Sermons on Ken Idleman:

"The Gift Of Love"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 9, 2014

A Christmas Sermon

"The Gift of Love" Luke 2:1-20 One morning, when I was staying at my sister's house near Cincinnati, Ohio I heard strange noises outside. So, I opened up the door and looked out. It was garbage day, and overflowing trash cans and recycle bins were lined up and down the street in front of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist

"The Gift Of Light"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 11, 2014

A sermon about darkness and light.

"The Gift of Light" John 1:1-5, 10-14 What is darkness? The Bible talks about darkness quite a bit. Let's look at a few examples. Proverbs 4:19 says: "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." In Ephesians 4:11 we are warned: "Have nothing to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: United Methodist

"Ancestry.com"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 29, 2017

A sermon for the 1st Sunday of Advent.

“Ancestry.com” Matthew 1:1-17 “Holy Crow! I’m related to George Washington.” ***Put up Picture of Woman holding George Washington Picture*** Just days after beginning her family history search, Emily discovered a truly legendary ancestor. With the help of Ancestry.com, she traced her family ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: United Methodist

"Righteousness Based On Love, Not Law"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 9, 2017

A sermon about Jesus' earthly father--Joseph.

“Righteousness Based on Love, Not Law” Matthew 1:18-25 What is the first image that pops into your mind when you hear the word “righteous”? Do you think of some fire and brimstone preacher with beady eyes who points his finger at sinners and declares them guilty in the eyes of an angry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: United Methodist

"Jesus Lives In East Ridge"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 13, 2017

A sermon for a Community Thanksgiving Service

“Jesus Lives in East Ridge” Matthew 25:31-46 Some of you are involved in a Monday Evening Feeding Program, where at 4 p.m. we meet in the gym at East Ridge United Methodist Church and make sack lunches to take out to our hungry friends and neighbors. We mostly take the meals to the extended ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: United Methodist

"God Moved Into The Neighborhood"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 15, 2017

A sermon about being Christ to those around us.

“God Moved into the Neighborhood” John 1:1-5, 14 A couple of years ago on Christmas Eve, a teenager named Karla felt called to go to a nearby nursing home. She went from room to room, offering to read the Christmas story from the Gospels. After reading, she prayed with the residents and ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

"The Humble Are Lifted Up"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 19, 2017

A sermon about humility.

“The Humble are Lifted Up” Luke 1:26-38 Last weekend, I read a post on Facebook by an old classmate from high school. It said that another classmate--named Sean Hodge--had passed away. Sean Hodge… Sean Hodge… It took me a minute or two, but I remembered Sean. I hadn’t known him very ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: United Methodist

"Christmas Meditation"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 21, 2017

A sermon about GRACE.

Christmas Meditation Luke 2:1-20 After reading through the Gospels and studying about the kind of companion Jesus was, and knowing what He taught about love for neighbors Mark Scandrette and his friend Joseph decided to try some experiments in radical openness to people. Riding the bus home ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist

"Continuing The Journey"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 28, 2017

A sermon for the New Year.

“Continuing the Journey” Philippians 3:4b-15 What do you want more than anything else in the world? Is it a higher paying job? Is it a bigger house? Is it some “perfect career”? Is it to be the envy of your friends, co-workers; classmates? Is it to “know Christ and the power of his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-15

Denomination: United Methodist

"Heaven Torn Open"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 3, 2018

A sermon for Baptism of the Lord Sunday.

“Heaven Torn Open” Mark 1:4-11 Throughout the Old Testament, from the Fall in Genesis—forward—God is cloaked in mystery. Throughout the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness, Moses is God’s mouthpiece through whom God speaks. When the Tabernacle was set up, the Lord led the people by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11

Denomination: United Methodist

"Can Anything Good Come From There?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 10, 2018

A sermon about good coming from unexpected places.

“Can Anything Good Come from There?” John 1:43-51 A week and a half ago I drove my mother back to Northern Kentucky. It’s a drive I have made many, many times. It’s a drive through the Cumberland Mountains of Northern Tennessee and Kentucky. I’ve driven it in the summertime and in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: United Methodist

Of Husbands And Wives

Contributed by Ken Carlson on Jan 16, 2018

This sermon teaches us that our love for our spouse should always reflect Christ's love for us. In 1 Peter 3:1-7, we are shown the qualities that should characterize a Christian wife and a Christian husband.

APPROACH SENTENCE: When it comes to being married, who do you, as a husband or as a wife, take your cues from? INTRO: For those of us who are married or ever plan on getting married, whether we realize it or not, we are constantly being blasted by so many different examples of marriage ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'm Possessed!

Contributed by Ken Carlson on Oct 18, 2017

Big Idea: We are God's prized possession! This sermon brings into focus several aspects of our identity in Christ and what it means for believers to be God's prized possession, as the Apostle Peter lays out in his first epistle.

INTRODUCTION Do you remember playing that “What do these things have in common?” game when you were younger? You’d have to look at a group of pictures or a list of words and determine what the common denominator was. For example, if I say: “Black, Brown, and Grizzly…What do these three have in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Who Is My Neighbor?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 26, 2017

A sermon about crossing over to the other side.

“Who Is My Neighbor?” Luke 10:25-37 It was an ordinary day of commuting for Cameron Roberts. The 20 year-old law school student made his way down the steps into a New York Subway Station to wait for the train. All of a sudden, something went horribly wrong in the young man’s brain, sending ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: United Methodist

"The Greatest Of These Is..."

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 3, 2017

A sermon for All Saints Sunday

“The Greatest of These IS…” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 All the people we named and lit candles for earlier in this service, I had gotten to know pretty well. That’s one of the blessings of serving the same church for 9 years. Lynette Woods, Pat Murdock, Helen Westbrook, Mary Bates, Samie ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist