Sermons on Ken Idleman:

"shout For Joy To The Lord"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 20, 2019

A sermon for the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

“Shout for Joy to the Lord” Psalm 100 Theologians have often pointed out that we human beings tend to engage in acts of worship, whether we believe in God or not. We all have objects that we praise: a musical instrument, an actor or actress or even an awesome view. “It’s amazing or ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

No Comparison

Contributed by Ken Henson on Nov 24, 2019

Comparing ourselves to others creates problems-anger, envy, hatred, division and even murder. There are solutions to the problem: Take the Eternal Perspective 2. Count others as better 3. Follow Jesus 4. Be so busy being cool that you don’t notice what others are doing 5. Give Thanks

No Comparison Today I’d like to tell a few stories from the Bible, As well as read some of the Bible’s teachings concerning comparisons. Then, at the end, I’d like to consolidate some of the lessons we can learn from what the Bible teaches concerning comparison. This 5-Point message you’ll only ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-9, John 21:15-19

Denomination: *other

"peace"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 25, 2019

A sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent.

“Peace” Isaiah 2:1-5; John 14:27 (Some ideas and themes for this sermon come from the Book: "Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience") “This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.” In chapter 1 Isaiah graphically laid out what was going on in Jerusalem ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5, John 14:27

Denomination: United Methodist

The Seed Of Abraham Series

Contributed by Ken Carlson on Dec 2, 2019

This time of year, people are in search of the perfect Christmas tree. The first Christmas tree, however, is the most important and perfect of all—the family tree of Jesus. This sermon looks at the first person listed in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus: Abraham.

INTRODUCTION By a show of hands, how many of you have done the Ancestry DNA testing? I did it a few months ago, and they recently updated their database, and with the updated results, I have some questions. I know my family tree goes back to Italy on my mom’s side, and Germany, Ireland, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:2, Genesis 12:1, Genesis 12:2, Genesis 12:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 4, 2019

A sermon for the second Sunday of Advent.

My 4-year-old, whose name just happens to be Owen has book called “Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship." The book is based on what happened to a frightened young hippopotamus, that was separated from his family by a devastating Tsunami in Southeast Asia. Owen was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

Here Am I

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 11, 2019

A sermon for the 3rd Sunday in Advent.

“Here Am I” Luke 1:26-38 Mary was a teenager when the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. We are told that young Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. Joseph was a good man, and Mary had a lot to look forward to. The future was bright. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: United Methodist

The Word Became Flesh

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 17, 2019

A sermon about God coming to live with us.

“The Word Became Flesh” John 1:1-5, 10-14 The church I served in East Ridge was surrounded by abject poverty. One of the things that was “brand-new” to me was the number of people living in extended-stay hotels. I don’t just mean that they stay at these hotels for a week or two, I mean they ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus Was Born Into The Real World--Our World

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 20, 2019

A brief sermon for Christmas Eve.

“Jesus Was Born into the Real World—Our World” Luke 2:1-20 There is an old story about a fisherman and his wife. Like most fishermen, this guy worked hard for not much pay. He was out before sunrise every morning and worked well into the day. He would cast his nets again and again, hauling ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist

2020 Vision

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 25, 2019

A sermon for the New Year about how God uses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary.

“2020 Vision” John 2:1-11 Cana in Galilee was a village near Nazareth. In Cana, there was a wedding feast and, it seems, Mary had something to do with the arrangements, because she was worried when the wine ran out; and she had authority enough to ask the servants to do whatever Jesus told them ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist

"looking For God"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 3, 2020

A sermon for Epiphany Sunday.

“Looking for God” Matthew 2:1-12 Today is Epiphany, according to the Christian calendar. Now what do we mean by that? Epiphany, really is that same word, as in, “Wow. I just realized something I had never thought of before. I’ve had an epiphany.” It’s a realization, a revelation, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

"Shout For Joy!!!"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 15, 2018

A sermon for Thanksgiving.

“Shout for Joy!!!” Psalm 100 A year ago, this past March, a couple of guys and I at East Ridge United Methodist Church, felt the call to start a Food Pantry. All we had to work with was $2,500. A year later, my buddy and I were walking through the Food Pantry. There were hundreds of people ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: United Methodist

"Hanging Of The Greens"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 23, 2018

A devotion for a hanging of the greens service.

Hanging of Greens Devotion Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 Christmas comes on December 25th, but for many of us it starts long before that. Store displays, the internet, and t-v commercials announce glad tidings of great joy as soon as kids are taking off their costumes on Halloween. On Black Friday, and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Denomination: United Methodist

A Different Kind Of Feast, A Different Kind Of Lake

Contributed by Ken Henson on Nov 27, 2018

The Destiny of the Righteous (a forever feast) is a blessed contrast with the destruction of the wicked in the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 19 v. 17 and I saw and angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a big voice, saying to all the birds flying in the middle of the sky “Come! Gather to the mega-dinner of God, v. 18 in order that you might feast on the flesh of kings, and the flesh of leaders of thousands, and the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:17-21

Denomination: *other

"Getting Ready For Christmas: Jesus' Family Tree"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 28, 2018

A sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent.

“Getting Ready for Christmas: Jesus’ Family Tree” Matthew 1:1-17 The last church I served had an amazing ministry aimed at helping the more than 150 children living—full-time--in nearby extended-stay hotels. We had an after-school tutoring, mentoring and feeding program—not unlike Safe ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: United Methodist

"getting Ready For Christmas: Pointing Beyond Ourselves"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 5, 2018

Do our lives point Godward?

“Getting Ready for Christmas: Pointing Beyond Ourselves” Jeremiah 10:1-5 A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a restaurant with a friend when my attention went to a Christmas tree in the corner of the room. It had different colored lights, ornaments of silver and gold and a bright red bow on ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 10:1-5

Denomination: United Methodist