sees it as a story of only spiritual ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Apr 22, 2008

There’s plenty of room for us so let us follow Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Introduction: This passage is near the beginning of Jesus’ farewell address to the disciples. As scholar William Barclay writes: “In a very short time life for the disciples was going to fall in. Their world was going to collapse in chaos around them. At such a time there was only one thing to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-7, 3 John 14:8-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Be Strong And Courageous

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Dec 3, 2007

Practicing our faith daily is the way to become strong and courageous.

Be Strong and Courageous Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Joshua 1:6-9 The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, October 21, 2007 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Moses said to the Israelites, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:6-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Becoming Good Dirt

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jul 14, 2008

The Parable of the Sower teaches us not only what not to be, but what we can be to become fertile soil for the seed of the Spirit.

Introduction: The first recorded parable of Jesus is “The Parable of the Sower.” It is the only parable which Jesus explains line by line. One of the important things for us to understand is that fields in biblical times were not like our fields today which have been prepared by modern ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Couldn't You Send Someone Else?

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Sep 4, 2008

God has a plan for us, and like Moses, we resist it, but God is persistent and patient.

“Couldn’t You Send Someone Else?” Romans 12:9-12; Exodus 3 and 4, Various Verses The Reverend Anne Benefield Geneva Presbyterian Church, August 31, 2008 Introduction: Today, we will continue the story of Exodus. We’ll hear the story of the burning bush and God’s call to Moses. Since the story ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lord Of Second Chances

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Sep 9, 2008

Throughout the Bible, God offers person after person a second chance. He’s offering you a second chance. Use it faithfully.

As people came into the sanctuary they were asked to take a stone from pails of stones. Immediately following the sermon, they were invited to come forward to place the stone representing their sin at the foot of the cross. I also took 8-1/2 by 11 sheets with a name for each Biblical person, taped ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Come And See

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 24, 2008

It’s risky, but sharing faith with friends and families is the most important and effective way to bring people to Christ.

Introduction: Last week we studied Matthew’s account of the beginning of Jesus’ formal ministry when he was baptized by John the Baptist. Today we turn to the account of John the Gospel writer. The story begins with John the Baptist witnessing to Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” Two of John’s ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He's Waiting At The Well

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 27, 2008

Like the woman at the well, we are thirsty for salvation, and Jesus waits for us with living water at the well.

Introduction: Our reading today is so completely rich with meaning that I am going to go through it verse by verse. I hope in this way to open the text that it might address us where we are, for Christ always comes to us no matter where we are. Prayer: Lord God, we come thirsty. We live in a ...read more

Scripture: John 9:5-41

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed