Sermons on Maranatha Houston:

Christmas, Mary's Point Of View

Contributed by Lee Houston on Dec 14, 2022

We each have heard the story of Christmas many times: the angel Gabriel visits Mary and then visits Joseph, the shepherds, the Host Angels phrasing God, the Wise Men. Today, I want to concentrate on Mary’s part, the human part of the Christmas story.

Christmas, Mary's Point Of View Scripture: Luke 1:5-25, Mathew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-21, Isaiah 7:14 We each have heard the story of Christmas many times: the angel Gabriel visits Mary and then visits Joseph, the shepherds, the Host Angels phrasing God, and the Wise Men. Today, I want to ...read more

Christmas, The Gift, The Peaceable Kingdom

Contributed by Lee Houston on Dec 17, 2022

The Christmas season has many wonderful traditions. Does everyone here know of the "tradition" of kissing under the mistletoe?

Christmas, The Gift, The Peaceable Kingdom Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 1:1-17 The Christmas season has many wonderful traditions. Does everyone here know of the "tradition" of kissing under the mistletoe? The history of kissing under the mistletoe is from ancient Scandinavian ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 1:1-17

What Would John Wesley Say?

Contributed by Lee Houston on Feb 1, 2024

Through the Twentieth Century, church membership in America stayed at roughly 70% of adults. In the last two-and-a-half decades, church membership has declined from 69% to 48%. This schism, this people leaving Protestant denominations, has a direct correlation with politics issues.

Title: What would John Wesley say? Specific purpose: to tackle the schism in major Protestant denominations Scriptures: Galatians 3:28, Romans 1:26-28, Acts 26:17-18, Matthew 5:18 Through the Twentieth Century, church membership in America stayed at roughly 70% of adults. In the last ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:28, Romans 1:26-28, Acts 26:17-18, Matthew 5:18

America Today: Calling Evil Good And Good Evil Updated

Contributed by Lee Houston on Feb 26, 2024

Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. As a pastor, I see our basic problems as religious.

America Today: Calling Evil Good and Good Evil Being an old man, I have lived through many changes, changes that caused Americans to disagree, but never have I seen anything like the division and outright hatred we see today. Here are a few of the things that are causing the division: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21

The Great Commission

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jan 2, 2024

Today, many in America live with anxiety.

The Great Commission Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20 Sermon Purpose: to persuade the congregation to respond to the Great Commission Central Idea: Living the Great Commission is the answer to all societal problems national, local and personal. Purposely written in second person This sermon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Fed Up With Attack Politics? Take Our Country Back With Our Words

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jul 3, 2025

As an old man, I remember a time when Americans, no matter their party, prayed for the leaders we elected. Whether we voted for him, her or not, we wanted him or her to succeed. Why? Because we understood that when a leader succeeds, the nation succeeds.

Fed up with attack politics? Take Our Country Back with Our Words As an old man, I remember a time when Americans, no matter their party, prayed for the leaders we elected. Whether we voted for him, her or not, we wanted him or her to succeed. Why? Because we understood that when a leader ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1

A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Survive

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jan 20, 2025

This morning, I was reading Mark 3:24-25, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I did not remember the context in which he said it. I found it in a Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. I thought about Lincoln’s realization. It seems to me that we are again a divided nation.

Title: A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Survive Scripture: Exodus 20:16, Mark 3:24-25, Ephesians 4:29 Summary: This morning, I was reading Mark 3:24-25, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I did not remember the context in which he said it. I found it in a Collected Works of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-5, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

No Longer Condemned

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jan 31, 2025

A history of slavery and segregation sometimes explode. Some may remember the riots in South Central Los Angeles in January 1993. People were burning buildings and looting stores. During all of the confusion an unsuspecting truck driver, named Reginald Denny.

Title: No Longer Condemned Scripture: Romans 8:6, “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Our history of slavery and segregation sometimes explodes. Some may remember the riots in South Central Los Angeles in January 1993. People were ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:6, Colossians 1:21-22, Ephesians 2:6-9, Titus 3:4-5

Sermon: A Time For War And A Time For Peace

Contributed by Lee Houston on Feb 20, 2025

It is fun to preach on topics like Christmas or going to heaven. However, I would not be doing my duty as a pastor if I did not occasionally speak about some dark subject. Today, that subject is war. Our Bible chronicles many wars.

It is fun to preach on topics like Christmas or going to heaven. However, I would not be doing my duty as a pastor if I did not occasionally speak about some dark subject. Today, that subject is war. Our Bible chronicles many wars. Today, The Council for Foreign Relations, an independent ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-5, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

John 3:16-17

Contributed by Lee Houston on Dec 20, 2024

Last week, I had three people tell me that they did not feel Saved. They wanted to know how to be sure. If three people asked me that, I have to imagine that there are others in our mists who have the same question. So how do you know for sure?

Scripture: John 3:16-17 Central idea: Jesus Saves. Specific purpose: to reach the unsaved. Introduction: Last week, I had three people tell me that they did not feel Saved. They wanted to know how to be sure. If three people asked me that, I have to imagine that there are others ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

A Look At Love

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jan 9, 2025

This week’s sermon will cover one word whose understandings are central to Judeo-Christian beliefs: I will explain one English word, Love. Why? The Greek language has nine different words for Love with six of those nine translated into bible text.

Sermon: A Look at Love Specific Purpose: The writers of our New Testament wrote mostly in Greek. This sermon's purpose is to investigate the Greek words for 'love'. As pastors, we do our best to explain some point in God’s Word in each sermon. That means we must first dig into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Hebrews 13:4, John 20:2

The Tabernacle Of Moses

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jan 31, 2026

Moses pitched the tabernacle outside the camp signifying a separation of God from the people due to their unworthiness and emphasizing the need for holiness and a designated place for communion with Him. This tabernacle became a sacred space where individuals could seek the Lord.

• The Tabernacle o In Exodus 33:7, Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it outside the camp, signifying a separation from the people due to their unworthiness. This tabernacle, also known as the “Tent of Meeting,” became a sacred space where individuals could seek the Lord. Placing it outside the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:7

Thou Shalt Not Bare False Witness

Contributed by Lee Houston on Mar 21, 2025

“Thou shalt not bear false witness.” The three preceding Commandments (murder, adultery, stealing) concern wrongs inflicted upon our neighbor by actual deeds. This commandment is concerned with wrongs inflicted by word of mouth.

Title: “Thou shalt not bare false witness against thy neighbor.” Scriptures: Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20 “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” The three preceding Commandments (murder, adultery, stealing) concern wrongs inflicted upon our neighbor by actual deeds. This commandment is ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20

The Thirteen Attributes Of Mercy

Contributed by Lee Houston on Oct 3, 2025

Maybe you feel the need for God’s compassion today. Indeed, any time I am in the pulpit, I know that in my audience there is at least one person whose sin he or she thinks God will not forgive. If you feel that way or if you know someone does, this sermon is for you.

The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy Maybe you feel the need for God’s compassion today. Indeed, any time I am in the pulpit, I know that in my audience there is at least one person whose sin he or she thinks God will not forgive. If you feel that way or if you know someone does, this sermon is ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:6-7, Exodus 3:14

A Christian Marriage

Contributed by Lee Houston on Nov 10, 2025

I read an interesting article saying the younger generation is looking more positively at marriage than those even a decade ago. So, I believe there is a need to revisit what God has ordained.

A Christian Marriage I read an interesting article saying the younger generation is looking more positively at marriage than those even a decade ago. That is good, and it reminded me that two-thirds of you are married and at least some of the rest of you have thoughts about marriage so I believe ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:3-6