Sermons on Joseph Freidman:

On Loving God

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 20, 2012

God will ask us if we love Him, and we answer, not with our mouths, but with our lives.

A time will come, whether we believe it or not, when we will stand before God and God will ask us just one question–only one. And he will not ask us how many times we have gone to church, or how many times we have read the Bible, or how many times we have received holy communion, how much ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

This Week In Haiti (Or, Don't Be A Walnut)

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Yes, of course I am proud of the human response and the Christian response to such tragedy. But I am saddened that this is the exception and not the norm. I am saddened that among Christians, we aren’t doing this every day, for every one, earthquake or no

So, as everyone knows, there was an earthquake in Haiti, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dead, thousands and thousands of people buried alive awaiting rescue, and nearly everyone else scrambling for basics–water, food, shelter. It was a tragic event. No one can deny the severity of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Catholic

Palm Sunday

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Jewish Scriptural context for understanding Jesus' entry into Jerusalem

The reign of King David was coming to an end. To put it plainly he was old. He was definitely tired. The first half of his life was spent building a kingdom; the second half of his life was spent trying to hold that kingdom together. God had promised that David would never lose his throne, and as ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

It's My Party And I'll Cut Off The Head Of John The Baptist If I Want To

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Who among us is better than Herod? Who among us has not twisted events, facts, details, to suit our own purposes? Who among us has not placed more value on our image than on human need? Who among us has not intentionally given in to easier of the two choi

I'll admit to you all that I had a difficult time with this passage. I spent weeks staring at it , researching it, praying about it, looking for that point of brilliance that would dazzle and amaze you all, once more showing off my preaching skills, once more being the "golden boy." But I drew a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Catholic

If The Heart Were A Bone... I'd Be Crippled

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Seeing the Christ in our midst...

I can remember being young and watching the play Peter Pan. In that play there is a scene in which Tinker Bell, who becomes jealous of Wendy, agrees to betray Peter Pan by identifying the location of his hiding place to Captain Hook. Captain Hook then sends a bomb to Peter Pan which is disguised ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Catholic

Contagious

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

SERMON IN A SENTENCE: We are much more motivated to alleviate suffering when we share in it.

“A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: Catholic

Paralyzed By Life; Healed By Faith

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

Four things we can learn from Mark's story of the paralytic being brought to Jesus

There was a man, who was a workaholic. He had a son, who was about seven years old, and like most seven-year-olds, he wanted to spend time with his father, playing catch or some other activity. The father kept promising to spend time with his son, but he was always breaking his promises because the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Homily At My Step-Father's Funeral

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

The homily I preached at my step-father's funeral.

R. Joseph Owles Layton’s Funeral Home June 2004 An aged and bitter Mark Twain wrote shortly before his death: A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle;……they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 15:1-58

Denomination: Catholic

Real Good News For The Real World

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

The Great Commission playing out in every day life.

Anchorage Presbyterian Church R. Joseph Owles August 16, 1998 [Based on Matthew 28:16-20] All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me; therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Catholic

Wedding Homily (Standard)

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 23, 2011

The wedding homily i generally use.

We are all here to witness and to celebrate a marriage. A marriage is indeed taking place this day; yet, it is not mere a marriage of two people, but of two peoples–two families, two sets of friends, being united together through love, into one family, one group of friends, one people. This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Rediscovering The Prophetic - Martin Luther King Jr

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on May 20, 2008

A call to be prophets to our generation in the way God worked through Amos & MLK jr - to rediscover God’s absolute priorities for our Churches

Rediscovering the prophetic - MLK Amos 5:1-24 I watched a BBC programme about Martin Luther King Junior (MLK) a couple of months ago now presented by Oona King a past Labour MP in London (before she lost her Bethnal Green & Bow seat to the controversial George Galloway). She seemed to want to ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:1-24, Amos 5:1

Denomination: Methodist

The Fields Are White Unto Harvest

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on May 25, 2008

The harvest is waiting for us - but will get out there to risk being in the harvest field?

So Jesus sends His disciples out to the mission field. Luke 10:2 tells us that ‘He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ You know people this gospel truth remains, nothing has changed. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Denomination: Methodist

Christmas Revelations

Contributed by Dr. C. David White on Dec 2, 2002

Through the birth of Jesus God reveals Himself supernaturally and His purpose for doing so.

God’s Revelation through the Incarnation 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Finding The Favor Of God

Contributed by Shane Brooks on Feb 17, 2005

God is on your side.

Let me point something out Anytime someone found favor in the eyes of God they brought forth something Noah- Brought forth an ark Abraham- brought forth a nation Moses- brought forth a people David- brought forth a Throne Mary- Brought forth a son Many people want to but Mary up on a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's All In The Details

Contributed by Mari Larson on Dec 27, 2015

Christmas is filled with details large and small, but the important detail is God's incredible love in Jesus Christ who came to save us.

One of my childhood Christmas highlights was putting up the crèche. I don’t know why my Norwegian family called the nativity set by its French name, but we did. First we would put the wooden framework in place. In back of it was a music box which we wound to play a tired version of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran