Sermons on Ken Idleman:

"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

A Riches To Rags Story

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Aug 8, 2020

A sermon about humility.

“A Riches to Rags Story” Philippians 2:1-13 You wouldn’t think it would be all that difficult. As a matter of fact, you’d think it would just come naturally. I mean, think about it. We are all born as little babies who don’t know a thing and are completely dependent on our mothers. We ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist

"who Do You Say I Am?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Aug 10, 2020

A sermon about professing Who Jesus is with our lives.

“Who Do You Say I Am?” Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus and His disciples are out on the road, making their way to Caesarea Philippi, a bustling port city the Galilee. Jesus asks them, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And they tell Him that people are saying all sorts of things—as people tend to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: United Methodist

"the Way To Life Goes Through Death"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Aug 11, 2020

A sermon about God's Way versus our way.

“The Way to Life Goes Through Death” (A number of themes and ideas in this sermon come from N.T. Wright) Matthew 16:21-28 In the words of the late American news commentator Paul Harvey, this morning’s Gospel Lesson is “the rest of the story.” It is a continuation of what we talked about last ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: United Methodist

"when God Becomes Our Neighbor"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Aug 27, 2020

A sermon about learning to love.

“When God Becomes Our Neighbor” Romans 13:8-10 When Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa was a young boy, he had a life changing experience because of a display of God’s love flowing through another person. You see, in South Africa, at that time, if a black person and a white person met ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Pursuing Peace In Perilous Times

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 12, 2020

With demonstrations, riots against injustice around the world, tension among nations, natural disasters, and a global pandemic, we may get caught up in the news to the point that we lose our own peace of mind and heart.

First of all, what is peace? Garret Graff recently published a book providing an oral history of the attacks that took place September 11, 2001. Quoting one young lady, Chloe, who was born September 11, 2001 and had her 19th birthday this weekend: “Every single day since I was born, we haven’t ...read more

Scripture: John 21:19-22

Denomination: *other

"the Unmerciful Servant Is...me"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 15, 2020

A sermon about learning to forgive as God has forgiven us.

“The Unmerciful Servant is…Me” Matthew 18:21-35 Oh, how I love this parable. If there ever were someone who got what they deserved, it’s the unmerciful servant! He owed a debt of 10,000 talents. A talent was about 130 pounds of silver and was equal to about 15 years of a laborer’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: United Methodist

"our Generous God"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 22, 2020

A sermon about God's equal justice and love.

“Our Generous God” Matthew 20:1-16 Remember when Jesus was Crucified, He was executed with two thieves, one on His left and one on His right. One of the thieves asked Jesus: “remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: United Methodist

"on The Way"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 29, 2020

A sermon about putting Christ first over all things.

“On the Way” Philippians 3:4b-14 The late Fred Craddock told a story about a missionary family in China who were forced to leave the country sometime after the Communists took over. One day a band of soldiers knocked on their door and told the missionary along with his wife and children that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: United Methodist