Sermons on jonathan: showing 1,741-1,755 of 4,402

"the Church Is A Bunch Of Hypocrites." Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 7, 2019

People's experience with those in the church is often their first experience with Christianity. What are we to say when that experience was less than positive? How are we going to respond?

“I don’t mind Jesus, it’s his followers I can’t stand.” “You wouldn’t believe the way that I was treated when I went to that church.” “I’ve seen the way that Christians act when they’re not at church.” “The church is a bunch of hypocrites.” What’s your first reaction when you hear comments ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran

"all The Church Cares About Is Money." Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 7, 2019

Money is powerful! The amount of money we have allows or prevents us from having or doing certain things. Jesus understand the power of money as a prime competitor for our hearts. The church echoes Jesus' warning as we see what he was willing to pay for our eternity.

We learn very early on in life that when you walk into a store and you see something that you would like to buy, what is one of the first things that you look at? You look at the price tag. You want to know how much money that thing is going to cost you and if you have enough money then to buy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-33, 1 Timothy 6:9-11, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Denomination: Lutheran

If I Had Only One Sermon To Preach . . .

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 6, 2019

You have only one chance to preach a sermon. What text would you use?

Many years ago, I remember reading a book called “If I had only one sermon to preach”. The photos of the ministers on the front cover or dust jacket made me think twice about reading it, though, because these men had some of the most sour expressions I’ve ever seen! It reminded me of a bit of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Abigail - One Wise Woman

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Aug 1, 2018

Have you ever found yourself caught in the middle of a really difficult situation? You didn’t ask to be there, but there you are stuck in the middle. How will you handle it? Pray for wisdom! That's what we see in Abigail.

Abigail – Anyone know someone named Abigail or Abby/ie? Guessing that you probably do. That is a name that has remained relatively popular throughout the years – even reaching the 6th most popular baby’s name in the year 2006. Yes, there are quite a few Abigail’s or Abby’s around. But I wonder ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 25:1-35

Denomination: Lutheran

Zacchaeus - Never Overlooked

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Aug 13, 2018

Do you ever feel that you've been overlooked? Work? School? Home? Zacchaues is a man that could have been easily overlooke and some would have prefered it that way. But not Jesus! God's grace overlooks no one!

Do you ever feel overlooked? I think we’ve all been there a time or two. You put the extra hours and additional effort into a project at work to make that critical sale, only to hear your employer thank everyone except you. You clean the house, fill and empty the dishwasher, wash and fold the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Barnabas - Giving & Receiving Encouragement

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Aug 29, 2018

Could you use some encouragement? Couldn't we all? See how Barnabas is a wonderful example of the blessings of Christian encouragement. Encoruagement needed, given and received!

“You look like you could use some encouragement.” Has anyone ever said that to you? Maybe they didn’t have to say it out loud, because the look on your face said it all. It had been a long week at work, it had been a disappointing meeting, it had been a rough day at school, it had been another ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30, Acts 13:1-3

Denomination: Lutheran

Eunice - Leaving A Lasting Legacy

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Aug 29, 2018

What legacy will you leave for your children? Eunice left a truly lasting legacy for her son Timothy that fully prepared him for all that he would face in this life, but most importantly what he would face at the end of life. Are we creating that same lasting legacy?

It’s that time of year again – the beginning of another school year. College campuses will soon be flooded with wide-eyed freshman and teary-eyed parents. High schools will be filled with the sounds of locker doors slamming, three-ring binders clicking, and the quiet hum of Google Chromebooks. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 1:3-5

Denomination: Lutheran

A Mission Of Mercy

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 30, 2018

Ever look at the miracles of Jesus and ask why Jesus doen's show you some of that mercy? Jesus' ministry was not merely one of miracles that temporarily brought mercy to people. His was a mission of mercy for all people and forever!

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing three years ago? Think about it for a moment - 2015 It might seem like a very long time ago for some and for others like yesterday. Did you have the same job? The same number of kids or grandkids? Did you live in the same house with the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Lutheran

Marriage - Still A Gift From God

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 30, 2018

With all the thoughts concering marriage, there might be some who question if marriage is still a gift from God. Take another look at God's institution of marriage and the blessings that God intends to give through it.

“Where do I even start?” That was the question that ran through my mind as I started to write this sermon. Having spent time studying Genesis 2 which you heard as our first lesson for this morning, I looked at the computer screen and thought, where do I even start? There are so many different ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24

Denomination: Lutheran

From Deadline To Lifeline

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Nov 21, 2018

There is a deadline that is waiting for all of humanity - that final day of time when all people will need to be ready to stand before Jesus. However, this is a deadline that Jesus has transformed into our lifeline!

Deadlines. We all have them. A specific time at which something must be completed or there will be consequences. Whether it’s an assignment at school, a project at work, a bill that needs to be paid, an RSVP to a wedding reception that needs to be sent in. They all have deadlines – a figurative ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:1-2

Denomination: Lutheran

God Wants You To Know!

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Nov 21, 2018

While many poeple may feel uncertain of what will happen to them when their life comes to an end, God wants us to know exactly what to expect. These words from 1 Thessalonians bring confidence and comfort to the Christian in the face of death.

“I don’t know.” Those can be some of the most difficult words for us to say. To say, “I don’t know” is to admit that we don’t have all the answers. And we like to have answers because it makes us feel more in control, more secure, more prepared. That’s probably one of the reasons that doctors ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Denomination: Lutheran

Facing Temptation Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Mar 28, 2019

Struggling temptation is not uncommon to us nor was it uncommon to Jesus. See how Jesus' struggle against temptation helps us as we daily face temptation.

Do you ever feel like you’re wearing one of these (a target)? Maybe it’s that you feel like you’re being blamed for everything that is going wrong in other people’s lives, even when it’s not your fault. Maybe it’s more of the personal attacks that are being fired in your direction because of what ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Standing Firm In The Lord Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Mar 28, 2019

Do you have good spiritual balance? Where we look can certainly affect our spiritual balance. Paul reminds us of where TO look and where NOT TO look to help us keep good spiritual balance.

Do you have good balance? I suppose that we could find out by testing your balance this morning. I could have all of you stand up. Then ask you to hold out your hands as I push against them one by one. Then ask you to stand on one foot and then to stand on the other foot without falling over. ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Our God Is "i Am" Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Mar 28, 2019

Do you ever struggle to make sense of the things going in life? Why would God allow certain things to happen. The name "I AM" is one that helps us in the way we look at the things that we and others are going through in this life that might not make sense to us.

Do you ever struggle to understand why God would allow certain things to happen? You turn on the TV, read the latest headlines, look at the world around you, or what is personally going on in your own life, and we struggle to make sense of things. A natural disaster claims the lives of hundreds ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 13:1-8, Exodus 13:10-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Get A Glimpse Of Jesus' Glory

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Mar 28, 2019

On Transfiguration Jesus gave his disciples a glorious experience that would help them get through some pretty hard things until finally arriving at Easter Sunday morning. Jesus continues to show his glory to us today, a glory that helps us through the hard times of our lives.

Supper is still about an hour and a half away. Lunch seems like an eternity ago. Your stomach is calling, “Feed me!” What do you do? If you’re like me, you grab a snack. Something that will help hold you over until the next of the three major meals of the day. Maybe it’s a cookie or some ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Lutheran