Sermons on Ken Idleman:

Worship Is A Verb

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Aug 10, 2013

We worship God in the way we live. Worship is a matter of obedience and service: if we love God with all of our hearts and treat others as if they were Christ, we are worshiping God faithfully. Church ritual will never replace real worship. We must repent

Everyday Christianity with Pastor Kenn Shedenhelm Biblical and theological thoughts on life and events in life. Some will come packaged as sermons- some simply as reflections. Classic Like most of Israel’s prophets, Isaiah was concerned with matters of mercy and justice, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Our Disappointed God

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Aug 18, 2013

From the moment that he discovered that Adam and Eve were hiding in their nakedness to the moment that he hung on his cross, God has been disappointed in our choosing death over life. This magnifies his grace, even as it challenges our discipleship.

I came one day to this vineyard of mine; hoping, expecting that it would all be fine. The soil was rich, the corner... divine; I loved it, for sure- this vineyard of mine. The water was plenty, the sun warm and bright; I worked it by day and watched it by night. The hedge was protective, the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Let The Party Begin

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Mar 31, 2013

Saving the lost is God's highest priority and heaven rejoices when a single sinner receives Christ. We are saved by grace, and knowing this frees us to share God's grace with others.

"LET THE PARTY BEGIN" Luke 15:11-32 When I was growing up in Iowa, my parents gave me and my brothers words of wisdom from time to time. We were told, for instance, to eat everything on our plates because "people were starving in China," and to associate with good kids because we would be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Thomas- The "Concrete Man"

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Apr 5, 2013

Doubts come and go, and often they can lead to greater faith. But living in doubt will leave us in our sin because we are saved "by grace through faith." Blessed are those who believe but have not seen because, in matters of faith, believing is seeing.

"Tom- The Concrete Man" John 20:19-31 Did you hear the joke about the neighbor who loved children in the abstract? A young married couple who had several children lived next door to an older man who frequently told them how much he loved children, especially their little tykes. But when these same ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Tale Of Two Prayers

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Apr 16, 2013

Knowing ourselves to be a sinner opens the door to salvation, whereas self-righteousness separates us from our God and our neighbor.

"A TALE OF TWO PRAYERS" It was just another day, like all the days that came before, and two men entered the temple to pray, as men had done for centuries. One of the men was a Pharisee. He was a man, to use Mark Twain's phrase, "who was good in the worst sense of the word." The other man was a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Calling- Answer The Phone

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Apr 16, 2013

God calls us in many ways and we need to listen for His voice.

Listen...to your life... and you'll hear the BAT QOL- the voice of God. You will hear our Lord's voice, comforting, challenging, and calling you to lose yourself in the Master's service. Indeed, unless we "leave our nets" and follow Him, it's hard to see how we can call ourselves Christian. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In Praise Of The Lord's Do-Gooders

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Apr 23, 2013

We often think of famous people when we think of ministers, or if not famous, we think of men and women who are called Reverend or Pastor and who have a microphone in their hand. However, Tabitha ministered to an entire community through concrete acts of

I've conducted 49 funerals since I've been here at SPCC.. They were not all members of our church, but the vast majority were- which means that we've gathered monthly to claim the Resurrection Truth for people we loved. A few of them, I suspect, were surprised by God's grace, but many of our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:36-43

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What's Going On Around Here?

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on May 1, 2013

In the so-called mainline churches, many members cling to the adage, "We've never done it that way before!" As the religious people in Jesus' time discovered, hanging on to the old will blind us to the new thing that God is doing in our midst.

Our lectionary passages this morning concern radical change, perhaps none more radical that Peter's vision in the 11th chapter of Acts. Most of us don't give much thought to what we eat and, if we do, our concern is more with calories than holiness. We don't consider food groups to be "clean" or ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:14-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Power Of Remembering

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on May 25, 2013

On Memorial Day we are invited to remember those who have died for our liberty, those who have touched our own lives in meaningful ways, and of course and most of all, the sacrificial and atoning blood of our Lord Jesus

I walked through a county courthouse square. On a park bench, an old man was sittin’ there. I said, Your old flag pole in leaned a little bit, and that’s a ragged old flag you got sittin’ on it.” “Well,” he said, “I don’t like to brag, but we’re ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dancing Like A Fool

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Jun 6, 2013

When God blesses us with moments of joy, we must give ourselves to the joy and dance with all our might. The Holy Spirit will not have it any other way

It had been a rocky ride for David… with little more than a prayer, he had slain Goliath, but he had also been a victim of Saul’s madness, He had experienced great highs and some deep lows, but now, he was dancing with all his might, because he was bringing the ark home. The ark ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Priest In Your Own Home

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Jun 13, 2013

Christian fathers are called to be faithful in many ways, They are called to lead their families spiritually, to live exemplary lives, and to represent Christ at home.

“A good father should be… sober, decent, supportive, patient, authoritative, respectful, playful, fair, affectionate, exemplary, engaged, and present.” Can I hear an “amen”? According to an article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune a few years ago, good fathers ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

If Heaven Ain't A Lot Like Iowa

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Jun 20, 2013

The joy and love and peace that awaits us in heaven is beyond our imagination! It supersedes anything we have known on earth.

People often ask me about heaven. Will my grandpa and grandma be there? Will they be the same age- will they like the same things they like(d) on earth? How about my little poodle, "Itty Bit"? Will my pets and my friends be in heaven? From time to time, I am asked these questions and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You... A Fool For Christ... Or Just A Fool?

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Oct 1, 2013

if we live for "Christ" the world will call us a fool. If we don't, we will truly be a fool. There is no in-bewteen because those who lose their lives for his sake will find them and live with Him forever.

In the fall of 1976, Lu Ratmeyer led me in the "sinner's prayer," and in the spring of 1977, I joined a church for the first time in my life. Actually, I threw myself into as if my life depended on it. There were Sunday morning services, Sunday evening services, midweek services, adult education ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Secret To Generosity

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Oct 12, 2013

People give for many different reasons, but the key to joyful giving is love.

It was in the fall of 1968... I interviewed for a job with the Iowa Commission for the Blind. I was sitting across the desk from Kenneth Jernigan, Director of the Commision and President of the National Federation of the Blind. "How much do you want?" he asked, and I said, "$6800." It was strange ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What The Gospel Demands Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Jun 27, 2010

This is the first in a series of sermons adapted from David Platt's "Radical" Series.

What the Gospel Demands Text: Luke 14:25-34 This morning I want to talk to ya’ll about something that the Lord has been laying on my heart for some time, it’s just that I didn’t have a clear picture of it. And I think that it’s pertinent and relevant, and very important ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible